Straw Hat Recipe

The straw hat recipe is also known as the Frito Pie recipe or Texas straw hat recipe. So, don’t get confused when hearing this name. This recipe is differently delicious and looks like a bed of chips with chili. 

The Texas straw hat recipe originated in 1961. There’s no specific idea where this recipe comes from and why it was named straw hat. But it’s assumed this recipe was invented from any of the camping of a girl’s scout. 

Cooking this recipe is pretty flexible as you can include or exclude ingredients according to your preference. So, let’s jump into the detail.

Straw Hat Ingredients

You’ll have to collect pretty more ingredients to prepare the straw hat recipe. Here are what you need to collect-

Ground Beef (2 Pounds)

It’s a beef-based recipe, so, you’ll need 2 pounds of beef. So, take ground beef for this recipe. 

Water (2 Cups)

Take 2 cups of cold water. 

Onion (1 Cup)

Take a large onion and chop it into small pieces.

Celery (⅔ Cup)

To get a unique flavor along with some additional nutritious value of celery, you can add celery to your recipe. It’s a high-water content ingredient that improves heart health, blood clotting, and red blood cells. So, take ⅔ cup of chopped celery. 

Canola Oil (3 Tbsp)

Cooking this recipe using canola oil will bring two benefits. One is the flavor and the other is the taste. So, take 3 tbsp of canola oil. 

However, canola oil can be substituted with vegetable oil or regular cooking oil. But, substituting it with cooking oil won’t bring that taste as canola oil or vegetable oil offer. 

Green Pepper (⅔ cup)

If you prefer having heat and spicy flavor, take ⅔ cup of chopped green pepper.   

Thyme (½ Tsp)

Thyme is a great source of flavor. Adding ½ tsp of thyme will make your recipe flavorful and tasty. 

Black Pepper Powder (¼ Tsp)

Like thyme, black pepper will also increase the flavor. So, take ¼ tsp. 

Tortilla (1 Bag of 12 oz)

You’ll also need to take 1 bag of tortillas with a 12 oz measurement. 

Tomato Paste (1 Can of 12 oz)

Adding canned tomato paste will lessen your cooking time and also get the recipe a good taste. So, take a can of tomato paste of 12 oz measurement. 

If you don’t want to spend on store-bought one, make your own tomato paste before starting the main recipe. But for the homemade paste, take 1 ½ cups of paste.

Salt (2 Tsp)

It will need only 2 tsp of salt. 

Chili Powder (3 Tbsp)

It can be more or less depending on how much heat you prefer. For our recipe, we’ll take 3 tbsp of chili powder. Adding 3 tbsp of powder will make an ideal combination with other ingredients for a good taste. 

Catch-up (½ Cup)

Your recipe will be more delicious and spicy if you add catch-up. So, take ½ cup of catch-up. 

Worcestershire Sauce (2 Tbsp)

Take 2 tbsp of Worcestershire sauce.

Cheddar Cheese (2 Cups)

To make the straw hat recipe creamy, take shredded cheese of 2 cups. 

Jalapenos (1)

Jalapenos are another super ingredient to get additional heat and flavor. Take a jalapeno and chop it into small pieces. But, it’s optional. 

How to Make a Straw Hat?

The name of this recipe is a straw hat, it’s because maybe the tortilla chips look like hat after spreading over. Anyway, here’s how you can make this tasty straw hat dish-

Step-1

Put a giant-size saucepan/ skillet on the stove at medium heat. Let the oil be warmed for 30 seconds. Once the oil is warmed, add your chopped onions, celery, and green pepper. 

Stir the ingredients and cook them on low heat for 10 minutes. They will become nicely tender but don’t make them brown. 

Step-2

If you see the trinity is softer, add the ground beef. Make sure you’ve broken the beef properly. Or it won’t mix with the Trinity properly. Now keep stirring and let it become light brown for 10 minutes. 

Step-3

Now add the tomato paste, catch-up, and water, ad stir them all. Make sure all the ingredients are mixed well. Stir for 1 minute constant to incorporate all the elements properly. 

Step-4

Now add salt, black pepper, thyme, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce. And, continue mixing them together. Now keep the skillet uncover and let the mixture simmer for 1 hour at medium-low heat.

Step-5

This chili recipe is already thickened, and all other ingredients have also spread their flavor perfectly. Your recipe is almost done. All you need is to add the tortilla chips. However, you’re not supposed to spread the chips in the entire skillet. 

Step-6

Now take your serving dish, take how much you need to serve, and spread the tortilla chips over the straw hat. Now spread shredded cheddar cheese, and some jalapenos for added heat. You’re done! 

Best Side Dishes to Serve With

This dish is a versatile recipe that matches almost all types of recipes for dinner. Here are some of the best examples-

• Grains
• Fried Rice
• Tacos
• Bread
• Toasted Vegetables
• Mashed Potatoes 
• Fried Chicken
• Spaghetti

Conclusion

For a summertime easy, quick, and delicious dinner, the straw hat recipe comes into consideration. Although the name seems like a natural hat to use in the sun, it’s actually a dish.

This dish is perfect for a kid’s breakfast or an adult’s dinner. Also, you can make it a good supportive dish for small family parties. It’s delicious and requires pantry ingredients.

So, with all the available ingredients in your kitchen cabinet, you can make it anytime. So, with a little preparation, you can get a big cooking result with this recipe.