Your Ultimate Guide to the Perfect Nachos
The perfect nachos are comprised of the right mixture of salted crunchy chips, a bounty of delectable toppings, and gooey, creamy cheese. Making nachos may seem like a simple task, but there is a science behind it. Truly delicious nachos are more than a conglomeration of cheese and chips with toppings thrown on top. Nachos are only as good as the quality of the ingredients, and the art of strategic layering. If you’re wondering how to prepare the perfect nachos, look no further.
Start With a Good Base
The internet has no shortage of nacho recipes, and you’ll quickly find variations ranging from spicy to sweet. Some recipes call for flavored chips, tater tots, and even mini peppers as the base for their creations. Dessert nachos use cinnamon sugar chips, apples, and donuts just to name a few.
Although the nachos concept is graciously interpreted, nothing beats the classic savory version. Of course, the perfect nachos chips are sturdy enough to resist sogginess from the greases produced by the melted cheese. Also, the ingredients, such as jalapenos, should be towel dried before placing them on the stack of chips.
More Cheese Please
We can all agree that cheese plays a pivotal role in creating the perfect nachos. Therefore, it’s important to note that not all cheeses will do. Hard cheese, like gruyere and feta, containing a lot of oil won’t provide the gooey texture required to build an awesome plate of nachos.
To achieve the ideal melted consistency, stick with softer cheeses like shredded cheddar, American, Monterey Jack, and Pepper Jack. These cheeses have a higher moisture content and melt easily under a low heat, which helps to prevent overcooking the chips and other toppings. You can also mix different cheese together for extra flavor.
Toppings and Extras
With the base established, it’s time to start thinking about all the flavor-packed goodies that will nestle between the cheesy, salty chips. Think of the toppings as groups of hot and cold categories. The hot topping ideas go under the heat with the chips and cheese, while the others, which we’ll call “cold extras,” will be added on last.
- Hot Toppings: Some of the classic versions of nachos include refried beans, meat (beef, chicken, and pork), jalapeños, olives, corn, tomatoes, and onions. All of these ingredients should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Cold Extras: These include sour cream, guacamole or avocado slices, fresh herbs, and salsa or pico de gallo.
The sky is truly the limit when it comes to nacho toppings. If you can dream it, you can build it into nachos.
Simple Rules For the Perfect Nachos
Keep these simple rules in mind for a guaranteed plate of perfect nachos each and every time:
- Layer Optimally: Construct the nachos in layers to optimize coverage and flavor. Start with a base of chips, a layer of cheese, and a layer of toppings. Repeat this process building upward until you’ve used up all the toppings. If you throw all the toppings on the top, you may end up with a pile of naked chips underneath.
- Consider Keeping Your Extras On The Side: It’s understandably tempting to smother your fresh-from-the-oven nachos with sour cream, guacamole, and salsa, and dig in. However, before you go wild, consider holding off. The heat from your nachos will turn your cold ingredients runny, leaving them oozing down the nachos and soaking the chips. It also cools off your nachos faster. Instead, keep these condiments on the side for dipping.
Get Your Nacho Fix at Chevys
Follow these simple tips for the perfect plate of nachos to ensure that every bite is texturally pleasing and loaded with flavor. On the hunt for the perfect nachos? Stop by Chevys Fresh Mex and indulge in a plate of mouthwatering Fajita Nachos or classic Nachos Grande. And, be sure to visit our online menu to find your favorite quintessential Mexican cuisine.
