Halloween tortillas with tomato salsa

These crunchy Halloween tortilla chips - flavoured with smoked paprika and served alongside a fresh tomato salsa - make the perfect savoury treat for spooky season.

Both the tortilla chips and the salsa are incredibly easy to make with really simple ingredients and equipment, so you'll be able to make up a batch in no time.

You could serve them at a Halloween party, pop some in a Halloween lunch bowl, or enjoy them as a snack after an evening of trick-or-treating.

To start, you'll grab some corn and wheat tortillas and cut out as many shapes as you can with some Halloween cookie cutters. You'll then transfer all the tortilla shapes onto an oiled baking tray, spray them with oil and scatter with salt, pepper and paprika. All that's needed to turn them crisp and delicious is 5 minutes in the oven!

To make the quick tomato salsa, you'll need to peel and deseed your tomatoes, but don't worry, I've got some easy tips to do this in a flash, you'll then chop and combine with onions, garlic, coriander, lime juice and red wine vinegar and boom! Perfect fresh, zingy and delicious salsa, ready to enjoy.

Here's the full recipe.

Instructions

Make the Halloween tortillas

Preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan).

Place your tortillas on your board, one by one.

Use your cookie cutters to cut out as many shapes as you can. 

If you find that the tortillas are tricky to cut through, give the cutter a wiggle as you push.

Place all of your tortilla shapes on two large, greased trays. Don't piled them on top of each other as this will make them less likely to turn crisp.

Spray with oil, then sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika. Add as little or as much paprika as you like - a little goes a long way.

Bake for 5 minutes.

Remove the tray from the oven and allow the tortilla chips to cool on the tray - they will turn more crisp as they cool.

Make the salsa

First, you’ll need to peel the tomatoes. To do this, drop the into a pan of boiling water for 30 seconds, then fish your tomatoes out and drop them straight into a bowl of very cold water (add ice, if you have it).

Once cool enough to handle, the skin should peel off easily. 

Once peeled, slice them in half.

Scoop out the seeds using a teaspoon.

Chop into small pieces.

Pop into a bowl.

Add the finely chopped red onion, garlic, coriander, lime juice, red wine vinegar, and a pinch of salt and pepper. 

Mix well, taste and season further, if needed.

Transfer to a small bowl and serve with the tortillas.

Enjoy! The crisp Halloween tortilla chips are perfect for scooping up the deliciously fresh salsa.

Pointers, tricks and troubleshooting tips for the perfect Halloween tortilla chips

Are Halloween tortilla chips easy to make?

Yes! These Halloween tortilla chips are super simple to make and look fantastic for a Halloween party. It's great a way to add something savoury to the mix at a time when sweet things are in abundance. 

They are really quick to make. We're using ready-made tortilla wraps for these spooky chips so all you need to do is cut your shapes, oil and season, then bake for 5 minutes to crisp up. 

For the salsa, you'll simply combine tomatoes, red onion, garlic, coriander, lime juice and red wine vinegar for a fresh and zingy accompaniment.

Will I need any special equipment to make Halloween tortilla chips?

You won't need much to make these tortillas and salsa, just standard kit such as a chopping board and kitchen knife, baking sheet and bowl.

Most importantly, you'll need some suitably scary cookie cutters like these. Or you can have a go at cutting the shapes freehand, but that would be rather more fiddly. 

How can I tell if tortilla wraps have gone off?

First, make sure they have been stored correctly and the packaging isn't damaged. Next, check the use-by date on the packet. If they've already been opened they should be stored in a sealed container where they'll last a couple more days. Alternatively, they can be kept in the freezer for up to 2 months to prolong their life. 

Similar to bread, tortilla wraps will go stiff and stale, then mouldy when they have gone off. If they have only been open a day or two and are just a little stiff, they're ok to use in this recipe, provided they mould-free and still smell good and cut cleanly.

Are Halloween tortilla chips suitable for vegetarians or vegans? 

