Southern Nachos Food

SOUTHERN NACHOS

Steps:

• For the guacamole: Add the avocado flesh to a bowl and smash. Mix in the shallot, tomato and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper and shake in some hot sauce.
• For the nachos: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the tortilla chips on a sheet pan and bake until hot, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a skillet, stirring, until browned, about 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Combine the cheese, scallions and cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Add 1 1/4 cups half-and-half and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until melted and smooth. Stir in the pimientos. Add more half-and-half if necessary for a nice drizzling consistency.
• Transfer half of the chips to a large dish and top with half the sausage, beans, jalapeños and olives. Drizzle generously with the cheese sauce. Add the remaining chips, sausage, beans, jalapeños and olives. Drizzle on more cheese sauce, then top with the guacamole and sour cream. Serve additional cheese sauce on the side for dipping.

MEMPHIS-STYLE PULLED PORK NACHOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the barbecue pork: In a medium saucepan, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and garlic and continue to cook until the garlic is softened. Add the ketchup, molasses, vinegar, hot sauce, mustard and brown sugar and simmer until the sugar is melted and the ingredients have combined, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a blender and carefully blend until smooth. Return to the pan, add Trisha's Pulled Pork and keep over low heat to warm through.
• For the cheese sauce: Heat the cream and pepper in a small saucepan over low heat until it just begins to steam, about 3 minutes. Gradually add the cheese, stirring until the cheese is completely melted. Keep warm, adding a bit more cream if the sauce becomes too thick.
• For the nachos: In a shallow casserole dish, spread the shredded romaine and then top with the tortilla and potato chips mixed together. Spread the pork over the chips and cover with the shredded Cheddar. Bake until the cheese has melted, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour the cheese sauce over top and garnish with the red onions and scallions.
• Season the ribs well on all sides with salt and pepper.
• In a large Dutch oven over high heat, heat the oil to a shimmer. Add the ribs and sear until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Remove the ribs and transfer to a plate. Add the garlic, carrots and onion and cook until golden and caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of water and, using a wooden spoon, scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add 2 more cups of water and stir to combine.
• Return the ribs to the Dutch oven, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook until fork-tender, about 3 hours.
• Remove the ribs from the liquid and transfer to a baking sheet to cool. Strain the cooking liquid and reserve. When cool enough to handle, use 2 forks to shred the pork.

DESSERT NACHOS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment.
• Mix together 1 cup of the sugar and the cinnamon in a bowl.
• Unroll the pie dough, brush with egg and sprinkle liberally with cinnamon sugar. Cut each dough round into 12 to 14 thin wedges and place them on the prepared baking sheets. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• While the pie crust chips are baking, puree 1 cup of the raspberries with 1/4 cup sugar and 1 to 2 tablespoons of water, if needed, to make a sauce. Set aside.
• Heat 1 cup of the cream and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla in a small saucepan until starting to steam but not boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate chips and mix well until all the chocolate is combined.
• Whisk together the remaining 1 cup cream, 1 tablespoon sugar and vanilla in a bowl until light and fluffy.
• When the pie chips are ready, place half of them onto a serving tray. Top with half of the raspberry and chocolate sauces and the rest of the raspberries. Add the remaining chips and top with the remaining raspberry and chocolate sauces, and the whipped cream and nuts. Serve immediately.

BACON BBQ NACHOS

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until crispy and cooked through on both sides, about 16 minutes. Remove the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate, reserving the fat in the skillet. Once the bacon has cooled slightly, chop into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
• Place the chips on a large serving platter and sprinkle the barbeque seasoning over the top.
• Combine the sour cream, barbeque sauce and hot sauce in a small bowl to make a barbeque crema. Set aside.
• Place the skillet with the reserved bacon fat over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk until a smooth paste forms. Cook this mixture until thin and slightly tan, 2 to 3 minutes. While continuously whisking, pour the evaporated milk and stock into the flour mixture. Reduce the heat to low and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sauce slightly thickens and lightly coats the back of a spoon, about 8 minutes. Whisk in the salt and cheese until melted. Remove from heat, as the sauce will continue to thicken.
• Spoon the warm beans over the chips. Sprinkle half of the chopped bacon over the beans. Pour the warm cheese sauce generously over the platter. Sprinkle the jalapenos, pimientos, remaining bacon and scallions on top. Drizzle with the barbeque crema and serve immediately.