Chalupa

Ingredients

• to taste vegetable oil
• 12 corn tortillas
• 6 cups refried beans
• ½ pound queso fresco cheese
• to taste onion
• 1 large tomato
• 3 cups lettuce

Steps

1. In a small skillet, heat about ½ inch of vegetable oil.
2. Test the oil for the correct temperature by putting in a small piece of tortilla.
3. If the oil immediately bubbles frantically and the bread quickly becomes crisp then the oil is at the right temperature.
4. This is important because a low temperature will produce an unpleasantly oily and soggy chalupa shell.
5. Fry the tortilla completely flat in the oil, on both sides, until very crisp.
6. Drain and keep the fried tortilla warm on a newspaper or paper towel-covered cookie sheet in a warm oven.
7. Spread a layer of refried beans on each fried tortilla, about ¼ inch thick.
8. Top with a generous amount of grated cheddar cheese and about 1 tablespoon of chopped onion.
9. Place the assembled chalupas on a cookie sheet.
10. Brown under the broiler until the cheese melts and begins to bubble.
11. Watch them carefully at this stage, as they can burn quite quickly.
12. Top with shredded lettuce and tomato.
13. Serve immediately.