| One decadent meal, often thought of as only | | | | fine strands of cheese, that it will melt much |
| greasy bar food, is a platter of yummy nachos. | | | | more evenly. |
| Like many foods, this artery clogging classic can | | | | One note on the cheese. Making nachos can get a |
| be made as a much more healthy and just as | | | | little pricey with all of the ingredients you need. |
| tasty vegan version. | | | | The cheese is probably the most expensive part. |
| You can put many different things on a nacho | | | | If you are on a tight budget you could skip the |
| platter, but I think the only thing you need to | | | | cheese. On the other hand, the cheese does keep |
| have are refried beans and chips. After that you | | | | well, and you should not use a whole package. |
| can consider all the ingredients here optional. You | | | | This past weekend I made eight nacho platters, |
| could probably even make this without the beans | | | | and only used a third of a package. With that |
| or chips, but without the chips I do not think you | | | | package I can still make veggie cheese burgers, |
| can really call them nachos. | | | | grilled cheese, or more nachos. But, you definitely |
| Start out with a microwaveable plate. I like to use | | | | could make nachos without the cheese. |
| a nice glass plate, but I think a heavy paper plate | | | | Now you microwave the platter. To start you can |
| might also work. The important thing is that the | | | | heat for 15 to 30 seconds, and see how how |
| plate must be microwaveable. | | | | things look. If it needs more just do another 15 |
| The first ingredient you use are the refried beans. | | | | seconds, see how it looks, etc. Once the cheese |
| I think the refried beans are important because | | | | is melted and the beans are warm you are all set. |
| they add a lot of nutrition and flavor. They also | | | | My total microwaving time for a platter tends to |
| add mass that helps the dish heat evenly in the | | | | be under 60 seconds. |
| microwave. I have tried this dish in the past | | | | Now you have a platter with nice hot beans, |
| without the beans, and the chips and cheese just | | | | chips, and cheese. Looks delicious, doesn't it? Now |
| do not heat evenly. I like to use any kind of | | | | we add the cold ingredients to that open space |
| canned vegan refried beans, preferably low fat | | | | we left in the middle of the platter. |
| black beans. You could, of course, make your | | | | I like to put a big dollop of guacamole right in that |
| own refried beans, but that is another recipe. | | | | open middle. Most guacamole you find in the store |
| Spread your refried beans onto the plate in a | | | | is vegan, and you can even make your own |
| circle. By circle I mean a doughnut shape, where | | | | pretty easily by mushing up ripe avocados. Note |
| the beans run around the center of the plate, | | | | that once you open most containers of |
| leaving about a four inch circle clear in the middle. | | | | guacamole it starts to go brown very quickly. I |
| Use about a third of a can of beans if you are | | | | find it best to use up a whole container once I |
| making nachos for one, more if this is a bigger | | | | open it. For that reason I have been buying |
| platter for two or more, and less beans if you do | | | | smaller containers of guacamole, which are often |
| not like so many beans. | | | | sold in two packs. |
| Next place your chips on top of the beans. You | | | | Next to the guacamole I like to add a big dollop of |
| can use pretty much any chips you like here. | | | | sour cream. Vegan sour cream is more and more |
| Baked, regular yellow corn, blue corn, white corn - | | | | widely available. I have been using the Tofutti |
| it is up to you. You will want to arrange the chips | | | | brand of vegan sour cream lately, and really |
| something like the beans, so there is a space in | | | | enjoy it. Unlike the guacamole, this keeps quite |
| the middle of the plate. | | | | well. I find the leftover sour cream a delicious |
| If you want to add jalapenos to the platter you | | | | addition to a nice baked potato sometime in the |
| would put them on now. I tend to keep the | | | | week following the nachos. |
| jalapenos off to the side in a little dish. However, | | | | Salsa is of course a classic addition to nachos. If |
| if you want jalapenos nice and hot and covered | | | | your salsa is too watery you might not want to |
| with cheese, then you would put them on now. | | | | put it on the plate where it could get the chips |
| Next comes the vegan cheese. You can use any | | | | soggy, and might want to put the salsa in a little |
| vegan cheese you like, just as long as it melts. | | | | dish on the side. I, however, like to drain it a tiny |
| Nacho or Monterey Jack are of course the | | | | bit and put it right on top of the chips. There is |
| classics. Cheddar works well. I think you could | | | | really no wrong answer. |
| even use Mozzarella if you want something really | | | | Other things you can add to your nachos include |
| mild. Just do be certain that the cheese you use | | | | sliced olives, diced onions or scallions, diced |
| does melt. My favorite brand for this is the Vegan | | | | tomatoes, and even more jalapenos. |
| Gourmet from Follow Your Heart, which melts | | | | So that is pretty much it. Easy, delicious, and |
| quite well. Grate the cheese right onto the chips. I | | | | surprisingly nutritious vegan nachos. |
| find that if you use a fairly fine grating, making | | | | |