NachoMama’s Queso - VegWithMandy.com

Queso makes enough for 2 trays of nachos, feeding 2 hungry people, each. 😉  Done in ~45 mins or less.

IF there’s only 2 of you, save leftover queso and tomorrow: Make a new tray of Nachos, -OR- pour leftover queso on cooked macaroni noodles with some drained kidney beans for a healthy “Chili mac”. 

Preheat oven to 350F

First, the Queso -In a medium saucepan, prepare enough instant mashed potatoes for 2 servings, replacing water/butter with vegetable broth/Olive oil, respectively.

Specifically:

• 2/3 c. vegetable broth, boiled. Then remove from heat and add:

• 1Tbsp olive oil

• 2/3 c. potato flakes 

• 1/4 c. unsweetened almond milk

Let cool a moment.

In blender, add:

• Prepared instant mashed potatoes (above)

• 1/4 tsp cumin

• 1/2 tsp chili powder

• 1/2 tsp onion powder

• 1/2 clove garlic, minced

• 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce, low sodium

• 1/2 Tbsp lime juice, freshly squeezed

• 1/4 c. Nutritional yeast

• 1/2 c. water

• 2 Tbsp carrot baby food (yep! Just make sure the only ingredient is carrots) 

If blender “chokes” thin with another ~ 1/4 c. unsweetened almond milk*

Pour in a bowl and add. 

• 4-5 Tbsp Rotel, drained but liquid saved!

• 2 Tbsp Rotel liquid

Stir and set aside.

Next, the “meat”. In a saute pan on medium low, add

• ~1-2 tsp olive oil

• 8 oz tempeh (plain), first crumbled a few seconds in food processor (optional)

          -OR- 1 can black beans, low sodium, drained/rinsed, slightly mashed (optional)

• 1/2 taco seasoning packet, low sodium

• ~1/4 c. water to make seasoning stick

Stir well, Warm in pan x 2-3 min.

Next, Assemble your Nachos, yay!

On 1 baking sheet (2 sheets if serving 4 people) lined with: 

• aluminum foil, and lightly sprayed with

• Olive oil cooking spray, Layer as follows:

• Tortilla chips

• Prepared NachoMama’s Queso (above)

• Prepared Tempeh taco meat (above)

• Repeat, making sure all chips get a little bit of the queso love.

Bake at 350F x 8-10 minutes, checking halfway through.

On top of baked Nachos, add:

• Beefsteak tomato, diced 

• Avocado, diced

Enjoy! <3

Notes: *The queso will get thinner once you add Rotel liquid, so don’t overdo it!