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Loaded Nachos with Vegan Cauliflower Queso

Print Recipe
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • tortilla chips
  • 1 cup cooked black beans
  • tons of cilantro
  • 1 avocado

Cauliflower Queso

  • 1 medium head of cauliflower, cut into florets
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3 tbsp nutritional yeast
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ cup warm water
  • ½ tsp red chili powder *optional, but recommended for some extra spice
  • salt to taste

Walnut Meat

  • ½ cup walnuts
  • ¼ cup chopped bell peppers
  • ¼ red onion, chopped
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ a jalapeño pepper, chopped *sub ¼ tsp cayenne
  • pinch of cayenne optional
  • pepper to taste
  • salt to taste

Sweet Potatoes

  • 1 small sweet potato, chopped
  • ¼ tsp cayenne
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ¼ tsp sea salt
  • drizzle of olive oil

Tomato Salsa

  • 1 tomato, diced
  • ½ red onion, diced
  • lime juice from half a lime
  • ¼ jalapeño pepper, finely chopped
  • 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
  • black pepper
  • salt

Instructions
 

Cauliflower Queso

  • Heat a pan over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp olive oil and cook cauliflower for about 5 minutes. Then add 1/2 a cup of water, increase heat to medium high, let it come to a simmer, reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 10 minutes. It should be soft enough to process well.
  • Blend with all other ingredients! Reduce or omit the red chili powder if you anticipate that it will be too spicy.

Walnut Meat

  • Toast walnuts, bell peppers, and onions on a pan over medium heat (no oil necessary) for 5-7 minutes, until walnuts are nicely toasted.
  • Process walnuts, bell peppers, and onions with cumin, jalapeño pepper, black pepper, salt, and cayenne (if using). Do NOT process for long because then it might turn into nut butter consistency. You want the walnuts to have a crumbly texture.

Sweet Potatoes

  • Cube a sweet potato into small ½-inch cubes. Toss with cayenne, salt, pepper, and just a drizzle of olive oil. Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 400 F.

Tomato Salsa

  • Finely chop all ingredients and mix together in a bowl. Add more cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste if necessary.

Assembly

  • Spread tortilla chips on a sheet pan. Add sweet potatoes, black beans, and walnut meat. Drop dollops of cauliflower queso everywhere. Finish off with tomato salsa, plenty of cilantro, and avocado.