Tortilla chips intended for dipping are typically only lightly salted. A restrained amount of salt keeps the chip from overwhelming salsa, guacamole, queso, or other dips, while still enhancing the corn’s flavor.
Tortilla chips are generally made from corn tortillas that are cut into pieces and then fried or baked. They may be yellow, white, blue, or red, depending on the corn used. Plain dipping chips are usually seasoned simply, whereas snack-style varieties may carry stronger flavors such as chili, lime, cheese, or barbecue.
A common mix-up is confusing “lightly salted” with unsalted. Lightly salted chips still contain salt; they simply use less of it than heavily seasoned chips. The contrast between a crisp, mildly seasoned chip and a richly flavored dip is part of the standard tortilla-chip experience.