First of all, what exactly is a chimichanga? 
For those of you who are not culinary experts in the category of Mexican masterpieces, a chimichanga is quite similar to a burrito. A chimichanga is prepared with a choice of meat, veggies, and of course, spices. Taking a turn away from its brother the burrito, it is deep-fried to a golden crisp, and can be served over a nest of lettuce and melted cheese with a choice of spicy or mild sauces, depending on what you prefer. Knowing how to make chimichangas will take some remembering, but nothing too serious.
Ready to start learning how to make chimichangas that are full of flavor? Well hold on there cowboy or cowgirl, you’re going to need a slew of ingredients before you can get this show on the road!
Ingredients:
- 4 large-sized Flour tortillas
- 1 pound of meat, lets say chicken
- ½ cup refried beans
- ½ cup chopped onions
- ½ cup of chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup of chopped bell peppers
- ½ teaspoon of chopped garlic
- Salt and pepper for taste
- 2 cups of vegetable oil
Now that you have your arsenal fully stocked, it is time to take the next step… so let’s get cooking! Here is a recipe from wikiHow, which shows a great way on how to make chimichangas:
(Remember: this recipe specifies use with chicken only, but it is fine to use other meats, such as ground beef.)
Steps
1.) Heat a pot over medium heat. Add the chicken, onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, salt, and pepper into the pot.
2.) Mix and coat the chicken with the ingredients. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 45 minutes. Stir occasionally to allow the chicken to braise.
3.)Remove from the heat and allow the chicken to cool.
4.) Shred the chicken into pieces with your hands or a fork.
5.) Heat the refried beans in a saucepan over medium heat for 5 minutes or until it gets warm.
6.)Use a frying pan or griddle to heat the flour tortillas. Fry for a minute on both sides for each tortilla.
7.) Spoon a scoopful of beans in the center of the tortilla. Spread it out vertically.
8.) Add about a cup of the chicken mix to the tortilla. Sprinkle this out along the refried beans.
9.) Add your toppings. Go zesty with your burrito and pile on the guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.
10.)Fold in each side of the tortilla. While applying pressure around the middle, fold the piece closest to you over the center of the tortilla. Just continue to roll the tortilla over until the center is resting on the other end of the tortilla.
11.) Fry the chimichanga in an oiled heated frying pan. Fry for about 5 minutes on each side. Get the outside shell to be slightly brown and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the chimichangas from the pan so that the oil drips off easily.
12.) Serve the chimichangas with additional sour cream, salsa, and guacamole on the side.
This is only one interpretation of the famous recipe for how to make chimichangas. The other ingredient for a successful chimichanga is how much love and customization you put into it. More or less, it is the fundamental way to prepare any great Mexican dish for the whole family to enjoy.
There many great side dishes that will go great with your chimichangas, like nachos with your choice of dip. Rice would also compliment this tasty dish. Rice is seen as a backbone for meals like this because the Mexican culture relies greatly on rice. Once you learn how to make chimichangas, you’ll want to expand your plethora of Mexican recipes to mix and match with different menu items. The possibilities are endless!
If you would like to truly experience an authentic chimichanga and you live in Massachusetts, then Casa Blanca Mexican Restaurant is the place for you! Join us in any of our 3 great locations such as Andover, North Andover, or Billerica, Massachusetts.
Are your taste buds tingling yet now that you know how to make chimichangas?!