Yes, this recipe is suitable for vegetarians and vegan friendly, do make sure to use wraps which are suitable for vegans and check the food colourings too as some brands contain animal-derived products which would not be suitable for vegans.

Are Halloween tortilla chips gluten-free? 

In this recipe, I'm using wheat-based tortilla wraps to make the chips with, so no these would not be suitable for a gluten-free diet. 

You can easily switch wheat-based wraps for a gluten-free alternative or use gluten-free corn tortilla wraps if you can get hold of them. This can sometimes be a challenge in the UK as most corn tortilla wraps still contain some wheat flour. 

Make sure to check everything you are serving with these Halloween tortilla chips with are also suitable for a gluten-free diet. 

Are Halloween tortilla chips safe to eat while pregnant? 

Yes, these Halloween tortilla chips don't contain anything that should pose a risk to a pregnant woman, as long as they are made safely and hygienically. 

As the salsa involves fresh salad, the NHS advises: "Wash fruit, vegetables and salads to remove all traces of soil, which may contain toxoplasma (a parasite that can cause toxoplasmosis) which can harm your unborn baby."

A Mummy Too does not offer medical advice. Please seek help from a health professional if you have any concerns. The NHS has some fantastic guidance on foods to avoid whilst pregnant.

What goes well with Halloween tortilla chips?

We love these Halloween tortilla chips as a savoury alternative to all the sweet treats around at Halloween. They are the perfect companion to the salsa, but you could also make some ghoulish guacamole to serve them with. 

Can I make this recipe without paprika?

Yes, if you don't like paprika, you can leave it out. You can play around with the spice blend to suit your tastes, how about a little cayenne pepper if you like more spice, or use cumin for a more mellow flavour. A pinch of garlic granules would be great too.

How should I store Halloween tortilla chips? How long will they keep? 

I find they are best enjoyed fresh, but these tortillas will still be ok the next day if you have leftovers. 

Halloween tortilla chips will need to be stored in an airtight container to keep them fresher for longer. Place them somewhere cool and dry, such as the cupboard or pantry. They will keep for a couple of days.

How should I store tomato salsa? How long will it keep? 

Your simple salsa is made with fresh salad ingredients, so any leftovers should be covered and placed straight into the fridge within an hour of making.

It should keep for 3-4 days.

If you served your salsa all at once and people have dipped their chips (and possibly fingers!) in it then leftovers are best discarded.

Can I leave Halloween tortilla chips out on the counter?

You can leave Halloween tortilla chips out on the counter for a few hours for a party no problem, but they shouldn't be left like this for long as they will go stale very quickly. 

Pop any leftovers into a container and keep it in the cupboard. 

Can I leave fresh salsa out on the counter?

No, you should put your fresh salsa straight into the fridge if you're not going to serve it right away. Left out on the counter, it can begin to develop unsafe levels of bacteria.

Leftovers can be covered and kept in the fridge for 3-4 days, but if you served your salsa all at once and people have dipped their chips (and possibly fingers!) in it then leftovers are best discarded.

Can I make Halloween tortilla chips ahead?

Yes, if you would like to make these the morning of, or the night before serving, that will work just fine. Once the tortilla chips have cooled completely, put them into a sealed container until you're ready for them. 

These Halloween tortilla chips also freeze well so you can make a batch well in advance and keep them in the freezer in a well sealed container for up to two months. 

Can I make the salsa ahead?

Yes, you could make the salsa a day ahead and put it straight into a sealed container and into the fridge, ready to serve the next day.

Can I keep Halloween tortilla chips in the refrigerator?

It's best not to keep these Halloween tortilla chips in the fridge as they may go soggy. Yhe best place to keep them is in a sealed container in a cool, dry pantry or cupboard. 

Can I freeze Halloween tortilla chips?

Yes, Halloween tortilla chips freeze well. If you have space in the freezer, it's a good idea to lay them out on a baking sheet and freeze them spread out. You can layer up a few stacks with baking paper to separate the layers. 

