Paleo Nachos
Shadowknight137
Posts: 1,243 Member
I love nachos. Always have, even as a kid. Not that weird nachos variation with tortilla chips with melted cheese on top, or canned, mushy refried beans on top of soggy corn chips - blah - but real nachos, with a big hearty bowl of chill meat, a salsa and guacamole topping my chips.
It was, in all honesty, heart-breaking when I was diagnosed as coeliac and tortilla chips for my precious nachos were declared off-limits.
On Paleo or Primal, we are often accused of being too "restrictive" when it comes to food. No grains, legumes or (in the case of Paleo) dairy. Well, I disagree completely.
I personally believe that we can still enjoy "junk" food in a Primal/Paleo way because - hell, why not?
Thus, I constructed the basics of this recipe so coeliacs, Paleo and Primal people can still enjoy a good plea of something that reminisces what they used to eat, all the while being made up of entirely whole foods. Stuff that even your non-Paleo friends and family can enjoy.
This is the base recipe for what I lovingly call "Paleo Nachos". Hope those try it love it as much as I do.
INGREDIENTS:
For the chilli:
-Mincemeat of some kind (beef/chicken/lamb/pork/etc)
-Bacon strips (at least 2)
-Canned - or whole, mashed - tomatoes.
-Assorted vegetables (mushrooms/carrots/broccoli/nori/cauliflower/capsicum/etc)
-Assorted spices (Cumin/Paprika/Garlic-Pepper/Tumeric/Etc)
-Onion, diced (OPTIONAL - I like onion in my chill, though not everyone might)
For the crisps.
-Potato of preference (I find sweet potato is crispiest - white potatoes are better as fries)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Slice bacon strips (at least two into smaller pieces, then lay them out in a pan on top of a heated stove to fry.
2) Whilst your bacon is frying, slice your potatoes into very thin crisps and lay them out on a baking tray. Garnish with seasonings of choice (For me, salt and garlic pepper) and place in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius or 350 Farenheit for around 15-20 minutes.
IMPORTANT: Keep an eye on these chips throughout the entire cooking process; you don't want them to burn, else they taste horrible.
3) Now a good bit of bacon grease is coating the pan, toss your mince meat inside.
Stir it, break it apart and mush it around. Your making chill mince, not burgers.
4) Once a good deal of the meat is browned, you'll want to add your diced up onions, if you have them.
Now pour in your canned (or home-mashed) tomatoes. Stir the mixture and allow the meat to soak up all of the tomato juices. Due to the added liquid, the mixture will be cooking a lot slower, now. Leave it to simmer for a bit.
this is the optimum time to add your spices. My absolute favorites are ground cumin, paprika and turmeric, but really - add whatever you fancy.
5) While the chill mixture is simmering, slice your assorted veggies up - broccoli, carrots, mushroom and capsicum work brilliantly. Hell, I even like to toss in a few crushed nori-wraps into the mix, but that just because I'm weird and eat nori wraps with everything.
Remember - these veggies are adding bulk to the meal. They are, of course, totally optional, but they're a great way to get in your daily vitamins and nutrients and whatnot easily.
6) Once sliced, add all of your veggies to the mince. Mix it in nicely to get a good meat/veggie balance - or else a serving or two will be all vegetable with just that cruel, haunting taste of mince and bacon, and nobody wants that.
Also, stirring it altogether helps get the flavor of spice and meat all throughout the mix. That's a good thing.
7) GAH! The chips!
Please tell me you've been keeping an eye on the chips? When they look done - a bit brown, nice and crispy lookin' (don't be afraid to taste one ), take them out of the oven.
Remember to be careful not to burn yourself.
Dish the chips out into portions onto plates depending on how many people your feeding. Or, if you're like me (a greedy prick who practices IF), eat ALL THE CHIPS!
8) Now that chips are ready and your mix is no doubt done. Dish the chill up into portions for how many people your serving... or eat it all. Whatever works.
Any leftovers can be put in a tupperware for later.
I might need a bigger tupperware...
9)Now what you need to do is pretty simple. Put the chill mix on top of the chips.
Chilli + Chips
=
And there you have it! Eat as is, or...
10) The toppings.
Guacamole. Salsa. (If you eat dairy-->) Cheese. Sour cream or greek Yoghurt.
Need I say more?
Thank you for taking the time for reading this! I hope that my instructions are followable; should anyone have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm happy to help.
I enjoyed doing this, just for giggles - to help recreate an old food love in a Paleo/Primal way. If there's any other kind of "junk food" anyone would like me to attempt to Primalise, let me know, and I'll do my best.
If you do whip up a batch of Paleo nachos, let me know how it goes - post a pic, yeah? i'd love to see if this turns out well for others.
Enjoy
It was, in all honesty, heart-breaking when I was diagnosed as coeliac and tortilla chips for my precious nachos were declared off-limits.
