Two-Bean Nachos

In less than two months, The Plant Protein Revolution will be here!  I can’t wait for this book to come out as a response  to that perennial question “Where do you get your protein?”

To give you a sneak peek, I’m sharing one of my favorite recipes from the book, Two-Bean Nachos. I love nachos because they are easy to make and fun to eat, not to mention delicious.  This recipe is all that and more — with 17 grams of protein per serving.  Make the cheesy sauce in advance and the nachos will come together in minutes.

BONUS! The book is available now for pre-order and if you pre-order before August 11, 2020, my publisher will send you additional bonus recipes that you can start using right away!

Just send your proof of purchase to the following e-mail address: plantproteinrev@quarto.com and they’ll send you the bonus recipes.

Now let’s dig into some nachos….

Two-Bean Nachos

• 1 3/4 cups Easy Cheesy Sauce (recipe follows), kept warm
• 1 (12-ounce [340 g]) bag whole-grain tortilla chips
• 11/2 cups (355 g) cooked black beans, or 1 (15-ounce [425 g]) can, rinsed and drained
• 11/2 cups (354 g) cooked dark red kidney beans, or 1 (15-ounce [425 g]) can, rinsed and drained
• 1 large ripe tomato, diced
• 1/2 cup (80 g) chopped red onion or scallions, white and green parts
• 1/4 cup (60 ml) chopped pickled jalapeños
• 1/4 cup (15 g) chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
• 2 tablespoons (14 g) hulled hemp seeds
• 1 ripe Hass avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lime juice
• Sea salt

Prepare the sauce and keep it warm. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

Spread the tortilla chips in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet and bake until the chips are crisp and warm, about 5 minutes.

Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Sprinkle the black beans evenly over the chips, followed by the red kidney beans, tomato, onion, jalapeños, cilantro, if using, and the hemp seeds. In a small bowl, toss the avocado with the lime juice and season with salt. Top the nachos with the avocado, then drizzle the warmed cheesy sauce over the nachos and serve immediately.

This recipe is from The Plant Protein Revolution Cookbook by Robin Robertson (c) 2020, The Harvard Common Press.

 

Easy Cheesy Sauce

Makes 1 3/4 cups (415 ml)

This creamy golden sauce is rich and full of flavorful protein-rich goodness. I use it to drizzle over nachos and as a topping for baked potatoes, roasted vegetables, and enchiladas.

• 11/4 cups (38 g) raw cashews, soaked in hot water for 30 minutes, then well-drained
• 1/3 cup (21 g) nutritional yeast
• 2 tablespoons (30 ml) jarred roasted red pepper, drained and blotted dry
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) rice vinegar
• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons white miso paste
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 cup (235 ml) plain unsweetened plant milk, plus more as needed

Combine all the ingredients in a high-speed blender. Process until the mixture is pureed and smooth, scraping down the sides, as needed. The sauce is now ready to use in recipes.  Use as is, or heat gently in a saucepan for a minute or two, stirring in a little more milk, if needed, for a thinner sauce.