From dorm room snack to terrifically tasty chimichanga!
There’s a fine line between this recipe being a simple dorm room snack or a crispy joyride of flavor!
The “joyride” version only takes a few extra minutes to accomplish and will forever open the door to the exciting world of chimichangas.
Dorm Room Snack
Try this. Find a flour tortilla and spread light cream cheese over one side of it with a butter knife.
Then find some fruit jam (whatever kind you like) and spread it over the cream cheese.
Roll it up.
Voila…you just made one hell-of-a tasty snack! You’ve also completed step 1 of this recipe.
If you’re good with the snack you just created, stop here. But if you want to journey further to turn this rolled flour tortilla into a terrifically tasty chimichanga, continue on!
What’s a Chimichanga?
It’s a rolled tortilla that is stuffed with a filling (like a burrito), then fried in oil to give the tortilla a crispy texture. So how do we do that – and do it fast?
The trick is to make sure the oil in the skillet is hot before the rolled tortilla is set inside the skillet.
An easy way to check if the oil is hot is to wet your finger tips and – at a safe distance – flick some water from your fingers into the heated skillet. If you hear (and see) the oil “pop”, then you know the oil is hot.
Set the rolled tortillas in the skillet (seam side down). At the 30 second mark, check to see if the tortilla is golden brown on the outside before flipping. If not, give it 20 seconds more then check again.
Turn the tortillas over and cook the same way on the other side.
Congratulations you just made a chimichanga! All that’s left is the topping!
Toppings
How will you top your crispy chimichanga?
How about chopped canned pears and some maple syrup? Simple and really really good! Use the fruit or berries you have on-hand for more interesting and exciting ways to top your chimichanga!
Finally, if you like what you taste, please take a second to give this recipe the number of stars you think it deserves (at the top of this post), or leave your 7-word recipe review in the comments. The test-kitchen at the Café very much appreciates your feedback.
Happy Cooking!
Cream Cheese and Jam Chimichangas
Makes: 2 chimichangas | Cost: Approx. $2.50 / $1.25 per serving | Time: About 8 minutes
INGREDIENTS
- 2 (7-inch) flour tortillas [$0.50]
- 1/4 cup light cream cheese [$0.50]
- 2 tbsp. grape jam (or your favorite fruit jam) [$0.30]
- 2 tsp. cooking oil [$0.05]
- 1 canned pear half, cut into chunks [$0.50]
- Maple syrup (about 2 tbsp.) [$0.65]
HOW TO MAKE
- Spread equal amounts of cream cheese, followed by equal amounts of jam, over the two flour tortillas. Roll the tortillas tight.
- Heat oil in a non-stick skillet over medium heat. When oil is hot, place rolled tortillas seam side down. Cook until outside of tortilla is crisp and golden brown, about 30 to 50 seconds. Turn over to crisp and brown the other side, about 30 seconds.
- Place cooked tortillas on a plate and wipe off any excess oil with paper towels. Top with pears (or sliced peaches, berries, etc.). Drizzle with syrup. Enjoy!
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Brent Garell – (hey that’s me) is the founder of College Recipe Cafe, and author of The Cook-a-Palooza Experience, and 15-Minute Money Saving Meals for Students. He teaches comfy ways to cook online at Cooking Pro Jumpstart.
Thanks for stopping in at the Café. Cheers!
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