Little black beans soaked overnight, waiting to take a plunge, in a bubbling pot of water.
No recipes were on the brain. I just like to have a fridge stocked with fresh beans. Don’t you?
So, what to do with these beans?
I had no intention of making nachos. It just never occurs to me to make nachos at home. Why, why, whyyy not??
Once the thought of nachos entered my head, I just couldn’t shake it. With no corn tortillas or tortilla chips in the house, I was forced into making my own. This sounded labor intensive. The exact opposite of what I wanted.
Google search #27 of the morning and counting: “corn tortilla recipe”
masa harina + water + salt
Seriously. That is all you need.
Why, why, whyyy have I not made these before?? A slightly soft center, surrounded by crispy, corn flavored jagged edges, dusted with sea salt. Perfectly imperfect.
To play into the “nachos, rethunk” title, besides making my own chips, I also made a simple cashew sauce that rivals melted cheddar cheese. Or maybe it’s been too long since I’ve had a plate full of melted cheddar cheese nachos?
Either way, this sauce made the dish come alive.
It’s not cheese.
Or cheese like.
It’s just…really tasty.
Do black beans typically fall on your nacho plate?
They definitely fall on mine, and turn a side dish into a meal.
Instead of guacamole, cubed avocado works just as well. Okay, nothing beats a good batch of guac, but that involves more time + 4 more ingredients. I’ll leave the guac making to Kelsey + Chipotle.
Camera 1
or…camera 2? Leaning towards 2.
For a corn tortilla recipe, check here. Or, if you have Bob’s Red Mill Masa Harina, there is one right on the package! I added salt to my dough and squeezed a little lime over them after cooking and topped with another sprinkle of salt. I cooked mine in a pan with sunflower oil, then cut them into chip shape after cooking.
Layered Nachos
- corn tortillas, toasted + cut into chips
- black beans
- cubed avocado
- salsa
- cashew cream sauce
- repeat!
Cashew Cream Sauce
- 1c cashews
- 1/4 – 2/3c water
- 1/8t salt
- 1/2t chili powder
- 1/4t cumin
- 1/4t garlic powder
- 1-2 pinches cayenne [opt]
- Soak cashews in a bowl of water overnight, or for at least 4hrs.
- Drain + rinse and add to your blender with 1/4c of water and all of the spices.
- Blend until smooth, adding more water until desired consistency is met.
For a nacho cheezier cashew sauce, check these out these two recipes.
Much more fun than tacos, wouldn’t you say?
I inhaled this plate for the 2nd half of my lunch and enjoyed a much larger stack for dinner.
Pretty dang simple.
And pretty dang delicious.
Ashley
Very excited to mention that The Edible Perspective made Greatist’s list of Must Read Health & Fitness Blogs for 2012! I’m thrilled to be part of this list, along with so many other amazing bloggers. Thanks to all of you for your continued support + readership!
PDF 
I’ve been wondering what to do with my big jar of masa harina. And now I know. Ashley, you rock.
Ohhh man, masa harina is seriously one of my favorite flours ever. It has so much more flavor than regular corn flour. I use it in a few of my bake recipes and always use it in my cornbread!! Definitely plow through the masa harina around here!!
These look amazing! It’s been way too long since I last made nachos. I never knew corn tortillas were so easy to make! I have some masa harina in the cupboard just waiting to be tortillaized!
Congrats for making the list…there are lots of awesome blogs on that list and you deserve to be there.
And these nachos…look…so good!
Much appreciated Averie!
Those look awesome! i make vegan nachos all the time, but instead of making the tortillas (I’m lazy), I cut up Ezekiel tortillas into triangles and bake.
I love how crispy those tortillas get!
I agree. Camera 2
And congrats on making the list. That’s awesome! This recipe looks great. I love nachos, but haven’t made my own tortillas in a while. Hmm. Plus, your version looks way healthier than what I usually stuff my face with. <3
Thanks Ash!!!!!! I’m pretty sure you would love these nachos.
Yum! I’ve only ever made my nachos from tortillas (rice ones) but this is such a great idea. I agree on camera 2. Also, congrats on making that list, that’s SO exciting. Great to see that all of your hard work and dedication is being noticed
Thanks Leanne, that really means a lot!
How exciting about being on the top 2012 list! Yours is definitely the only blog I read every day. Woohoo!
Thanks friend…you’re the best!!! So excited to see an update about the twins on your blog today! <3
oh my gosh, i’m taking your word for it on the tortillas and making them asap. they’re my favorite part and i’d love to make them whenever i want!
YEsss, you will not be disappointed!
Congrats on the Greatist list Ashley!! You totally deserve that! And these nachos are SO creative, I love it! The photos are all gorgeous, as always!
Thank you Angela!
Yum! This sounds like a perfect Friday night dinner!!
this is so cool! I need to try
Sad that you’re married. We could have made a lovely couple.
hahahaa
these looks awesome! I’ve made chips w/ cornmeal before but never used masa harina. Looks like the perfect lunch!
Whoa! I make corn tortillas all the time for enchiladas, but hadn’t thought of using them for nachos! This is a game changer.
