Recipe: Deconstructed Nachos
Serves 4 | Prep/cooking time: ~60 minutes
This is one of my favourite dinners ever. It’s been evolving since COVID, and involves (slight) copying of spice mixes found in the supermarket and some different recipes I’ve found over the years.
This recipe is a bit free-spirited, but I’ll give you the main points (and approximate measurements). I love it because all the components are separated so it’s handy for leftovers, not that there are usually any 😉
I change it up a lot, but it can be made vegetarian/vegan or for the meat eaters out there! There’s also definitely scope to change which veggies you use or add heaps more in!
🫘🥩 Bean/Meat + Veg Mix
Olive oil
1 onion (brown or red), sliced or diced
500g chicken breast or beef mince or 2 x cans of chickpeas/black beans/red kidney beans (strained and rinsed) or the equivalent amount of soaked and pre-cooked legumes
1 zucchini, grated
1 carrot, grated
1 cup frozen peas
1 capsicum, sliced thinly
2 x cans diced tomatoes or 1 bottle of tomato passata
🌶️ Spice Mix
2 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Smoked paprika
2 tsp Oregano
1 tsp Coriander seeds
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
Salt and pepper to taste
🧀 Cauili Corn Chips
1/2 cauliflower, chopped coarsely
1 tsp smoked paprika
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2(ish) big bag of corn chips
200g grated cheese
🥑 Guacamole
1 ripe avocado
Juice of 1/2 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine the cauliflower, smoked paprika, salt, pepper and olive oil in a big bowl and toss to combine/until the cauli is happily coated with paprika and olive oil. Spread onto a big oven tray and bake at 180ºC for 20-30 mins (until the cauliflower is softened and a bit crispy).
In a big pot, heat some olive oil and add the onion to it, cooking until softened. If using chicken or beef, add this in next, cooking until browned. Set aside.
Add the carrot and zucchini to the pot with an extra splash of olive oil and cook until softened (adding a bit of water can help, both to deglaze the pan a bit and to cook the veg). Add the peas and capsicum and cook for a few more minutes.
Add the meat or legumes to the veg, then the spices and then the tomato (diced or passata). Add in the spice mix, give it a good stir, bring to the boil and then let it simmer, with the lid left ajar, for 20-30 mins.
Take the cooked cauliflower out of the oven and place into a bowl (keep baking paper if using). Spread the corn chips out on the tray and sprinkle the cooked cauli over the top and then the grated cheese. Pop back in the oven for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted a bit a crispy (keep an eye on the chips so they don’t burn).
To make the guacamole, mash the avocado and add in the lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well until combined. Fancy optional extra = add some chopped fresh coriander leaves. Test with a corn chip before serving (you’ve got to!).
To serve, bring everything to the table: the meat/bean mix, the guac and the cauli corn chips - this is definitely a sharing meal! If you’re into it, sour cream is an optional addition.
Enjoy!
📝 Notes
🧡 You can omit the onion if you’re avoiding fructose or the Hot 7 (onion, garlic, chocolate, sugar, alcohol, coffee, spicy foods).
🧡 My sister uses tomato paste + one can of diced tomatoes instead of all diced tomatoes or passata. Add the paste after the veg, meat/legumes and spices, and a little bit of water. Reduce down so it’s not saucy and then add the diced tomatoes.