I have been quite fond of making nachos lately. I have tons and tons of curry leftover from making Calabaza Squash & Chocolate Curry. Plus, it's quick and easy to put together! After all, what could be simpler than tossing together curry nachos? All it takes is tortilla chips, curry, a little sprinkling of cheese, sour cream, and hot sauce!
I actually used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. I know that this sounds a little bizarre, but bear with me! Sour cream has more of a robust flavor profile. It has a lot of the same brightness and almost sweetness about it that sour cream does. However, it pairs much better with a lot of Mediterranean or Asian-inspired dishes. I'm particularly fond of using it to lighten up some of these denser meals.
I also had quite the lack of cheese good for nachos. I usually like to put in a white cheddar because it melts, without crisping too much. But alas, I am all out! But I did have some queso fresco and a hefty dollop of Greek yogurt! Topped with just a tad of parmesan, just because it's what I had!
Gallery
Variations of Curry Nachos
I don't tend to make nachos all that often, but I do very much enjoy them when I do! They're definitely a splurge food. And adding curry isn't the most far fetched thing ever! There's something about curry that tastes almost like pinto beans. It pairs incredibly well with Mexican-inspired food.
I'm particularly fond of utilizing leftovers for nachos. While curry and nachos might not be the most traditional of recipes. It's not as far fetched as it might seem! I season Latin American and Thai food quite similarly with cayenne pepper, coriander, and cumin. When you pair it with tortilla chips, sour cream, and hot sauce? The curry makes a quite delicious bean substitution. These leftover nachos are also a great option for when you're craving something quick and easy. I particularly like the sweetness of the calabaza squash and cocoa powder balanced out with the spiciness of the habaneros.
Cook Chocolate and Calabaza Squash Curry. This takes several hours to cook and should be done at least the day before. That might sound daunting, but it's far simpler than it seems and is more time consuming than anything else! It also only requires a large pot and a skillet.
Cook Nachos
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Meanwhile, lay out tortilla chips across a baking sheet.Cover until you can't see the baking sheet any longer. They should be touching, but not overlapping too much. You really just want to be able to add toppings to every chip without it getting too much on the baking sheet!Exactly how much chips you use is largely a matter of personal preference as well. I've never sat there carefully measuring chips! Roughly two handfuls usually equates to about a serving. I tend to cook far more than I actually need, though. So, as always, adjust to personal preference!
Spread squash curry evenly across the tortilla chips.This acts largely like refried beans would in a typical nacho recipe. You can either spread across each of the chips or just drop little dollops across the chips.
Sprinkle with queso fresco and parmesan.
Top with a couple dollops of Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Bake for 10 minutes, or until the cheese melts and the chips begin to toast.
Serve
Once the nachos are done cooking, remove from the oven and top with hot sauce of choice.
Serve immediately. Once the nachos begin to cool down, the tortilla chips will absorb too much moisture and soften. Once this happens, there isn't a lot that you can do to crisp them up again!
Tips, Tricks, & Notes
You can add sour cream, or Greek yogurt, either before or after cooking. I oscillate between the two. A high quality sour cream that melts into the nachos as they cook is incredibly delicious. However, sometimes it's nice to have a cold sour cream to dip the chips into. Particularly when they're both spicy and hot out of the oven.
For a more in-depth article on nachos, check out my article on The Fundamentals of Making Nachos. I make suggestions on settling the microwave vs. oven debate and give suggestions on serving size, topping order, and potential reheating tips and tricks.
Leave a Reply