A chalupa () is one of several specialty dishes of south-central Mexico, including the states of Hidalgo,

Puebla Puebla, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its capital is Puebla City. Part of east-centr ...

Guerrero Guerrero, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guerrero, is one of the 32 states that compose the administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guerrero, 85 municipalities. The stat ...

, and

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

Description

Chalupas are made by pressing a thin layer of masa dough around the outside of a small mold, in the process creating a concave container resembling the boat of the same name, and then deep frying the result to produce crisp, shallow corn cups. These are filled with various ingredients such as shredded chicken, pork, chopped onion, chipotle pepper, red salsa, and/or green salsa. They can in many cases resemble tostadas since both are made of a fried or baked masa-based dough. Traditional chalupas, as found in Cholula, Puebla, are small, thick, boat-shaped fried masa topped only with salsa, cheese and shredded lettuce. Other regions in Mexico add variations, which can include chorizo, pork, shredded chicken, or refried beans, in addition to the classic cheese, salsa, and lettuce toppings. In other instances, the fried masa shape is round, resembling a tostada, with traditional chalupa toppings.

Regional variations

Puebla

In Puebla, chalupa refers to a dish made with small, flat tortillas which are served soft, rather than concave, crisp masa shells. In other parts of Mexico, this dish is referred to as "chalupa poblana".

Hidalgo

In Hidalgo, chalupas are normally made with flat fried corn tortillas, and on top is added green chili sauce, potato purée, white cheese, pulled chicken, lettuce and raddish.

United States

The widespread popularity of chalupas across Mexico has also influenced Mexican-style restaurant fare in the neighboring United States. Among notable examples in the US are fast-food versions, which, unlike its Mexican namesake, are fried tortilla shells topped with multiple ingredients. A thicker tortilla shell and multiple toppings have more in common with Navajo

frybread Frybread (also spelled fry bread) is a dish of the Indigenous people of North America that is a flat dough bread, frying, fried or deep frying, deep-fried in oil, shortening, or lard. Made with simple ingredients, generally wheat flour, water, ...

and the use of frybread as the basis for a taco than the traditional savory chalupa found in Mexico. Del Taco in Rancho Cucamonga has been credited with bringing the chalupa to the United States in the early 1980s. Chalupas were first introduced to the national menu at

Taco Bell Taco Bell Corp. is an American multinational chain of fast food restaurants founded in 1962 by Glen Bell (1923–2010) in Downey, California. Taco Bell is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. The restaurants serve a variety of Mexican-inspired ...

in 1999.

References