Tortilla chips are more than salty snacks. These are crispy, crunchy little morsels that can help spice up your meals. Whether you’re cooking a steak or a rack of ribs, these snacks make everything taste better. But sometimes we run out of tortilla chips and don’t have any in the pantry to replace them with. We’re here to help.
Instead of loading up on the calories and fat, try these tortilla chip substitutes to make your food more nutritious and delicious.
What is tortilla chips made of?
Corn tortillas are used to make tortilla chips, which are then sliced into triangles and fried or baked (alternatively they may be discs pressed out of corn masa then fried or baked). Nixtamalized corn, vegetable oil, salt, and water are used to make corn tortillas. Although tortilla chips were initially mass-produced for the American market in Los Angeles in the late 1940s, they originated in Mexican cuisine, where dishes like totopos and tostadas were popular.
They can be produced using white, blue, or red maize in addition to the conventional yellow corn. While certain tortilla chips may be seasoned with a variety of flavors, most tortilla chips meant for dipping are merely mildly salted.
List of 12 Healthy Tortilla Chips Alternative
1. Unsalted Peanuts
Unsalted peanuts are healthier than tortilla chips, because of the salt content. The unsalted peanuts have a lot less than the tortilla chips. It says some good stuff about unsalted peanuts but it does not really say it is going to be that great of a snack food. But he is right about the amount of sodium and carbs. Plus you can make your own salted peanuts if you want because the flavors are in there and they are just waiting to be released.
2. Kale chips
Kale chips can be a healthy option as they contain less calories than normal tortilla chips. Kale chips also help you cut down on unhealthy munching as you can eat these without any guilt. They are also versatile and you can add them to your breakfast meal, in salads, and as snacks throughout the day.
If you love kale chips, try baking them at home. You will only need two ingredients: kale leaves and olive oil. Soak the leaves in water for 15 minutes before using so that they become soft and easier to roll or cut into chip shapes. Use toothpicks to hold the rolls together.
You can also buy kale chips from stores if you do not wish to prepare them yourself.
3. Unsalted Crackers
Tortilla chips, which are generally made from corn and are available in a variety of flavors, are often touted as a healthier alternative to potato chips. A serving of tortilla chips contains a negligible amount of fat but does contain plenty of carbs and calories.
However, unsalted crackers can be used as a better alternative to tortilla chips when it comes to health. Unsalted crackers, which are usually made from whole grains such as wheat, oats or rye, contain fiber. Fiber is crucial for healthy digestion. In addition, unsalted crackers contain only trace amounts of fat and cholesterol.
A 28-gram serving (about seven unsalted crackers) contains only 90 calories, 110 milligrams of sodium and 15 grams carb. Meanwhile, the same size portion of tortilla chips has 138 calories, 119 milligrams of sodium and 19 grams of carbs.
It’s easy to see that unsalted crackers provide you with more nutrients per calorie than tortilla chips do. But whether they ultimately prove to be a healthier choice is debatable. Since they do not have any nutritional value beyond fiber and some minerals, eating too much of them may lead to weight gain due to the presence of carbohydrates in them.
4. Flax Crackers
Flax crackers are made from flaxseed and are typically used to dip into dahi (yogurt) or sambhar (lentil soup). Flaxseed is a superfood that is good for the heart. Flaxseed contains omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation and lower cholesterol. Flaxseed also contains lignans, which have been shown to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Flax crackers take longer than tortilla chips to digest and therefore tend to slow down bowel movements. Therefore, it is not advisable to eat flax crackers if you are going on a road trip; they will make you get to your destination a lot faster!
Flax crackers are a low-calorie substitute for tortilla chips and can be eaten as such as well with other dips and spreads.
5. Zucchini Chips
Zucchini chips are a healthy tortilla chips alternative that you can make at home. You can store these in an air tight container for up to a week and eat them as a snack or side dish for lunch or dinner. Zucchini chips are keto-friendly and a great substitute for any kind of unhealthy carbs like white bread, white rice, and so on.
Non-starchy vegetables are very nutritious and filled with vitamins. An average cup of baked zucchini has as low as 12 calories. The best part is, it is almost zero carb content. Nowadays, people are trying to avoid carbs while they try to shed weight. Zucchini chips can be a great filling snack when you are trying to lose weight fast and not consume any unhealthy carbs.
6. Matzo
Matzo is a cracker made out of flour and water. It is the traditional food eaten during Passover, a Jewish holiday commemorating the exodus from Egypt. Eating bread during Passover is not allowed because it reminds Jews of the manna that God provided in the desert.
