Doritos-Flavored Duros {Mexican Chips}

Vegan chicharrones de harina are lightly-fried Mexican chips coated in homemade “Doritos” seasoning made with nutritional yeast. They’re dairy-free and so delicious. I think you’ll love these Mexican Doritos better than the store-bought version any day.

{Post first published March 31, 2016. Last updated August 10, 2022}.

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It is with my sincerest apologies that it has taken me this long to bring you another recipe for Pinwheel Mexican Chips.

My first Mexican Wheel Chips recipe is similar to the ones Mexican natives know and love and is one of the most popular on my site, not to mention a staple at our house. It’s not hard to see why, I mean what’s not to love about crunchy fried Mexican chips doused in lime juice and sprinkled with sea salt and chili?

More To Explore

Chicharrones de Harina

Classic Guacamole + Homemade Tortilla Chips

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What’s With These Mexican Chips?

So if you’ve never seen these golden brown wheels of glory, you are probably saying to yourself…huh?! I thought Mexican chips were tortilla chips?

Well yes, but of course there’s more chips in the Mexican food world than white corn chips, blue corn chips, and other forms of crispy tortilla chips. I mean, do Americans only eat potato chips? I think not!

Let me explain, traditional chicharrones are rectangular, crispy fried pig skin that have the most incredible texture and are incredibly addictive. In the United States we know them as pork rinds.

These chips, on the other hand, are made of wheat (so not gluten-free) but, completely vegan, and sometimes come in large rectangular sheets looking strikingly similar to the piggy version— hence the similar name.

But, but, but, the wheel shaped Mexican chips are also sometimes called Duros de harina or Duritos. So I thought, why not make Doritos-flavored Duritos because that would be:

A) Super cute and B) Really delicious

How To Make Mexican Doritos

Mexican Chicharrones Chips or duros are one of those things that I don’t make as often as I should. The whole frying thing sometimes throws me for a loop but they are incredibly easy.

They take about 2 minutes, and freshly fried food tastes about a gazillion and a half times better than any store-bought snack food.

You simply heat a pot of vegetable oil, add the duros and fry them. After that put them in a large bowl, toss them with the spice mix and enjoy!

How To Make Vegan Nacho Cheese Spice Mix

These Mexican chips are the vegan version of the traditional pork fat chips.

So when it came to dusting them with unmistakable Doritos Nacho Cheese flavor, I wanted to replicate the magical cheese dust of the flavored tortilla chips but keep them vegan at the same time.  

After much trial and error, I decided to use nutritional yeast for the tangy cheese appeal.

Nutritional yeast is typically used to brew beer and has an unmistakable fermented cheesy flavor. I also added all the right spices to get that perfect Doritos-inspired taste, but you know, without the cheese.

In addition to the nutritional yeast the spice mix has:

• Granulated garlic
• Onion powder
• Cumin seed
• Paprika
• Ancho chili powder
• Cayenne pepper

Tools You’ll Need

Now before you dive head-first into that pot of boiling oil, a word to the wise; the wheels puff up to about four times their size. You need to use a pot big enough to give them room to expand, or make them in small batches.

• A large saucepan, about 3.5 Quarts works great. I always use my trusty Le Creuset Braiser for all my frying. If you’re in the market for a new pot, I know these cost a pretty penny but it will last you a lifetime and is perfect for braising, frying, even baking bread.
• This bamboo skimmer (sometimes called a spider) is a frying must.

Tips For Frying At Home

I think there’s a lot of fear about deep-frying food at home. While I can’t say it is the safest thing you’ll ever do, it shouldn’t be avoided like the plague. If you use the right equipment and follow general safety tips you’ll be fine. Just take your time, be prepared, and give it a go!

Here are some frying rules to follow:

1. Diligently watch the oil temperature. A deep-fat fry thermometer will help with this. The oil should be at 350°F so raise or lower the temperature as needed.
2. Use vegetable or canola oil. Do not use extra virgin olive oil, the smoke point is too low and the oil will burn and taste terrible.
3. Oil and water DO NOT MIX. Make sure your pot and spoon, tongs, or anything else that is going into the hot oil is completely dry. Any water dropped into the hot oil will explode.
4. Only fill the pot one-half to two-thirds of the way from the top with oil. You don’t want the pot to overflow when you add the chips.
5. Be prepared to set out a fire. Keep a box of baking soda close by just in case of accidents. Water will not put out a grease fire, but dousing it in baking soda will.

More Snack Recipes You’ll Love!

• How To Make Homemade Chamoy
• Cheddar Bacon Jalapeño Poppers
• Chicharrones de Harina
• Smoky Chipotle Guacamole Recipe
• Easy 3-Ingredient Sour Cream Fruit Dip
• How To Make A Mangonada {Spicy Mango Slushy}
• Citrus Seafood Ceviche

These Mexican Doritos Set The Bar Higher

If you thought American Doritos were good this Mexican version made with chicharrones de harina set the bar higher for regular chips. Let me know when you try them by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

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