Some of the best recipes were discovered by accident or serendipity. This is certainly true of the beloved Mexican dish, nachos! It is believed that in the 1940s, a maître ‘d named Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya served a snack to people who showed up after the restaurant had closed with the only foods available – tortillas and cheese. He cut the tortillas into triangles, topped them with shredded cheddar cheese and heated them up. He added sliced jalapeno peppers and served them, calling them “Nacho’s especiales.” They were a hit and soon “Nacho’s special” became “special nachos.”
November 6th is National Nachos Day, a day to celebrate everyone’s favorite appetizer or snack. Of course, depending on how much you load them up with toppings, nachos can be a meal in itself.
While the simplest nachos are tortillas topped with cheese and salsa, the number of ways to make nachos is limited only by our imagination. We can use store-bought tortilla chips, make our own chips from whole tortillas or make our own tortillas. See 7 Ways to Make Grain-Free Wraps and Tortillas and how to make Corn Tortillas (With Masa Harina).
Of course, we don’t have to use tortillas at all. Instead, we can use wonton wrappers, crispy pizza dough, or thin slices of potatoes or other vegetables to hold up the toppings.
Speaking of toppings, the choices are endless! We can add beans, vegan beefy crumbles, any and all veggies, jalapeno peppers, olives and pretty much anything we want. We can go global and make nachos with an Asian or Italian twist. Then we can top that all with guacamole, dairy-free sour cream, and salsa. Creativity can be delicious as you’ll see when you try these 10 recipes for the best veggie nachos you’ve ever had!
1. Triple Persimmon Nachos
If you’ve never had persimmons, these Triple Persimmon Nachos will give you three reasons to love them. Persimmon salsa, persimmon guacamole, persimmon nachos … it’s fall’s favorite fruit, three ways! It all sits atop sweet potatoes for a healthy and colorful snack.
2. Wonton Nachos With Edamame Guacamole
In these Wonton Nachos with Edamame Guacamole, there are a few stand-ins to make these different than ordinary nachos. Wonton wrappers make an amazing replacement for regular tortilla chips and edamame guacamole is an awesome spin-off of plain avocado guacamole. Make these for any party and they will disappear in five minutes, guaranteed.
3. Miso Kimchi Nachos With Cashew Cheese
These Miso Kimchi Nachos are a great combination of the classic cheesy taste spiced up with some favorite fermented foods. The miso paste in the cheese sauce adds the perfect deep, salty undertone. The sour crunch of the kimchi alongside the freshness of the kale and yellow pepper is just totally awesome. You definitely want these nachos in your belly right now!
4. Sweet Potato Nachos
The only thing better than a giant plate of nachos to share with your friends is your own personal plate of nachos that you get all to yourself. These Sweet Potato Nachos are made with black beans, corn, and tomatoes, all atop slices of sweet potatoes. The recipe serves one though you could make a bigger batch if you feel you must share.
5. Autumn Nachos With Pumpkin Queso Dip
These homemade vegan Autumn Nachos with Pumpkin Queso Dip are perfect for cool fall evenings. Jalapenos, red peppers, olives, and more are piled on corn tortilla chips. The pumpkin queso is made with butternut squash, miso, and cashews for a rich and creamy topping. Just snuggle up on the couch, turn on a great movie and have a bowl of these delicious nachos.
6. Greek Nachos
Go Greek with these amazing Greek Nachos. Pita chips are topped with beans, tofu feta, onions, cucumber, and olives. Then it’s topped with a homemade tzatziki sauce and fresh mint. You’ll love the flavors in this creative nachos dish.
7. Raw Vegan Nacho Cheese Zucchini Chips
Here’s a healthy spin on nachos that everyone will love. These Vegan Nacho Cheese Zucchini Chips are made with dehydrated slices of zucchini. They’re seasoned with paprika, nutritional yeast, and cashews to give them a cheesy taste. These are definitely guilt-free nachos.
8. Spicy Vegan Nachos
These Spicy Vegan Nachos will make every day feel like a fiesta day! Corn tortilla chips topped with vegan cheese, salsa, olives, and cilantro give you maximum flavor in every bite. It’s like a party in your mouth!
9. Fat-Free Vegan ‘Cheese’ Sauce
Who says that you need dairy, loads of fat and tons of sodium to make a cheesy sauce for nachos? Not only is this Vegan Cheese Sauce totally vegan, it’s also gluten-free, fat-free, and nut-free. Now that’s a sauce you can feel good about drizzling over your tortilla chips!
10.Salty-Sweet Pistachio Crisps
The next time you make nachos, try these Salty-Sweet Pistachio Crisps instead of tortilla chips. These addictive little crisps come together so easily, thanks to the magic of store-bought wonton wrappers! This is a perfect recipe for those times when you need to make a last minute “fancy” snack that everyone will go crazy for.
These recipes look so amazing; every day could be National Nacho Day as far as we’re concerned. How do you like to top your nachos? Let us know in the comments.
Lead image source: Miso Kimchi Nachos With Cashew Cheese