On Paleo or Primal, we are often accused of being too "restrictive" when it comes to food. No grains, legumes or (in the case of Paleo) dairy. Well, I disagree completely.
I personally believe that we can still enjoy "junk" food in a Primal/Paleo way because - hell, why not?
Thus, I constructed the basics of this recipe so coeliacs, Paleo and Primal people can still enjoy a good plea of something that reminisces what they used to eat, all the while being made up of entirely whole foods. Stuff that even your non-Paleo friends and family can enjoy.This is the base recipe for what I lovingly call "Paleo Nachos". Hope those try it love it as much as I do.
INGREDIENTS:
For the chilli:
-Mincemeat of some kind (beef/chicken/lamb/pork/etc)
-Bacon strips (at least 2)
-Canned - or whole, mashed - tomatoes.
-Assorted vegetables (mushrooms/carrots/broccoli/nori/cauliflower/capsicum/etc)
-Assorted spices (Cumin/Paprika/Garlic-Pepper/Tumeric/Etc)
-Onion, diced (OPTIONAL - I like onion in my chill, though not everyone might)
For the crisps.
-Potato of preference (I find sweet potato is crispiest - white potatoes are better as fries)
INSTRUCTIONS:
1) Slice bacon strips (at least two into smaller pieces, then lay them out in a pan on top of a heated stove to fry.
2) Whilst your bacon is frying, slice your potatoes into very thin crisps and lay them out on a baking tray. Garnish with seasonings of choice (For me, salt and garlic pepper) and place in the oven at 180 degrees Celsius or 350 Farenheit for around 15-20 minutes.
IMPORTANT: Keep an eye on these chips throughout the entire cooking process; you don't want them to burn, else they taste horrible.
3) Now a good bit of bacon grease is coating the pan, toss your mince meat inside.
Stir it, break it apart and mush it around. Your making chill mince, not burgers.
4) Once a good deal of the meat is browned, you'll want to add your diced up onions, if you have them.
Now pour in your canned (or home-mashed) tomatoes. Stir the mixture and allow the meat to soak up all of the tomato juices. Due to the added liquid, the mixture will be cooking a lot slower, now. Leave it to simmer for a bit.
this is the optimum time to add your spices. My absolute favorites are ground cumin, paprika and turmeric, but really - add whatever you fancy.
5) While the chill mixture is simmering, slice your assorted veggies up - broccoli, carrots, mushroom and capsicum work brilliantly. Hell, I even like to toss in a few crushed nori-wraps into the mix, but that just because I'm weird and eat nori wraps with everything.
Remember - these veggies are adding bulk to the meal. They are, of course, totally optional, but they're a great way to get in your daily vitamins and nutrients and whatnot easily.
6) Once sliced, add all of your veggies to the mince. Mix it in nicely to get a good meat/veggie balance - or else a serving or two will be all vegetable with just that cruel, haunting taste of mince and bacon, and nobody wants that.
Also, stirring it altogether helps get the flavor of spice and meat all throughout the mix. That's a good thing.
7) GAH! The chips!
Please tell me you've been keeping an eye on the chips? When they look done - a bit brown, nice and crispy lookin' (don't be afraid to taste one
), take them out of the oven.Remember to be careful not to burn yourself.
Dish the chips out into portions onto plates depending on how many people your feeding. Or, if you're like me (a greedy prick who practices IF), eat ALL THE CHIPS!
8) Now that chips are ready and your mix is no doubt done. Dish the chill up into portions for how many people your serving... or eat it all. Whatever works.
Any leftovers can be put in a tupperware for later.
I might need a bigger tupperware...
9)Now what you need to do is pretty simple. Put the chill mix on top of the chips.
Chilli + Chips
=
And there you have it! Eat as is, or...
10) The toppings.
Guacamole. Salsa. (If you eat dairy-->) Cheese. Sour cream or greek Yoghurt.
Need I say more?
Thank you for taking the time for reading this! I hope that my instructions are followable; should anyone have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm happy to help.
I enjoyed doing this, just for giggles - to help recreate an old food love in a Paleo/Primal way. If there's any other kind of "junk food" anyone would like me to attempt to Primalise, let me know, and I'll do my best.
If you do whip up a batch of Paleo nachos, let me know how it goes - post a pic, yeah? i'd love to see if this turns out well for others.
Enjoy
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Replies
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I love that you are my friend!
