National Tortilla Chip Day
National Tortilla Chip Day is celebrated every year on February 24. It’s a food holiday dedicated to the ultimate crunchy, scoopable snack: the tortilla chip- plus all the iconic pairings that come with it. Hello, salsa and guac!
A tortilla chip is a crispy snack made from corn tortillas (or corn masa) that are cut into triangles or shapes and then fried or baked. They’re often lightly salted, sometimes seasoned, and basically designed to be the perfect dip-delivery system.
The Story of Tortilla Chip
Long before the Chip, it was Corn Tortillas
Corn tortillas come from masa, which is made using nixtamalization. It is an ancient method of cooking and soaking corn in an alkaline solution (often limewater), then washing and grinding it into dough. It was the Aztec Indians who apparently produced the first corn tortillas.
1943: Nachos use Fried Tortilla Pieces
In 1943, Ignacio 'Nacho' Anaya created nachos using triangles of fried tortilla, helping popularize the idea of crispy tortilla pieces served as a snack base.
Late 1940s, Los Angeles: Tortilla Chips go Commercial
Then there was a turning point. Tortilla chips were first mass-produced in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, and Rebecca Webb Carranza is widely credited with popularizing the triangle chip by repurposing misshapen tortillas from an automated tortilla machine at El Zarape Tortilla Factory, then selling them for a dime a bag.
However, the Tamalina Milling Company has claimed that they has been making the corn chips long before Caranza.
2003: Texas Welcomes its Official State Snack
On June 22, 2003, Texas officially designated tortilla chips and salsa as the official state snack- a fun sign of just how mainstream and beloved chips had become.
Celebrate National Tortilla Chip Day
- Make it fun with multiple dips. There's salsa (mild/medium/hot), guacamole, queso, bean dip and more. Try making your own dip for tortilla chips.
- Make nachos your way: classic cheese + jalapenos, or fully loaded with beans, veggies, and whatever you love.
- Support a local spot on this day. Order fresh-made chips and salsa and give them a shout-out online.
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