Recipe: Healthy Vegetarian Nachos

Mexican food is one of mine & B’s favourites to whip up at home, and I think nachos are one of the best forms of Mexican food. Unfortunately they can also be rather unhealthy so I have been tinkering with ways to up the healthy factor without reducing the flavour and I think I’ve found a winner!

One of the easiest ways to make your nachos healthier is to choose your chips wisely. Corn chips really only need to be made of corn (and maybe some salt) and there’s enough flavour coming from the rest of the ingredients that you don’t need to use any of those artificially coloured and flavoured varieties. I buy mine from my local Turkish grocer (who also have a Mexican section!) or the organic shop, but the Mission brand white corn tortilla strips are a good supermarket option too.

The next step is to jam-pack the nachos with as many vegetables and beans as possible to make sure you’re still getting a complete meal, and packing them with lots of spice and flavour will mean you don’t have to drown the whole lot in cheese! Never fear though, I’m not going to suggest forgoing the cheese completely – that’s a step too far!

Healthy Vegetarian Nachos

So, what’s in these nachos of mine?

Ingredients List

  • Small onion
  • 2 tomatoes
  • Small zucchini
  • Capsicum
  • Red chilli (with or without seeds, up to you!)
  • 1tbs paprika
  • 1tbs cumin
  • 2tbs tomato paste
  • Can of corn kernels
  • Can of black beans
  • 1/2 cup water
  • Corn chips
  • 1/2 cup grated cheese
  • 1/2 avocado
  • Fresh coriander

Steps

  1. Preheat oven to 180C
  2. Finely dice the onion
  3. Chop the tomato, zucchini and capsicum into medium-sized dice and set aside
  4. Finely dice the red chilli
  5. Heat some oil in a large frypan and cook the onion until translucent
  6. Add the cumin, paprika and chilli and stir to combine for 30 seconds
  7. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine
  8. Drain and rinse the corn and black beans and add to the pan, then add the chopped vegetables. Stir to combine with the onion mix
  9. Add the water, reduce the heat to a simmer and cover for 5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
  10. In an ovenproof dish place a layer of the corn chips, top with the bean mix, then repeat with a second layer of chips and bean mix. Top with the cheese then pop in the oven until the cheese is melted
  11. Top with the avocado and fresh coriander
  12. Enjoy!

Healthy Vegetarian Nachos

This makes quite a lot of the mixture so you may have more than you need for the nachos (depending on how many you’re feeding and how hungry you are!). The leftovers work perfectly in any other Mexican meal, although my favourite way to have them is with some rice in a Mexican Bean Salad.

These nachos are really delicious and really up the flavour ante on your standard nacho-fare. Plus, you’re getting a whole range of vegetables at the same time – can’t go wrong with that!

Vegetarian Black Bean Nachos

Now, who wants to come round for dinner?

Oh, and before you go make sure you’ve entered my Menulog giveaway – it closes tomorrow (Sunday) night! And my first newsletter goes out tomorrow, so pop yourself on the list & get your free Healthy Drinks Guide e-book straight to your mailbox!

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11 Comments on Recipe: Healthy Vegetarian Nachos

  1. Ingrid
    August 9, 2014 at 7:39 am (10 years ago)

    Yum! Have bookmarked this post for when I get home, I have been craving nachos and healthy ones are even better. Can’t wait to try them X
    Ingrid recently posted…Shaking Things Up

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      August 9, 2014 at 11:05 am (10 years ago)

      Thanks lovely, I can’t believe you’re back in Australia so soon!

      Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      August 11, 2014 at 9:09 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks Elizabeth! And yep, sometimes junk food is required, but no need to make it unhealthier than it needs to be!

      Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      August 11, 2014 at 9:10 pm (10 years ago)

      You and me both Cindy!

      Reply
  2. Caitlin
    August 22, 2014 at 9:40 pm (10 years ago)

    I just made this tonight, and oh my god they were some of the most delicious nachos I have ever eaten. Thanks for sharing the recipe 🙂

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      August 22, 2014 at 10:03 pm (10 years ago)

      Oh that’s so good to hear! Thanks for coming back to tell me, so glad you loved them!

      Reply
  3. Lucy @ Bake Play Smile
    August 23, 2014 at 8:54 am (10 years ago)

    I’m totally with you on this! We love making nachos on a Friday or Saturday night but I’m also conscious about it being a bit of a healthier meal! Mmm who needs to drown them in cheese when you have so many fresh and lovely ingredients! Thank you for linking up with our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party! xxx
    Lucy @ Bake Play Smile recently posted…Fabulous Foodie Fridays #15 – Copycat Kung Pao Pasta

    Reply
    • I Spy Plum Pie (admin)
      August 23, 2014 at 6:10 pm (10 years ago)

      Thanks Lucy! It’s always nice to be able to have our favourite foods while still eating vaguely healthy!

      Reply
  4. Goyum
    February 13, 2020 at 5:20 pm (4 years ago)

    What a great breakfast idea with a healthy touch! This looks delicious! I just discovered your blog and I like it a lot. Pictures are beautiful!

    Reply

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