Those were great instructions! 0 -
Agreed! The pictures were very helpful too!0
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I am trying that for supper tonight! It looks amazing thanks. SMS dairy of course I am allergic, I love trying new paleo recipies0
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This looks delicious, thank you!!! I will definitely be trying these!!0
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Thanks for the food porn. I've been so curious what you meant by "nachos". I've got to try them for myself!0
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Thank you so much! i will also try it :flowerforyou:0
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def making this on the weekend,. thanks!!0
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I made them with ground turkey and they were delicious0
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THAT LOOKS AMAZING.0
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Looks delicious - thank you for sharing!0
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YUM! I cannot wait to try this! Good thinking!0
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i had this last night as a taco salad type thing. made it with ground veal and veal liver - delicious!0
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Definitely going to have to make these. They look amazing!0
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Thank you Thank you Thank you - I was getting depressed trying to think of a way I could still have my nachos when I found this post - you just made me a very happy girl!!!! Will definately be having these as soon as I buy some potatos.0
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You rock! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the instructions and pictures...just what i need as I start out this journey. I'm making this!0
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This looks amazing!! I definitely will be trying this as well this weekend!0
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Y.U.M.!!!0
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OMG, looks too good. Will definitely try.
Wish I hadn't seen this so early in the morning - I still have another 2 hours before I can eat.0 -
Can't wait to make them. Yum!0
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I. Am. So. Doing. This!0
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Thank so much for sharing this! I am a nacho lover big time. I'm still having the toppings occasionally but put it on shredded lettuce instead. Better than nothing.
I like the idea of the sweet potatoes. I'm not ready to do that yet, but once I have all my health issues fully resolved, I am going to try it!
I really enjoyed your pictures/description/instructions. I intermittent fast too, so I'm just as likely to eat something like that for one meal too! That would be heaven!0 -
I am glad this got bumped. Great read and you do a excellent job on the write ups of your kitchen adventures!!0
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Thank so much for sharing this! I am a nacho lover big time. I'm still having the toppings occasionally but put it on shredded lettuce instead. Better than nothing.
I like the idea of the sweet potatoes. I'm not ready to do that yet, but once I have all my health issues fully resolved, I am going to try it!
I really enjoyed your pictures/description/instructions. I intermittent fast too, so I'm just as likely to eat something like that for one meal too! That would be heaven!
Nachos truly is the most heavenly food there is. :P Nachos + IF = heaven, have to say. BTW, while I'm not sure why exactly you can't have sweet potatoes, it is possible to create chips from zucchini - just bake them the way I showed in the recipe, except prior to putting them in the oven, dip them in egg-whites to give it some crisp.
Also, as an added benefit I've found...I am glad this got bumped. Great read and you do a excellent job on the write ups of your kitchen adventures!!
Cheers, seriously everyone, I hope the recipe works out for you and you like it. But I'd also like to post a little update, albeit an obvious one.
So, I found myself cooking for some of my new Uni pals the other day - rough call, being coeliac, Primal and, well, weird, so my dish was... nachos. Of course. I had a problem though.
I had no meat on hand.
To anyone who's gone through University, college or just on a low budget, you probably know what it's like when it comes to buying decent meat and protein sources - damn, freaking hard. Unless, of course, you want to buy offal. Which is, btw, RIDICULOUSLY cheap and quite nutritious:
^That amount of offal - along with mixed in veggies - once diced up into small cubes and cooked via the recipe, came out at four servings, each this size:
And when I say "four servings", I mean "four servings if you eat all your calories in one go and are a gluttonous pig" - so basically, for under ten bucks you get an ENORMOUS amount of food.
But budget wise aside, how does this relate to the story of serving my Uni friends? Well, it was cheap meat, and uh... well, I served them organs.
They did not notice.
Yep. Didn't notice a damn thing. Had no idea the beef they were eating was actually heart and lamb liver. Does that make me a bad person? I'd like to say: no, because really, everything about this can be extremely nutritious.
TL;DR: What I'm getting at here is that nachos - or just ground chill meat as "tacos", "burgers" or whatever is an AMAZING way to get started on eating organ meats, which are extremely nutritious, and to those who count calories, a leaner source of protein than chicken - I kid you not - and you can't even tell it's organ meat.
It's also a great way to get in your vitamins and stuff from all the veggies you can effortlessly toss into the mix, and is pretty to store.
I dunno exactly why I'm posting this update thing. I guess it's just because - what, with my busy new schedule - it's been a lot harder to prep food and hit my macros and micros, and I'm finding just cooking up a massive batch of chill a couple times of week is cheap, convenient and nutritious.
Anyway. That's my piece said here.0 -
bump - not for the organ meat, but for the original nacho recipe :-)0
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I think it is great that you served them organ meat and they never knew it. I have not studied these organs but find it quite intriguing that they are leaner than chicken. Going to have to check that out some more since I love stir fry meals mixed with veggies. They make a great way to get several meals for on the go nutrition. That way I am not hunting down a place to get some food.0
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HA! That's awesome that you served offal! I really want to try offal, but I am a bad cook and I fear messing it up. Maybe I can make offal nachos...0
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BUMP!!0