Congrats on the Greatlist!
Can you get them perfectly round?? They didn’t seem dry, but the edges kept breaking!
Congrats on making that list, checking it out now and you stand among some pretty awesome blogs!
WOW! Those look amazing! Need to get me some masa harina!
Connnnnnnngratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks, neighbor!
Congrats on making that list. It’s quite an impressive group to be among!
Thank you Gina!
I think I could happily dig into some “re-thunked” nachos. Those look incredible.
It’s things like these that make me not at all surprised that you made the list!! Congrats – well, well deserved!
Aw, thank you. That really means so much!
That’s like a heavenly pile of deliciousness right there
i feel like a mooching jack-in-the-box between you and OSG but I want to come to your lovely homes and have you serve me a meal! yum! this looks delicious Ashley!
Congrats on making that list- well deserved!
I also soaked black beans overnight… great minds think alike! I actually made “burrito bowls” with them, and used the leftover chickpeas from your chickpea burgers for the taco “meat.” They were incredible.
Nachos are definitely a weakness of mine- or really anything that contains Mexican spices, avocado, black beans and salsa. I’m getting hungry now.
Awesome!! So glad to hear they worked as the “meat!”
<3 nachos! Sometimes I cut my corn tortillas into triangles, spritz them with oil and bake them into chips – they taste like the good chips from an authentic mexican place. Sooo yummy. The cream sauce on your nachos looks amazing
Nachos are a weekly meal here at our house…so dang easy. And yes, the black beans always, always fall off. Your rethunk version looks perfect…I’m going to need that cashew sauce in bucket quantities.
And I like camera #2 better as well!
Hope you like the cashew sauce! I’ve been putting it on everything, including cooked veggies..I’m sure it would be amazing on roasted veg as well…hehe
i love making my own corn tortillas, especially when i make veggie burgers. mm! i love the cashew recipe!
Oh WOW, yum – these look amazing!! I have made vegan nachos in the past, but they didn’t look like that – these are gourmet nachos and I can’t wait to try them!
YUM!
i never think to make nachos, either! and i just made corn tortillas for the first time the other day and was bowled over at how easy (and CHEAP!) they were to make. never buying tortillas again…and making these nachos soon, for sure
Haha, yeah, no kidding!! So easy
That looks so yummy!
Also, my friend just told me that Trader Joe’s is opening up in CO! Isn’t that super exciting???
Yessss, I heard the news!
Woow! that looks sooo good!!! especially since we don’t get corn tortillas/chips here….now I can make my own!
I’m not a big fan of nachos – usually. These look like the exception! I definitely need to try these, and SOON!!
I was looking at your apple sage chickpea burgers and had a quick question: Do you think there is a different herb that would work in place of the sage? My mom has a strong dislike for sage, but I would still like to make the burgers and want her to enjoy them too.
Thanks!
I would try using fresh basil or oregano! Should taste great!
Loving the pick with the fork in the middle. I had no idea it was that easy to make corn tortillas either! Gotta try this soon with the amount I’ve been eating mexican food lately.
Mmmm yum! Nachos are a favorite of mine, and your homemade tortilla chips look awesome.
I just found your site and I love love love your recipes! I think I spent two hours looking through them. Oats are my favorite way to start the day! I also can’t wait to make these nachos this weekend after my day of yoga teacher training.
Thanks for saying hi Stephanie! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the blog.
Have fun a yoga training!
wow that does look super easy….and i really want to try a vegan cheese sauce! unfortunately my body dislikes beans
but i may substitute with something else instead
What about tempeh?
Ashley, do you have to use an iron skillet to make the tortillas? I want to make these so I’m wondering if it’s finally time for me to invest in one. Thanks!
Nope, but that probably wouldn’t hurt! I love my cast iron skillet and have a Lodge brand which is pretty cheap but does the job!
Congratulations on making the list. Your blog is definitely one I enjoy reading daily. I have never tried the cashew “cheese” sauce before but it sounds yummy so will have to give it a whirl. Time to invest in some masa harina too. I love the idea of making my own tortilla chips, shells, etc.
Thanks Jennifer. Much appreciated!!
This looks amazingly delicious. Question about the cashew sauce, though: Is it really important to soak the nuts first? If so, why?
It helps them blend better and have an extra creamy texture. I have made the “cheez” sauce without soaking, like in my other recipes. It usually just takes a little extra liquid to get the consistency nice and creamy. If you have a high powered blender [like a vita or blendtec] you probably don’t need to soak the cashews. But to make sure the texture isn’t at all gritty from the ground up nuts, it’s best to soak. Hope this was helpful for you!
Mmm that “cheez” looks so good! I’m still a little scared of making cashew cheez, but it sounds so yummy
This was more of a creamy sauce, then “cheez,” but still delicious. I bet you’ll love it!
holy heck this sounds great! i have been on the biggest mexican food kick known to date, and made nachos twice last week- with cooked from scratch black beans, avocado, and daiya cheddar. smothered in salsa of course. YUM!