Homemade Doritos

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a recipe for how to make homemade Cool Ranch Dortios. You can thank me later, once you're done licking the powder off your fingers.

Step 1: Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips are simple to make, whether you plan on converting them to Doritos or not.  For your tortilla chips you will need:

• Soft corn tortillas
• an oil with a light flavor, like sunflower, soybean, canola, etc.

Using a pastry brush, spread a thin layer of oil on both sides of 1 tortilla. Lie flat on cutting board, and stack on another, brushing oil on the top. Repeat until you have a substantial pile. 

Take a sharp knife, and cut your pile of tortillas into even sixths. Lay out on an oiled baking sheet. It doesn't matter if your triangles are touching, but try to not have any overlap. 

Bake at 350 until they start to lightly brown, approximately 10 minutes. Be sure to watch carefully so they don't burn.

If you're not in the mood for Doritos anymore, salt lightly and enjoy with salsa.

Step 2: Mix Seasonings

This was the hard part, makers, but for you I pushed myself through exhaustive "research" to perfect the Cool Ranch powder. Lots of Doritos bags were finished off in the process, and a special thanks to Carleyy for her help in the test kitchen.

With a small bowl and whisk, mix together your seasonings. These are approximate measurements - it's all about taste testing to your own preferences. But with these ingredients and ratios I got a powder that tastes just like the real thing

• 1/2 packet Hidden Valley ranch mix
• 1/4 packet cheese powder from a box of white cheddar mac n' cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• pinch paprika

This made about enough seasoning for a large bag. You'll need ~2 teaspoons of finished spices per baking sheet of chips.

Step 3: Coat Chips

To coat your fresh tortilla chips with Dorito-goodness, you will first be spraying them with oil. Ideally, I would use my own oil and spray it on the chips with a spray bottle or mister. However I don't have those things, so I checked out my grocery store's selection of Pam spray oils. If you're doing this, I suggest reading through some of the ingredients on the back before you buy - a lot of those products have strange ingredients for non-stick purposes, that don't really apply here.

When you're armed with oil, spray your chips lightly while they're still on the baking sheet. Dump into a large gallon-sized Ziplock bag, and add powder (again, about 2 teaspoons per baking sheet of chips. If you like them stronger, add more!)

Shake! You'll see that the powder easily sticks to the chips.

Step 4: Enjoy!

Well that was easy! Pour Doritos into a bowl (or don't, if you believe Doritos are better enjoyed straight from the bag) and snack guilt-free




*note: I was going for entirely homemade Doritos with this Instructable. But if you need to quench your Doritos craving in a pinch, I'm willing to bet you can use this powder recipe to coat store-bought tortilla chips, and it'll taste just fine. If you try this let me know how it works out!

Comments

[StefanieP7]

Oh my goodness all these angry comments. lol thank you for this recipe and for posting pics and steps! I appreciate this very much!!! Looking forward to making these tomorrow!

[silvertank]

Looks yummy, but I'm afraid Hidden Valley ranch mix is full of MSG, and that gives me a smoking headache. Any alernatives?
I will try the chips recipe, as I can eat them without the ranch mix.

[BGR8FUL]

I agree with you, silvertank; I stay away from MSG, not for headache reasons, but because it's a chemical. I have just read this recipe and have not yet tried it, but I actually have a packet of Simply Organic Ranch Dressing mix in my pantry which is what I will use. You should be able to find it in most grocery stores (organic section).

[wobbler]

MSG is a chemical, as most things are. I presume you mean it's "man made" but it's actually a naturally occurring non-essential amino acid commercially produced from fermentation with yeasts or bacteria.
In addition, MSG has never, in scientific tests versus anecdotal evidence, been found to cause any adverse effects in humans, even in "MSG intolerant" people.
I would worry more about the salt (5% sodium) and the 200 calories in a 40g bag.
ref:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monosodium_glutamate
http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/calories-in-food/snacks/Tangy-Cheese-Doritos.htm
http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-doritos-toasted-corn-tortilla-chips-i83666

[jtpetway]

MSG crosses the blood brain bearer and causes Alzheimer's. It also opens the blood brain bearer to pass other harmful toxins into the brain, like micro aluminum and fluorine. Keep using it and you brain will be gone by the time you are sixty years old.
I point these things out for your own good. Live long and prosper.

