Today is National Nachos Day! If you're posting on social media, be sure to tag #NationalNachosDay.
Celebrating 80 years of nachos!
Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya is credited with the first creating the first nachos, served up in Piedras Negras, Mexico in 1943 1 2. Like so many good inventions, nachos seem to have been born out of necessity. Afterall, what's a maître d’ to do when his restaurant has just closed for the day, hungry patrons approach, and the cook is no where to be found? Nacho's answer was to assemble some fried tortilla triangles, cheese and sliced jalapenos and toss it in the oven. Nacho's guests were delighted, and rest is history.
Dairy free nacho cheese
More and more we're seeing customers looking for dairy alternatives. Cheese in particular is a challenge to replicate, especially that creamy, gooey mouth feel of melted cheese. This recipe for dairy free nacho cheese will please omnivores, carnivores and herbivores alike! It also makes a great demo to do in-store, where you can showcase the power of your highspeed blenders! No less impressive is the rapid boil time of an induction burner, which will bring the 3 cups of water to a rolling boil in no time! You can serve with a single tortilla strip dipped into a 2 oz. solo cup and top with your favorite toppings, such as:
- a sliced jalapeno (in honor of Nacho, of course!)
- a sliced black olive
- a dollop of salsa
Vegan Nacho Cheese Sauce
Ingredients
- 5 ounces raw cashews
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 Tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon kosher salt
- 5 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 roasted bell peppers (jarred)
- 4 cups water, divided
- 2 Tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- In a high speed blender combine cashews, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, cornstarch, bell peppers and approximately one cup of the water. You want just enough water to get the mixture to blend into a slurry, but not so much water that the mix is loose. If the mix is too watery, it won't blend as smoothly and the nacho cheese sauce will be chunky.
- In a medium saucepan, bring the remaining water (approximately 3 cups) to a boil. Whisk in the blended slurry, stirring constantly. Once thick, off heat and whisk in the lemon juice
Notes
Nutrition
WANT MORE NATIONAL CALENDAR DAY LOVE?
If you would like to know the national foodie days in advance, you can download the 2023 calendar for free! Looking for next year's calendar? The 2024 weekly calendar is also available.