While matzo is not a healthy substitute for bread, it is still a healthier alternative to tortilla chips. A serving of tortilla chips contains 138 calories, 1 milligram of sodium, 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. By comparison, matzo only contains 111 calories, 1 milligram of sodium, 0 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber. The fat content in tortilla chips is also higher than in matzo at 8 grams compared to 1 gram. Additionally, tortilla chips contain more sugar and trans fat at 1 gram each compared to 0 grams for matzo.
The main benefit to eating matzo instead of tortilla chips is that you will eat less, feel fuller faster and consume fewer calories overall.
7. Tofu Chips
Are you looking for a low-carb, high-protein alternative to regular tortilla chips? Well, look no further!
I’ve been on a low carb diet for a while now. I’m not trying to lose weight, but I wanted to eat better and I wanted to make sure I was getting enough protein.
I stumbled upon this recipe for tofu chips! It seemed so weird at first, but once I tried them, I couldn’t believe how good they tasted! You need plain firm tofu (which is sometimes called extra firm), a non-stick pan, salt, pepper and olive oil. That’s it! Plus whatever spices you want to add.
The original recipe said to slice the tofu and then lightly fry it in oil. But since I was using olive oil spray, I didn’t think that step would really work out. So instead of cutting it into slices, I cut it into 1/4 inch squares. You may need to cut the slices a little thicker so they don’t fall apart. You can get a whole lot of protein going if you’re looking for a low-carb alternative with these.
8. Broccoli Crowns
Tortilla chips can be a great snack food. But they are high in calories, sodium and fat. You can make your own healthy tortilla chips using broccoli crowns. This means you can enjoy the taste of tortilla chips without compromising on your health.
The broccoli crowns need to be cut into thin slices so that they resemble tortillas after baking. You can use olive oil or spray and lightly coat the broccoli crown slices with it before baking them in the oven for about 15 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sprinkle some salt and pepper on top and enjoy a healthy version of tortilla chips!
9. Banana Chips
Banana chips are a great alternative to tortilla chips as they are healthy, tasty and cheap. They can be stored for a long time without losing their original flavor and taste.
Tortilla chips have a lot of calories and can raise blood sugar levels. The main reason for this is the fat content, the hydrogenerated vegetable oil that is used in the preparation process. Banana chips are rich in fiber and are also gluten-free, making them a much healthier treat than tortilla chips.
You can store banana chips for up to 3 months without them losing their original flavor. They might lose some color, but this doesn’t affect the taste at all. You can use them as a substitute for salted tortilla chips or simply dip them in homemade hummus.
10. Potato Chips
Potato chips and corn tortilla chips are very similar. You may have already noticed this – but we’re here to tell you that your observation is correct. Potato chips are a great substitute for tortilla chips and they can be used in the same way.
Unlike tortilla chips, potato chips are not made from corn. Instead they’re made from potatoes and as a result, there are a couple of differences between them.
For one, potato chips tend to be more expensive than corn tortilla chips, especially since the two snacks come in different sizes and flavors. However, for anyone who loves salsa or dips and wants to buy in bulk, potato chips are a good option since the price per ounce or per bag will be lower.
Another difference between the two snacks is that potato chips are slightly less crispy than tortilla chips. This means that although both snacks can serve as a wonderful alternative for dipping anything from salsa to guacamole, when it comes to crunchiness, tortilla chips will always win (just like every other chip).
11. Cauliflower
Have you ever had a cauliflower crown? Cauliflower crowns are amazing and delicious. If you try this recipe, you would be amazed at how great they taste. So many people love tortillas, whether it’s tacos or burritos, but if you’re looking for something healthy and tasty, then do try this recipe. It is light on the stomach, and so easy to make.
Cauliflower is an amazing vegetable that is low in calories yet high in fiber and vitamin C. A serving of cauliflower contains as little as 25 calories while providing a good amount of fiber (2g). Cauliflower also offers some vitamin K, thiamin and folate.
12. Radicchio
If you love making quesadillas as much as I do, you’ll love this alternative to tortilla chips. The radicchio adds a little bit of bitterness that pairs extremely well with the cheese sauces. I’m not the biggest fan of radicchio, but if you are this is an easy way to use it up without having to cook it or eat it on its own.
Conclusion
Vegetable chips are really just vegetables cut into chip-sized pieces and baked until they’re crunchy. Which means that you can use any vegetable and make chips out of it.
Embrace the idea that you can get a chip substitute from anywhere and with anything, then go have fun trying out new things. You don’t have to stick to one thing and you don’t have to just do one thing, so let yourself experiment. You might find something better than tortilla chips.