So, are tortilla chips vegan? Vegans eat tortilla chips. The basic tortilla chip recipe is straightforward and vegan. That’s why tortilla chips comprise wheat, oil, water, and whatever spices you choose, such as salt. Because they are all plant-based or mineral-based components, you won’t find any animal products in your tortilla chips very often.
However, certain flavored tortilla chips may not be vegan if we source the flavorings from animal-based foods or dairy sources. The most basic tortilla chips, which come in various brands, should be safe.
Are Tortillas Considered Vegan?
Veganism is not so much a vegetarian diet as it is a way of life. You may be simply trying to stay away from animal products or prefer those that aren’t tested on animal components. Many popular treats, fortunately, are created with organic ingredients. So now that you know that plant-based materials make tortillas, you may relax. This indicates that we include this snack in a vegan diet.
Tortilla flours of the 1990s occasionally contained lard. However, due to healthcare considerations, no such examples exist now. You may still find several animal-derived components in most processed foods.
Tortillas prepared from maize flour are mostly vegan because they don’t include any oil. Although it’s unlikely, you could stumble across wheat corn flour tortillas that have lard. This is because today’s tortilla manufacturers utilize vegetable oil instead.
Are Blue Corn Tortilla Chips Vegan?
Blue corn tortillas are similar to white and yellow corn tortillas. However, we prepare them from a variety of maize. With several corn species to choose from, each one has its tortilla chips flavor, color, and texture. Another advantage of organic blue corn tortillas is that they are inherently gluten-free and vegan food.
Which Tortilla Chips Are Vegan?
As corn tortillas are composed entirely of ground maize, they are always vegan. Although corn tortillas are gluten-free, they have a small diameter and will shatter if manufactured any larger. Tacos and quesadillas are created with big tortillas made of wheat, usually white or whole grain.
To spare you the trouble of reading product labels, below is a list of vegan tortilla chip kinds that are currently available:
- Organic Tortilla Chips – White Corn 365 Everyday Value
- Grain-Free Tortilla Chips with a Lime Squeeze
- Red Hot Blues – Garden of Eatin’
- Blue Corn Tortilla Chips from Garden of Eatin’
- Summertime Blues — Multi-Grain Tortilla Chips – Late July Snacks
- Crispy Tostitos Rounds Chips de Tortilla
- Tortilla Chips – Restaurant Style – El Sabroso
How to Make Vegan Tortilla Chips?
You only require a few easy actions and components for making tortilla chips.
- 4 tortillas per serving
- olive oil (extra virgin)
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered onion
- a half teaspoon of garlic powder
- a quarter teaspoon of nutritional yeast
- a quarter teaspoon of sweet paprika
Process
- To make the dough, follow these steps: To begin, whisk together wheat flour, baking powder, salt, yeast, and oil. After that, add boiling water and knead the mixture into a dough.
- Cut tortillas in half, brush with olive oil or alternative vegetable oil, and place on a baking dish lined with parchment paper.
- If desired, season with spices or salt-free seasonings.
- Brush with lime juice and season with salt.
- Preheat the oven to 390°F or 200°C and bake the tortillas on the center rack for 5 minutes. Remove them from the oven and set them aside to cool for crunchy chips.
What Can Make Tortilla Chips Non-Vegan?
When we add other colors and flavors to these plant-based tortilla chips, things become problematic. Many firms use animal or unethically derived products in their tastes and spices. The debate about artificial colors just adds to the confusion.
Some vegans argue that you should avoid items using artificial hues since these colors are tested on animals, for those unaware of the debate. You are contributing to or enabling animal cruelty if you continue to use items with artificial colors.
On the other hand, many vegans claim that the ubiquitous use of food colors has made avoiding them difficult. They further claim that avoiding meals containing artificial colors will have little impact on animal experimentation as synthetic dyes are utilized in various products, including cosmetics, skincare, and paint, to mention a few.
Although food colors vary, all colorants are evaluated for safety. The use of lard rather than corn oil is another element that might render tortilla chips non-vegan.
How to Make Sure Tortilla Chips Are Vegan?
The basic tortilla chips with no extra flavorings are your best choice for vegan tortilla chips. To eliminate the potential of non-vegan ingredients being snuck into organic tortilla chips, get the plain type.
If you truly want to test some unique tortilla chip tastes, you’ll have to undergo the entire ingredient-checking process. Ensure the tortilla chips you’re considering buying don’t include any animal-derived substances by reading the label.
Final Words – Are Tortilla Chips Vegan?
Traditional tortilla chips are vegan, so vegans eat chips for the most part. They do, however, occasionally contain fat. Non-vegan tortilla chips come in a variety of flavors. The most frequent non-vegan tortilla chip varieties are nacho cheese and ranch. On the other hand, other varieties may contain non-vegan or contentious ingredients.
Always examine the materials list to be sure the tortilla chips you’re buying don’t include any animal-derived products. So before ordering outdoors, inquire with the server.