[WhySoBitter]

This is false, Glutamate (monosodium glutamate) cannot cross the blood brain barrier; even in high concentrations.

Read the last few sentences of the first paragraph(the abstract):
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136011/

[jtpetway]

Blood brain bearer should read blood brain barrior. Thanks to max_brasil for correcting my typo.

[silvertank]

I find it interesting that I cannot post a comment about MSG without having someone defend it. After all, high fructose corn syrup is just sugar, so why all the hoopla? Well, because they are not naturally occurring and our bodies weren't designed to process them. Sure, they are cheap, so corporations will dump in massive amounts; and they have stronger taste than their natural counterparts, so we consume more than we should. If the goal of this instructable is to create a Doritos-like chip, then go ahead and dump in the MSG. But I prefer to upgrade the recipe into something that favors more natural ingredients. For that, I will follow BRG8FUL's advice on the organic ranch mix.

[BGR8FUL]

I have no idea about any studies, but I DO know when my mother was being treated for migraines, her Dr. told her to stay away from MSG, Nitrites, Nitrates, etc. I know many people who get headaches from MSG. On several occasions after my mother had a horrible headache, she reviews what she ate and when reading ingredients of certain foods, she discovered MSG in the item. Personally, I don't see that as being coincidental. So, it is my personal opinion and choice to stay away from it. :o)

[Spookeriffic]

This is a good point I hadn't considered. Thanks for the tip!

[VirgilB3]

What is MSG? Is it bad for you?

Answers from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a flavor enhancer commonly added to Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and processed meats. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified MSG as a food ingredient that's "generally recognized as safe," but its use remains controversial. For this reason, when MSG is added to food, the FDA requires that it be listed on the label.

MSG has been used as a food additive for decades. Over the years, the FDA has received many anecdotal reports of adverse reactions to foods containing MSG. These reactions — known as MSG symptom complex — include:

• Headache
• Flushing
• Sweating
• Facial pressure or tightness
• Numbness, tingling or burning in the face, neck and other areas
• Rapid, fluttering heartbeats (heart palpitations)
• Chest pain
• Nausea
• Weakness

However, researchers have found no definitive evidence of a link between MSG and these symptoms. Researchers acknowledge, though, that a small percentage of people may have short-term reactions to MSG. Symptoms are usually mild and don't require treatment. The only way to prevent a reaction is to avoid foods containing MSG.

With

Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.

There is proof that it doesn't not cause Alzheimer's my source is

Alzheimer's

[silvertank]

I say I get a headache from MSG and you post a quote from a Dietitian. Maybe a quote from a real doctor would be better, but most doctors suggest avoiding MSG. I still believe the stuff is bad for you (at the very least it is a salt which jacks up your sodium intake).

[WhySoBitter]

Eh-hem, a real doctor?? How about a quote from peer reviewed journals... Which are the basis for establishing our past, present, and future medical (and all scientific) findings.

Which this dietitian is quoting in probably the first place.

Don't slander dietitians, they are experts in their field. NUTRITIONISTS generally are not.

[VirgilB3]

mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/monosodium-glutamate/faq-20058196

[BethV]

There are also tons of recipes online for ranch seasoning. It may be cheaper than buying the organic kind in the long run, plus you can tweak it to perfectly suit your tastes.

[snu.wolf]

I'm not gonna lie I just looked this up to get 4 times as much seasoning on my bag of doritos

[SHIFT!]

Kazmataz, have I ever mentioned how much I love you recently?

Now all you have to do is make them 3D :D

[BethV]

I MISS THOSE!!!!

[mann3]

OMG!!!! 3D Doritos! I lately have been mentioning these to my friends, and no one believes me they exist! Know anywhere I could find them?

[SHIFT!]

MéxIco :/