nacho average nachos đ„
Welcome to those who were just scanning the web and serendipitously landed on my humble site đ whether you are in a rut and donât know what to make; are in that loop of âsooo, what do you want to eat tonight?â; or have fallen into the infinite black hole of saved recipes from social media (the internet is truly ultimate purveyor of maximalist TL;DR content overwhelm đ”âđ«đ« đ€). I hope you enjoy â it brings me great joy to sprinkle any ease into your life â cheers to your good health, good love & good fortune!
And per my usual caveat, I do not claim to be a doctor or a chef. I do not dream of being a fancy food blogger. Iâm just a gal who enjoys living and eating for optimum well-being. I like to creatively alter, and occasionally create, recipes to make them as balanced as possible, in both taste and health. Iâve come to learn soul-food and body-fueling food are both real and equally important, hence the critical importance and beauty of mind-body-soul eating! âš I typically like to begin with a key ingredient or two that Iâm hoping to work with, search for a preexisting recipe as a guide, then play with measurements and make swaps to level up nutrient density. Consider this a destination for healthy recipe inspiration, where youâll never have to scroll through any continuously re-populating ads. One of my primary goals is to add a little simplicity in places Iâve found murky.
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So here is one of the few DIY recipes that I have to share â healthy(ish) nachos, because if there anything more comforting on game day? or just a lazy Sunday?! or Taco Tuesday? or EVER?! â these are more nutrient dense than your standard ballpark nachos and I can guarantee there wonât be any kind of food hangover to follow. Basically, a win win?!
NACHOS
Bag of Siete Grain Free Tortilla Chips or Garden of Eatinâ Organic Blue Corn Tortilla Chips
1 c freshly grated pepper jack or extra sharp cheddar
1 15 oz can organic black beans, rinsed*
2 tsp avocado oil
14 oz organic sprouted extra-firm tofu, drained and crumbled
1/2 pack Siete Foods Mild Taco Seasoning
1/4 c organic yellow onion
1/4 organic red onion, chopped
1 - 2 ripe avocados, chopped
1 organic jalapeño, seeded
Handful organic cilantro, stems removed and chopped
Easy pico de gallo (recipe below) â preferred to store bought to ensure tomatoes are organic
Cashew crema (recipe below) or organic plant based sour cream
*I love all of the Eden brand beans, theyâre next best things to self soaking/prepping, they even use kombu!
PICO DE GALLO
5 organic roma tomatoes, chopped
1/4 organic yellow onion, chopped
1/4 c organic cilantro, chopped
1/2 large jalapeño, seeded and chopped
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
Pink Himalayan sea salt to taste
CASHEW CREMA
1 c raw, unsalted cashews
1/2 c fresh cilantro leaves
1 - 2 large garlic cloves
1/2 - 3/4 c water, pending desired consistency
3 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
Approx. 1/2 tsp pink Himalayan salt + fresh cracked black pepper to taste
Optional: jalapeño with seeds removed
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Prepare pico â combine all ingredients and place in fridge until ready to sprinkle over nachos
2. Prepare crema â first pre-soak cashews in water for at least an hour, then drain + rinse the cashews and whip up all ingredients in a food processor or high speed blender (I use a NutriBullet) and place in fridge until ready to use
3. Preheat oven to 425Âș, line a a baking sheet with parchment paper, cover with a thin layer of chips and set aside
4. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, add crumbled tofu, add yellow onion and sprinkle with taco seasoning â cook until crisped, about 5 minutes
5. Top chips evenly with the tofu, beans and cheese
6. Bake until the cheese melts and nachos are heated through, about 7 mins
7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle desired toppings evenly over the warm nachos â serve immediately and enjoy!
As with everything I make, I love to know the ingredients will fuel not only a beautiful plate, but a beautiful feeling inside. I will again caveat, Iâm not a nutritionist, but as holistic health coach, hereâs some functional food for thought:
EITHER CANNED EDEN BRAND OR BOXED BEANS
While soaking your own beans is hands down the most preferable option, for all convenient intents and purposes, boxed beans my only alternative when not purchasing Eden brand beans. Not only are they fresher tasting, there is no BPA or BPS in the lining, which can seep into the food of many canned foods. BPA and BPS has been linked to a multitude of negative health effects from impaired brain function, memory and learning, depression, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, breast cancer and fertility problems. So, if you arenât soaking the beans yourself and canât find Eden brand beans â go boxed!
PRE-SOAKING CASHEWS
You may wonder if you can skip the step of soaking the cashews if you have a high speed blender and the answer is that you absolutely can! However, if you want to receive the full punch of nutrient dense deliciousness, I highly recommend carving out the hour. Soaking cashews produces not only an extra creamy texture, it also boosts nutrition! Soaking nuts of any kind removes phytic acid, which allows our bodies to pull out more nutrients from the nuts, as well as makes them easier to digest.
CASHEWS
Cashews are rich in fiber, heart-healthy fats and protein! Theyâre also naturally cholesterol and sodium free. Plus theyâre a fabulous source of copper, magnesium, manganese and vitamin K â nutrients that are important for energy production, brain function, immunity, blood and bone health. Additionally, theyâve been known to reduce risk of diabetes, boost oral health, reduce risk of anemia, promote development of red blood cells and prevent heart disease!
JALAPEĂOS
Jalapeños are jam packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, including vitamins C and B6! Vitamin C is an antioxidant that fights free radical damage and keeps your skin healthy and firm, while vitamin B6 is an essential nutrient involved in over 140 bodily reactions. One of the most special compounds in jalapeños is capsaicin, an alkaloid that gives peppers their spice and is responsible for many of their healing properties, from pain relief, to boosting metabolism, to increasing fat burn, to reducing appetite and even to fighting cancer and infections!
CILANTRO
Also known as coriander, cilantro is very polarizing, but itâs hands down one of my absolute favorite herbs! And thankfully, itâs a true superfood. From lowering blood-sugar levels, to heavy metal cleansing, to preventing cardiovascular damage, to possessing anti-anxiety and mood lifting effects, to improving sleep quality, to acting as an antimicrobial and natural internal deodorant â cilantro is simply a super-powered detox herb! Its strong antioxidant properties should also be highlighted, rich with beta-carotene and lutein, both carotenoids known to reduce damage to cells caused by free radicals.
PINK HIMALAYAN SALT
Since pink Himalayan salt is less processed than table salt, your body has an easier time processing it, as it doesnât require as much water to clear out the excess sodium! It also contains more than 80 minerals and elements, including potassium, iron, calcium and (naturally occurring) iodine, aiding our bodyâs natural detoxification process and promoting the removal of bacteria. This can even help lower blood pressure, as iodine supports our bodyâs electrolyte balance, allowing our intestines to absorb more nutrients.
***important to note, quality is essential â always shop organic, whole, preferably in season, ideally know where your food is coming from and thoroughly wash those fruits + veggies!
