Loaded Nachos

January 29, 2015

Loaded Nachos

Some food is literally made to be eaten in front of the TV. I am usually not a fan of this habit (at least if I’m in company), but these loaded nachos are definitely one of these foods. It just feels wrong, sharing and eating, while sitting up straight on a chair. There may be only one exception, where nachos are good to eat while sitting on furniture, made of wood: in a bar, accomanied by a pitcher of beer.

Usually, all you need for these nachos is a comfy sofa and a no-brainer TV-Show or movie. Nothing too sophisticated – you will need all your brain to figure out, how not to make a huge mess between eating, drinking, sharing, cushions and blankets …. So: It’s just the right food for watching the Super Bowl, at least if you are watching it for the half time show anyway! It’s a shame, but people in Austria usually don’t care much about football (they prefer kicking the ball with their feet), so todays recipe is all American. Not exactly traditionally Bostonian, but who could ever sip a bowl of New England clam chowder while watching Tom Brady smashing the Seahawks (or not??).  And since I am not enirely a huge fan of chicken wings, nachos are my first choice. The contrast between the hot chips and cheese and the cold salsa is just awesome.

Ingredients for Nachos

These are the ingredients for my favorite nachos. I used blue and yellow tortilla chips, black beans, fresh and canned tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, shallots, garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, a mix of cheddar and mozzarella and sour cream. If you don’t plan on adding an extra veggie layer as I do, you can skip the red bell pepper, one shallot and the fresh tomatoes.

Ingredients for Nacho Salsa

For the red salsa you have to dice the veggies very finely (right side). For the additional veggie layer you don’t have to be so carfeful – chunky is good enough (left side).

Red Salsa for NachosSautée shallots, green bell pepper and garlic for the salsa. Add the diced, peeled tomatoes and cook over low heat until it has thickened as shown in the picture. I prefer my salsa to be cold, because there is nothing better than the mix of hot chips and cheese topped with cold salsa ;-)

Basic Salsa for Nachos

When the salsa is cooled down, mix in chopped cilantro and jalapeno.

How to make Loaded Nachos

On a large oven-proof plate, baking pan or any other oven-proof casserole dish, spread out a third of the tortilla chips. Next, evenly spread a third of the cheese and beans over the chips. If you want an extra veggie layer, spread a third of the cut veggies now. Repeat two times, so you have 3 layers of chips, cheese, beans and veggies.

How to make Loaded Nachos

Repeat two times, so you have 3 layers of chips, cheese, beans and veggies. Before baking in the oven, the dish should look like in the picture above. Bake the nachos for about 15 minutes until the cheese is melted. If you opt for the veggie version, bake it a little longer (25 minutes or so), so the vegetables soften. Cover with aluminum foil for the first 15 minute. This way, the veggies get softer while the tacos don’t burn.

Remove nachos from oven and top with homemade salsa and a dollop of sour cream before serving. Be careful, plate (casserole) is hot. Enjoy (in front of the TV)!

Loaded Nachos

If you feel like adding a little more mess to your plate, prepare some additional guacamole or pico de gallo. Also a good idea if sharing your plate with chowhounds.

Loaded Nachos

Serving Size: For 2 hungry persons or 4 persons to snack

Loaded Nachos

Ingredients

    For the salsa (everything finely diced)
  • 1 small shallot (about 2 tablespoons chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic
  • ¼ green bell pepper (1½ oz / 40 g / about ¼ cup chopped)
  • 10 oz / 340g whole peeled tomatoes (can) incl. some juice (or diced tomatoes)
  • ¼ teaspoon fine salt
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
  • 1 jalapeño, cut in rings
  • For an extra veggie layer (everything diced in ½ inch cubes)
  • 1 small shallot (about 2 tablespoons chopped)
  • ¼ red bell pepper (1½ oz / 40 g / about ¼ cup chopped)
  • ¼ green bell pepper (1½ oz / 40 g / about ¼ cup chopped)
  • ½ tomato or 6-8 grape tomatoes, seeded
    ----------------------------------
  • 8 oz / 225 g tortilla chips (½ to ¾ bag, depending on size)
  • 8 oz / 225 g (about 2 cups) shredded cheese (I used a mix of cheddar and mozzarella)
  • 2½ oz / 70 g (½ cup) black beans (can), rinsed and drained
  • 1-2 tablespoons sour cream, stirred until smooth, for serving

Instructions

    For making the salsa
  1. If you are using whole peeled tomatoes, remove the stem (that’s why I always use whole ones) and dice them. If you use diced ones, relax.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minutes.
  3. Add green pepper and cook for another 3 minutes.
  4. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
  5. Before the garlic browns, add the diced tomatoes (with some tomato juice).
  6. Bring to a boil and simmer, uncovered, over low heat, stirring frequently. The tomatoes should cook down to a thick mass. Usually it takes about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Let cool.
  7. When cooled completely, add chopped cilantro and jalapeño and stir well.
  8. For the nachos
  9. On a large oven-proof plate, baking pan or any other oven-proof casserole dish, spread out a third of the tortilla chips.
  10. Next, evenly spread a third of the cheese and beans over the chips. If you want an extra veggie layer, spread a third of the cut veggies now. Repeat two times, so you have 3 layers of chips, cheese, beans and veggies.
  11. Bake nachos in the 375 °F preheated oven (center rack) for about 15 minutes, or until the layers of cheese are melted - the chips shouldn't brown. If you opted for the veggie layer version, bake the nachos for about 25 minutes, the first 15 minutes covered with aluminum foil. This way the veggies get softer while the tacos don’t burn.
  12. Remove nachos from oven and top with homemade salsa and a dollop of sour cream before serving. Be careful, plate (casserole) is hot.
  13. Enjoy (in front of the TV)!
https://www.lilvienna.com/loaded-nachos/

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Loaded Nachos was last modified: July 3rd, 2015 by Ursula

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