Once frozen, transfer the chips into a suitable container and squeeze out as much air as you can without breaking the chips. Label the tub with the date and what's inside. They will keep in the freezer for up to two months.

How do I defrost Halloween tortilla chips?

The best way to defrost Halloween tortilla chips in the fridge overnight, you can tip them out into a bowl or just leave them in the container. I like to refresh them in the oven for 5 minutes before serving to make sure they are nice and crisp again. 

Can I freeze fresh salsa?

Fresh salad items don't freeze well, so I wouldn't recommend freezing this salsa.

Can I make this recipe in a different quantity?

If you want to make more or less of this Halloween tortilla chips and salsa recipe, its really easy. If you head down to the recipe card you'll see the servings is set to 4.

Click or hover over the number of servings and a slider will appear which you can drag left of right to get the amount you want to make. All the ingredients will update automatically for you to keep everything in proportion. 

Note, yields will vary depending on the size of your wraps, the size of your cutters, and how close together you've managed to cut them out. You can use the different shapes to fit together a bit like a wobbly jigsaw and get more out of each wrap, rather than trying to do one shape in straight lines across a wrap. 

What can I do with all the offcuts of tortilla wraps?

The offcuts needn't be wasted. You can oil, sprinkle with seasoning and bake them just like the proper Halloween shapes, if you like, and serve them spooky shards.

How can I make sure these Halloween tortilla chips are perfectly cooked? 

You'll know these Halloween tortilla chips are done when they are crisp and might have started to brown slightly around the edge. 

They only need to be in the oven for about 5 minutes to crisp up, you can check them after a couple of minutes. Remember they will crisp up more as they cool too. 

Why did my Halloween tortilla chips turn out burnt?

These Halloween tortilla chips only take about 5 minutes to crisp, so you need to set a timer so you remember to get them out before they overcook or burn. 

If the oven is set too hot, they are more likely to burn. You can preheat the oven to 200C (180C fan) and this should be hot enough to crisp up your chips without burning them. 

Why did my Halloween tortilla chips turn out soft?

Soft tortilla chips can be caused by number of things. It's best to cook your tortillas in a single layer, so use a large baking tray, or spread them over two trays as I have, if necessary. If the chips are piled up on top of each other, the heat won't reach them evenly and you'll find some are still soft while others are beginning to burn. 

It's important that you preheat your oven to 200C (180C fan). The tortillas only take about 5 minutes to crisp up so if the oven isn't preheated, it probably won't even be up to temperature when the timer goes off. 

If you remove your tortillas from the oven after 5 minutes and find that even after a few minutes cooling, they still aren't crisp, you can return them to the oven for a couple more minutes.

Why did my Halloween tortilla chips stick to the tray?

It's important to oil the tray before you put the Halloween tortilla chips in to cook. If you tray is prone to sticking, you can line it with baking paper.

Why did my Halloween tortilla chips taste bland? 

Did you remember to add the salt, pepper and paprika? The seasoning is light and subtle so as not to overpower the tortillas and whatever you're serving with them, but you should get a clear smoky taste on the first bite, with the heat building gently as you eat. 

If you find them bland, feel free to double up the amounts of paprika and pepper. You could also add some garlic granules, if you like, just don't add so much seasoning that the chips taste powdery.  

How can I add/change the flavours in Halloween tortilla chips and salsa?

There are a few ways you can tweak this dish. First, you can try using wholemeal wheat or fully corn tortilla wraps for a different base flavour. 

The seasoning can also be adapted to different tastes and what's in the spice rack. You could go hotter spice with cayenne pepper, or something milder with turmeric and cumin. If you're using more than just paprika, salt and pepper, mix your spices in a little bowl before adding to the tortillas so you can give it a taste and adjust if you want to. 

For the salsa, you can add extra salad items, if you like, such as a chopped red or green pepper. You could also finely chop a chilli pepper if you'd like to add heat to the mix.

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If you enjoyed this spooky snack, then you'll likely also enjoy my ghoulish caramel pumpkin pie and this incredible Halloween salad.

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