Yesterday I was talking all about balance, so it is only suiting that I bring you a recipe for nachos today, agreed? While I’m not saying eat nachos on the regular, there is a time and a place where they are appropriate (and dare I say necessary?). The Super Bowl happens to be one of those right time, right place occasions for nachos.
Yes, a dietitian, offering a recipe for nachos, sounds weird. However, here’s the thing, you’re going to eat them anyway so why not give you a recipe you can feel good about? I, like most, love nachos. However, I do not love when they are super greasy and lack any sort of vegetable. Making them more complete will make me feel better both when I eat them and when I see you eating nachos on social media.
Basically what I’m saying is, let’s build a better nacho platter together, okay?
Balance with Veggies
Speaking of vegetables, let’s all take a moment and admire those found on the nachos above. Mmmmmmmm.
Yes, you can eat vegetables at the Super Bowl. Yes, your friends might make fun of you BUT I guarantee if they are on nachos, no one will care. You can hide them by chopping them small enough so no one can see them and you can smother them with cheese so no one will know what they are eating. It’s not deceiving if it’s delicious, okay?
I, personally like to make my food as naturally colorful as possible. That means I want a purple onion, a red tomato, yellow & orange peppers, green avocados, etc. Yours can be more monotone if you wish BUT I encourage you to get at least 3 variations of vegetables on your platter. Game on.
Nach-yo Average Nachos
Ah, tortilla chips, one of the easiest foods to overdo, myself included. They are so tasty, the salt lingers on your fingers and lips and makes it unbearable to resist eating more. While I’m okay with you eating tortilla chips, because they are vehicles for things like veggies (see above), not all are created equally.
Like anything in your diet, the better the quality, the better for you. Now, if this is a once a year ordeal, don’t worry about. However, if this is a once/week during Football season ordeal, perhaps it’s a good idea to improve the quality of your chip. One of the brands (no they don’t sponsor me at all) is Siete chips. They are a chip made from cassava root (a veggie) and made with avocado oil. That’s a far cry from a typical corn chip fried in some combination of safflower/sunflower/canola/corn, etc. oil.
I also love the transparency of the brand and that they are catering both to those that love nachos, tortillas, etc. but also to those with autoimmune conditions who may need to ward off foods like corn and vegetable oils for their overall health. We all could actually benefit from avoiding vegetable oils, but that’s a story for another day.
Okay, enough small talk, here’s your nacho recipe to wow your friends & family and respect your health.
Pro tip: Don’t have what’s on the ingredient list? Look in your pantry or refrigerator for some substitutes. Use any type of bean and any veggie that suits your fantasy-football dreams!
2 jalapenos, sliced thin (deseed if you do not like heat!)
1–12 oz jar salsa of choice
4 oz cheddar cheese, shredded
2 avocados, diced
Other toppings: sour cream, green onions, etc.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, toss tortilla chips in one layer on sheet and set aside.
In a large skillet over medium heat, add ground beef and 1 Tbsp taco seasoning stir until meat is cooked through ~4-5 minutes
Add in pinto beans and tomato, stir until heated through, ~2 minutes, then remove from heat
Layer meat, avocado, cheese and additional toppings on Nachos, place in oven for 10 minutes. Top with additional toppings, like “sour cream” (see notes below).
Enjoy immediately!
Notes
For “sour cream”, I mixed 1 7 ounce container of full fat @fage Greek yogurt with juice of 1/2 lime
