Chicken Nachos with Fire Cider Black Beans and Quick Pickled Red Onions
a comforting weeknight dinner when you're short on time
The cool damp days of spring sadly seem to be over around here. With more hot weather and no rain in sight, summer is coming in fast.
With this shift in season, I’ve been craving simple and quick meals, fresh salads, wraps for lunch, and icy drinks. This meal fits right into my routine and has been my go-to for a quick dinner for the past two weeks.
While nachos might sound basic, there are a few ways to make simple nachos a bit more interesting without sacrificing their comforting quality.
Beans | You can always cook your beans in an herbal broth to infuse more healing benefits right in. If you’ve got a can of beans in the pantry, adding a few splashes of fire cider (I used this one from Wooden Spoon Herbs) can add a ton of flavor and warmth. You can instantly dress them up by sauteing them with onion, garlic, and spices like cumin or paprika. Don’t feel like you only have to use black or pinto beans. Creamy white beans or chickpeas will work great too.
Toppings | This is where you’re herbal preps come into play. I opted for Quick Pickled Red Onions with Rose Petals that I had leftover from my last cooking class. Pickled jalapenos, freshly chopped herbs, chopped red peppers, sliced radish, or anything fresh sprinkled on top is the way to go.
Sauces | If you don’t do cheese, having a creamy sauce like this Herby Green Goddess Dressing could be nice to drizzle over the nachos as well. Pico de Gallo, mango salsa, or even chimichurri would be lovely too.
Protein | I used meat from a rotisserie chicken, so this meal was super quick o pull together since there really wasn’t much to cook. A good alternative to meat would be sauteed mushrooms. Maitake, shiitake, oyster, lion’s mane, or a mix of your favorites would give the nachos another layer of texture and savoriness.
Don’t skimp on the fresh herbs either. Lots of chopped cilantro and sweet or tulsi basil add a hit of freshness and flavor to nachos. Serve with a big salad to make it a meal and enjoy with your favorite hot sauce.
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