Totopos (Tortilla chips)

MAKES ABOUT 500GM

“Outside of Mexico, totopos are known as good ol’ tortilla chips,” says Cienfuegos. “Yes, you can buy them in large bags from the supermarket, but they are super easy to make at home and taste mucho, mucho better!” You will need a tortilla press for this recipe.

500 ml (2 cups) vegetable oil, for deep-frying TORTILLAS

250 gm masa flour

300 ml warm water

25 ml vegetable oil

Oil spray, for cooking

1 To make tortillas, combine masa flour, warm water, oil and a pinch of salt in a bowl to form a soft and non-sticky dough. Lightly spray a heavy-based frying pan with oil spray and place over medium-high heat. 2 Place a square of plastic wrap over bottom half of a tortilla press. To make 16cm tortillas, roll 50gm of the dough into a ball and place in the middle of the tortilla press. Cover with another square of plastic wrap (this stops the dough sticking to the press), then close tortilla press and gently press to flatten the dough into a 3mm-thick tortilla. Open tortilla press, remove plastic wrap and cook in a frying pan until just beginning to colour (2 minutes each side). Repeat with remaining dough, using oil spray as needed.

3 Heat oil in a large heavy-based saucepan to 180°C. Cut tortillas into eight rough triangles then, working in batches, add tortilla triangles to the hot oil and fry until crisp and lightly golden (3 minutes).

4 Remove tortillas using a slotted spoon and drain on paper towel. Season with salt to taste, and serve with guacamole or salsa.