My southern friends know this little beaut from their moms, aunts and grandmas, from Baptist church lady potlucks, from friends' house dinners. This, my Yankee friends, is Frito pie.
It is exactly as complicated as it sounds - chili on Fritos. Other accoutrements are optional. I made my own chili by browning some ground turkey with onions and garlic, added copious cumin, chili powder and paprika, then tossed in a can of chili beans (the kind that come in a tomato-based sauce). Layer a casserole (preferably the one your grandma purchased in the 70s with Green Stamps, then bequeathed to you upon her passing) with Fritos, then pour the chili over, add a little grated cheese, more Fritos, more cheese. Into a hot oven until the cheese melts. Total phone-in.
Since I wanted extra crunch (two kinds of crunch always being better than one), I spooned my Frito pie over some iceberg lettuce and topped it with sour cream and a julienne of radishes and those spicy carrots from the jar of jalapeños en escabeche. This way you've got the whole city mouse/country mouse thing, all in one bowl.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Frito Pie
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44 comments:
Funny! We were just talking about Green Stamps...this looks pretty fabulous.
Okay, as a dedicated Yankee, the idea of southern food, particularly unfamilar southern food, really offends my foodie senses. THAT SAID, I <3 both fritos and nachos and I can't imagine this is anything shy of a highly-caloric miracle food.
Don't tell my local friends, okay?
OK, confession time: I'd pretty much do anything for a bag of fritos. And even after eating breakfast, this feast is calling my name.
Nice call on the escabeche. I'll take somma that too!
I saw this a bar once but they called it White Trash Nachos. It was good too. Now you are tempting me to take than can of chili in the pantry and actually buy some Fritos. Devil Woman!
I can't believe my southern baptist grandmother has never made me frito pie. I feel so betrayed.
Her M-O is putting pickle juice in soups (for kick). But screw pickle juice soup. I want frito pie.
Very unique recipe Heather, I think I am going to like it because it sound crunchylicious.
Cheers,
elra
As an Austinite, I really should eat more frito pie. Love the turkey used here and the toppings. This could be dinner tonight.
Oh, wow! The Hubz and I were just talking about Green Stamps the other night. I got my first record player there way longer ago than I care to admit!
Love the Frito Pie! It will go perfectly with the Old El Paso tacos I'm planning to make tonight! (Don't judge me. I've had a rough week!) ;)
I love Frito pie. Brings back great memories of being broke as hell (which for the record was my most favorite time of my life).
They used to serve this to us at school. Why, yes it was a Baptist Academy. Anyway, they just dumped the shit right into the frito bag.
I'm sure it was messy, but I only remember eating the hell out of it.
you do that voodoo that you do so well. that's the first time you've heard that, right?
Damn! Give me a TV and a beer and i would be all over that frito pie. We need a Voodoolily in NY. Why don't you just move here Voodoolily!? We would go hunting/foraging together on week ends. :-)
Who you callin' a Yankee? (And yeah, I am one). But that's a Midwest THANG, too.
First ate Frito Pie in Kalamazoo and never turned back since.
I think this and tuna-potato chip casserole might be the true American culinary masterpieces.
We had a frito pie party last year! I think it's time for another one!
I have never heard of this, but it looks like it may induce labor. I AM ALL OVER IT!
Oh man, I am trying to eat a little healthier, what was I thinking coming over here! Oh my god. Well, I guess once I shed some of those pounds I put on since starting at my current job, frito pie is where I will be. YUM.
Oooh! This looks great! Love the iceberg lettuce touch at the end with the jalapenos! Great thinking 99!
Frito Chili Pies are one of the most delicious things ever!
it doesn't really get better than fritos and greasy chili, huh? yum!!
Confession! I don't like Fritos. They have no flavor! But this looks like the best way to "fix" them, I love it :) Actually the final product is I think what some people here might call a taco salad. :)
Frito Pie is home to me! Love the trashy dish.
I think that Lay's put Crack in those damn chips.....
My mouth is watering.
I'm not a fan of fritos but this looks good! I've never heard of it until now but I'm getting hungry!
I used to eat this all the time as a kid at the Little League park...in California! Mmmmm...when I get back to the States, I'm going to introduce this little gem to my daughter!
You got me at Frito....but in dinner? Can't wait to try it. Sounds fun and delicious. And I haven't given a thought to green stamps since I was a kid. Too funny!
Michelle
http://oneordinaryday.wordpress.com/
I don't know what fritos are...
We've never had frito pie before, and we're quite Southern...It is a bit tempting though. :)
I haven't had frito pie in forever! Mostly on account of the fritos. But this is good stuff!
Thanks for this post! Coming from Chicago, I've seen this recipe on our site but I certainly haven't had it before. You make it look and sound good!
If you're not going to serve it in a Frito bag, then I think Grandma's casserole is the next best thing!
Oh my god, this may be the perfect pregnancy food. And I'm NOT being sarcastic.
Green stamps were the bomb. OMG..I still remeber a lamp that I save up for!!
Love the frito pie!
I haven't had this in sooo long! YUM!
NICE! This is right up there with 7 layer dip and Egg McMuffins in my list of closet addictions.
Hi Ms. Heather! Ah Green Stamps, remember having to save up like a skillion of them just to get a toaster? lol. I was just a kiddo back then but the mention of Green Stamps sparked up nostalgic memories of all those Fisher Price toys I had....I know I'm not the only one who owned that record player with the different colored records =D
Oh, about the frito pie...forgive me for diverging...your blog is lovely and I simply love frito pies. I mean frito pies make the world go round. I also wanted to mention for anyone wanting to try it, that you could use tator tots instead of fritos; of course then it would be more of chili/cheese tots but what isn't good under chili and cheese?
Thank you for sharing the recipe and your blog with the world. =)
could one make a cheeto pie?
one, meaning you?
that would be freaking awesome. using those friend harder ones...
anyway, i'd eat any of it, anytime.
From the name alone I thought it was some sort of deep-fried pie. Frito chips were the last thing on my mind.
I've heard of frito pies, but never saw an actual one until your photo. What's not to like? Nachos using fritos instead of the other shaped corn chips? Like, DUH! The only thing I'd add is Hatch green chili from a can. Oh, and crack open a frostie.......
The very first "meal" I made for my father and myself after my parents divorced was this beauty. It's still one of my favorite trashy dinners.
holy crap this could possibly be the best hangover meal ever. you're hilarious. i haven't had a frito since 1998, i think.
Shit...I could eat this for brekkie right now. It's pure TPT genius and yes, I still eat Fritos...sue me!
Hello! This is my first time at your blog! Love the excellent fotos and colors. The food hits a sweet spot.
But I do have to draw attention to how fantastically trashy this is dish is. In all sincerity you should send this to the thisiswhyyourefat tumblr. AWESOME.
I had forgotten that Fritos don't have crap like transfats & such. I may very well make this next week.
BTW, something that popped into my head with all the nausea/morning sickness talk: I thought mine had come back in the 2nd trimester but it just turned out that I needed maternity pants. It was my waistband that was making me sick, not my hormones. Again, just sayin'. I think you've brought out the mama in me towards you. I know I'm not *that* much older than you (43.5).
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