The chilindrina snack comes from the town of Juarez, Mexico. The snack base is made from a large duros pellet, and it often topped off with shredded cabbage, tomatoes, and chicharron (deep-fried pork rind).
If you’ve never had a chilindrina before, that combination can sound a little intimidating. But, don’t worry, we’re going to break down all the elements that go into making a chilindrina, one-by-one.
How to Make Chilindrina
If you have any trouble (you probably won’t) locating the ingredients, then we suggest you find the best-stocked Mexican grocery store closest to you.
Now let’s go over exactly what ingredients are required to create this tasty snack.
The Ingredients:
- Fried pork rinds (you can choose to buy the pickled one too)
- Duros pellets
- 1 Cabbage (shredded)
- 2 Tomatoes (medium-sized cubes)
- 1 Avocado (sliced)
- Valentina Hot sauce (or any other hot sauce of your choice)
- Mexican Crema
The Preparation:
Step One: Start by heating oil in a pan to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the oil is ready, it’s time to start frying the duros pellets. We have discussed how to Duros Pellet later in this article. Please check it out below.
Step Two: Keep a plate lined with paper towels next to you to drain the excess oil from the duros. Place a single duros pellet in the oil and fry until it puffs up and is lightly brown. Take it out and place it on paper towels.
Step Three: After that, it’s time to add the toppings. Start with layering the duros with the shredded cabbage, according to your taste. Then proceed to add layers of the chopped tomatoes and sliced avocado.
Step Four: Sprinkle the pork rinds on top. You can add as many as you’d like. Next, add the Valentina hot sauce and Mexican crema. Do you know how to make Mexican crema? If not, we have also provided the recipe for that below.
Step Five: You can slice up the chilindrina if you want, and you’re done! It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.
How to Make A Vegan Chilindrina?
Believe it or not, there are grocery stores that sell packaged vegan chicharron, like Rico’s. You’ll have to buy a pack of vegan chicharron for this recipe.
But apart from the vegan crema and chicharron, you can refer to the “How to make Chilindrina” section for the other ingredients and follow the preparation process step-by-step. Ingredients like tomatoes, avocadoes, cabbage, and Valentina hot sauce are standard in almost every chilindrina recipe.
No one is going to stop experimenting, however. If you want, you can make other exciting additions to your chilindrina such as jalapeno peppers, vegan-friendly cheese, and even salsa sauce. The possibilities are endless and very exciting.
Vegan Variation
There are several good reasons for following a vegan diet, be they health or environmental related. Thanks to the many products available on the market for vegans, you can easily enjoy a homemade chilindrina.
The vegan chilindrina recipe calls for a few minor changes only. So without wasting any more time, let’s get to it.
Start by whipping up your own healthy batch of vegan crema. Here’s how.
You Will Need the Following Ingredients:
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt (fine)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 cup cashews (soaked in water for at least 4 hours)
- 1 teaspoon vinegar (preferably apple cider vinegar)
The Preparation:
Step One: Drain and rinse the cashews to get rid of any particles.
Step Two: Next, add all the ingredients in your blender and blend until the mixture has a smooth consistency. If the mixture feels a little dry, add little more water to achieve a cream-like thick consistency.
Step Three: Taste the cream to see if the flavors are to your liking. If you want, you can add more salt or lemon juice. Once the flavor is to your liking, take the cream out in a bowl and set it aside.
That is a pretty simple recipe, right? But, there’s still more cooking left to do. Read on to complete the vegan chilindrina recipe.
How to Make the Duros Pellet?
The Duros is a Mexican snack as well. They generally make Duros from puffed wheat, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda. Sometimes lime and chili flavoring are also added to enhance the taste.
Duros pellets are sold uncooked and resemble square pasta sheets. When you cook Duros, they take on a light consistency, the kind you might compare to a pastry. Our recipe calls for large pellets that come in a square form, which you can easily purchase at any Mexican grocery store.
Apart from that, the other ingredient that gives you a moment of pause is chicharron. You can make or purchase chicharron from a grocery store. We recommend buying them from the store if you’re short on time.
You should know that chicharron is usually made from deep-fried pork belly-fat or deep-fried pork rinds. For this recipe, you are going to need to buy the deep-fried pork rinds.
Mexican Crema and Why You Should Make It Yourself
You’re probably wondering why we’ve side-tracked to a Mexican crema. Chilindrina (and many other Mexican recipes) all require the use of Mexican Crema.
Think of it as a cross between crème fraîche and sour cream. It is super easy to make, and it’s a great way to add flavor to all your snacks.
The only thing you need to remember is that you will have to make the crema two days in advance, for you to be able to use it.
Homemade Mexican crema can be made by mixing a tablespoon of buttermilk to a cup of warm heavy cream. After you’ve mixed two together, pour the mixture in a clean glass jar and place it next to a warm source.
The ideal place would be next to a stove. Then simply leave the mixture to sit for 24 hours, and your homemade Mexican crema is ready. Homemade crema is not only the healthier option, but it also saves your time and money.
Can You Eat Chilindrina On A Regular Basis?
We wouldn’t recommend eating the non-vegan chilindrina on a regular basis. The regular use of ingredients like deep-fried pork rinds or belly fat can be harmful.
Consuming such ingredients in excess has been linked to adverse health complications such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, and others.
There’s no denying that chilindrina makes for a filling snack, but moderation is always recommended when eating a diet that contains a high-fat content.
However, if it’s the flavor of chilindrina you crave, you can switch to eating the vegan version regularly. Not only does the vegan recipe have healthier substitutes, but it’s also made using exactly the same flavorings.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, folks. We’ve delivered on our promise of a chilindrina recipe with chicharron and a fantastic vegan variation.
Chilindrina makes the perfect snack for family gatherings, Superbowl Sundays, and let’s not forget Cinco de Mayo. Once you’ve mastered the art of making chilindrinas at home, you can start experimenting and create your own version of chilindrinas.
