Healthy Loaded Vegan Nachos

Posted by Martina Birk on Saturday, February 3, 2024

Who knew nachos could be healthy? We love this version topped with walnut-mushroom taco meat, cashew nacho "cheese," and plenty of veggies.

vegan / gluten free / snacks & dips

Healthy Loaded Vegan Nachos

It sounds silly to say, but the first vegan “dish” I really fell hard for was nachos. It was years ago at Native Foods where the Native Nachos were a revelation to us. They weren’t a snack, they were our dinner late one night. They were piled high with taco “meat,” black beans, cashew cheese (a crazy concept at the time), salsa, and guacamole… we scarfed them down saying (with our mouths full) “how are these vegan?!”

I came home with their cookbook and every night later that week, I made nachos.

My version here is quite a bit different, but the concept is the same – pile on loads of fresh ingredients and nachos can be healthy. Or at least healthy-ish. (If you baked your own tortilla chips these would be a tad healthier).

Instead of using fake-meat products, I make a version of ground taco “meat” with walnuts, shiitake mushrooms, spices, and black beans. As for the cashew cream, it’s made with pumpkin puree, which gives it the classic nacho cheese-like color. From start to finish, this recipe is a bit long, but you should definitely use a few of these components for other recipes. For example, the cashew cream here was left over from the night we ate these tacos. If you have leftover taco meat, save it for, well, tacos later in the week.

But lets get back to the healthy part – there’s kale in here! It’s thinly sliced and conveniently hidden in the middle layer so no one will notice. I also added a layer of crispy radishes because their crunch factor helps you get away with a few less tortilla chips. Top it all with diced avocado and a few generous squeezes of lime. Game on.

5.0 from 1 reviews

Healthy Loaded Vegan Nachos

  PrintNo one will know these nachos are loaded with kale, shiitakes, and even more veggies. If you have extra components, save them for tacos, salads, or more nachos later in the week.Author: Recipe type: Appetizer, main dishServes: 4IngredientsMushroom-walnut taco "meat” (this can be made ahead)
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1½ cups de-stemmed and diced shiitake mushrooms
  • 1 cup chopped raw walnuts
  • ½ to 1 tablespoon tamari
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • pinch of smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
  • ½ cup cooked black beans, drained and rinsed
For the nachos:
  • several big handfuls of tortilla chips
  • 1 kale leaf, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons chopped scallions
  • ½ cup (or more) pumpkin cashew cream, from this recipe
  • 1 radish, thinly sliced
  • 1 small avocado, diced
  • 2 tablespoons diced red onion
  • ¼ cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 lime, sliced into wedges
  • hot sauce or a scoop of salsa (optional)
Instructions
  • Make the mushroom-walnut taco “meat”: In a small skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook, stirring only occasionally, until they begin to brown and soften, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in the walnuts and lightly toast for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the tamari, cumin, coriander, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Add the balsamic vinegar and stir again. Turn the heat off and stir in the black beans. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more tamari if desired.
  • Assemble the nachos: On a large platter, arrange half of the tortilla chips in a single layer, top with ¾ of the taco “meat,” the kale, half the scallions, and half the pumpkin cashew cream. Add another layer of chips and top with the remaining taco meat, remaining cashew cream, radishes, avocado, remaining scallions, diced red onion, and cilantro. Top with a squeeze of lime juice and serve with the remaining lime slices.
  • Serve with salsa or hot sauce, if desired. Serve immediately.
    • NotesIf you are gluten free, be sure to look for corn tortilla chips that are certified gluten free.3.4.3177
     

    ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rbvVnpinnJyaurC60meaqKVfnbKiuNOhsGakn5axprCMr5ygmZ5iu6Kvx6iqaA%3D%3D

    CATALOG
      FEATURED TAGS