Buenos nachos
This classic finger food can be more than just an appetizer
My first real job was “making” and slinging nachos at a movie theatre concession stand. This consisted of scooping a 2.7-kilogram (6-pound) can of yellow-orange cheddar cheese sauce into the dispenser and topping it off with juice from a 4.5-litre (1-gallon) jug of sliced pickled jalapenos.
Not my best display of culinary skills by far, but this experience taught me that nachos can be whatever you want them to be. In fact, this theatre version resembles the first plate of nachos created by Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya Garcia in the 1940s in a Mexican town near the Texas border. The hastily made dish of fried corn tortilla chips topped with melted cheese and jalapenos was served to diners, and the rest is history.
Nachos can now be found as an appetizer on restaurant menus across Canada, from simple ballpark fare to chili verde options made with chunks of slow-cooked pork and roasted tomatillo sauce. My sister has perfected her own version, with layers of corn tortilla chips, hand-mashed pinto beans, grated colby cheese and shredded chicken, topped with homemade guacamole, salsa, sour cream and jalapenos.
The Connection spoke with food bloggers who shared their favourite nacho recipes. Charbel Barker’s (mylatinatable.com) Loaded Nachos (above) make a filling Tex-Mex meal. Tortilla chips are layered with cheddar cheese, smoked pulled pork, queso sauce, black beans and corn, and heated in a smoker. Once the cheese is melted, Barker tops the nachos with sour cream, pico de gallo, salsa and jalapenos.gredients.
The recipes to the right feature a Southern barbecue–inspired cold Kettle Chip Nacho Bar created by Yvette Marquez- Sharpnack (muybuenocookbook.com) that’s perfect for entertaining, and Julie Evink’s (julieseatsandtreats.com) recipe for Dessert Nachos. Made with baked cinnamon chips, these are reminiscent of buñuelos, a special treat my mom would fry up, but without the oily food guilt. Dig in!
Costco Connection: You’ll find ingredients for nachos in your local Costco warehouse. Groceries are available for delivery through Costco Grocery at Costco.ca.
