By Chef Linda
The Super Bowl is almost as much about the food as it is about the game. In fact, next to Thanksgiving, it’s the biggest food day of the year, according to many surveys. Whether you’re hosting or bringing a dish, odds are, you might want to have a hearty, flavorful dish to bust the myth that vegan food is not macho. In this recipe, I used Beyond Beef, just to prove that when a dish is this good, you can’t tell the difference…and if you can’t tell the difference, why not make it plant-based? Beyond Beef is remarkably similar to ground beef, so if that’s too close for comfort, cooked lentils are perfect. And don’t let the list of ingredients deter you from making this–many of them are spices so choose a pre-mixed taco or chili seasoning blend if that means you’ll be more likely to make it. There’s more than one way to enjoy hearty plant-based party foods! So bring a skillet to the big game–you’ll feed a crowd and plant a few seeds while you’re at it.
Macho Chili Nachos
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 3 large cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb Beyond Beef, vegan ground meat, 2 cups of cooked lentils
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp salt, more to taste
- 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 (15.5-ounce) can vegan refried beans
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce (or substitute the same amount of salsa)
- 1 large bag tortilla chips
- 2 cup vegan shredded cheese
- Sliced black olives
Toppings
- Chopped scallions
- Chopped fresh tomatoes
- Guacamole
- Vegan sour cream or plain, unsweetened yogurt
- Fresh limes, cut into wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion, pepper, and garlic, and cook for about 10 minutes, until onion and peppers are soft. Stir in spices and cook for another minute or two. Add Beyond Beef (or lentils) and break it up with a fork until it's crumbly. Cook for about 10 minutes, until it's no longer pink. Add the refried beans and tomato sauce. Stir to combine and cook until everything is heated through and the flavors have come together about 10 more minutes. Arrange the tortilla chips in a 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Alternatively, lay parchment paper on a baking tray and arrange chips on the tray. Spoon the bean mixture over the chips–it should be thick. Sprinkle cheese and olives on top. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until the cheese has fully melted. Remove the skillet from the oven and arrange your favorite toppings over the cheese. Squeeze fresh lime juice and serve by placing the skillet on a cutting board or trivet and letting people dig in with their forks. For a more civilized approach, let people use a fork or spatula to serve themselves on small plates!
