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April 2, 2009

Nachos

As I've mentioned before I have an affinity for Mexican food. It's one of those things I could most likely eat for every meal from now until the end of time and still not get tired of the cuisine! Jamison and Alexis are that way with Pasta, my choice is Mexican! (And possibly sushi, but that's a tale for another time! ;oP)

As a result of this adoration I like to play around with Mexican inspired "meals" or even just snacks/appetizers. One of the really fun things to play around with (other than quesadillas, which I like to play around with too) are nachos! You can do so many things and have a familiar, yet slightly different dish, each time you make them. You can do an all veggie version, or use various ground meats, or even use textured vegetable or soy protein. The possibilities are endless and delicious!

Today's version utilized ground beef, along with some veggies and Mexican type spices to make a hearty nacho combination that could easily be a meal. The flavors meld perfectly and the result is a spicy, yet fresh, all while being a satisfying sort of dish. It's just perfect for a quick weeknight meal or even a weekend snack or appetizer. What's not to like about that?

What You'll Need:
Extra virgin olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
1 pound of lean ground beef
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon of chili powder
1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of ground chipolte chile powder
1/4-1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper (Note: More if you like it spicy, less if you don't.)
1/2 cup of water
Tortilla chips
Refried beans
Shredded cheddar
Sour cream

In a large skillet over medium heat cook onions, bell peppers and ground beef in a little extra virgin olive oil with a pinch of sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper until veggies are tender and beef is cooked through.

Next add spices and water and bring to a quick boil. Let water evaporate and seasonings will thicken slightly. Once this has happened you are ready to assemble your nachos!

Place a single layer of chips on a plate. Top with refried beans, meat mixture, cheddar and then sour cream. Serve immediately.

Notes: You can top this anyway you like. Sometimes I use guacamole, sometimes I like to add salsa, etc. You could also use a blend of cheeses or leave out cheddar all together and use Monterrey Jack instead.

Posted by Dianne at April 2, 2009 11:39 AM

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