Fajita Vegan Nachos
Fajita Vegan Nachos! The ultimate plant-based nachos. Tortillas, chewy taco tofu, seasoned peppers, homemade cheese sauce, pinto beans and more!
Hey almost Super Bowl weekend, I’m coming for you! Well, with food. Specifically, these Fajita Vegan Nachos which are loaded with all the good stuff: sautéed peppers and onions, spicy tofu taco meat, pinto beans, creamy dairy-free cheese sauce, chips, herbs and avocado.
I can down an entire plate of these in one sitting and still want more. They are the perfect answer to almost all cravings: crunchy, spicy, hearty and salty. Since my savory-tooth is much bigger than my sweet-tooth, I crave these nachos almost weekly.
I first created them a few weeks ago when the Packers were playing their hearts out for SB gold. As BL is still a die-hard Packer fan, I try to make those Sunday evenings as special as possible. Whatever food he requests, maybe a margarita or two, and me far, far away from the couch.
BL always wants Mexican. Always. He usually rotates between a build-your-own burrito/taco bar, vegan quesadillas, tortilla soup or nachos. I want to eat everything; so we compromise, with these piled-high-with-everything nachos.
The secret is getting the tofu meat just right. First, you have to press it. Use a fancy press, use a heavy book, whatever works- just press it for at least 15 minutes. Then, heat a cast-iron skillet with a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat. I’m sure other skillets work, but I can’t imagine cooking this without my trusted cast-iron.
Crumble the tofu into the skillet, then use a wooden spoon to break up any chunks. Stir, stir and stir, until the tofu is really chewy and almost no moisture remains. It should resemble the texture of cooked, ground turkey.
Even though BL insists that he hates tofu, he eats it like this all the time and is none the wiser. Seriously, he thinks I just make “taco meat” in the kitchen. Sorry bro, it’s tofu.
One last secret for perfect Fajita Vegan Nachos- layer, layer, layer.
I start with a handful of chips, toppings and cheese sauce, then repeat. Consider nachos like lasagna and you are guaranteed to get a yummy bite every time.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking!
Fajita Vegan Nachos
Ingredients
Taco Tofu:Â
- 1 16 ounce package firm tofu, drained and pressed
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning, or this homemade version
Fajita Peppers:
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fajita seasoning
Vegan Cheese Sauce:
- 1 cup cashews, soaked for at least an 1 hour, drained
- 1/4 cup orange bell pepper, roughly chopped
- 3/4 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk, I used almond
- 1 tsp. chili powder
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
Everything Else:Â
- Tortilla chips
- Sliced jalapeños
- 1 cup cooked pinto beans
- guacamole
Instructions
Make the taco tofu:Â
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Crumble the tofu and add in the fajita seasoning. Cook, stirring often, until tofu is dry and slightly crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Set aside.
Make the fajita peppers:
- Heat the remaining olive oil in the skillet. Add the peppers and the fajita seasoning and cook until softened, about 10 minutes. Wipe out the skillet and set aside.
Make the cheese sauce:Â
- Place the drained cashews, orange pepper, almond milk, chili powder, nutritional yeast and a pinch of salt and pepper in a blender and puree until creamy and smooth. Taste and adjust as needed for seasoning.
- Place the cheese sauce into the skillet and cook another minute or two until warmed and thickened.
Assemble yo’ Nachos!:Â
- Layer the chips, cheese sauce, peppers and tofu in a large platter. Top with beans, jalapeños, remaining peppers/cheese/tofu and dollop with guacamole.