Irish Nachos
At an Irish pub in college, my friends and I would frequently get a food item called "Irish Nachos." Now, this probably existed outside of this bar, I do not think it was unique to them. However, I had never had it before. You take the ubiquitous waffle fries and use those as the base instead of tortilla chips in traditional nachos. Irish = potatoes I suppose.
It certainly made for a yummy and filling snack while *ahem* drinking some beers. Now, it is a regular appetizer I make for any large parties I will host centered around a sporting event or game. Super Bowl any one? It is a very easily shared dish and the toppings are obviously dealer's choice.
I included the traditional toppings of the Irish nachos we had, though you could easily omit the meat if vegetarian or black olives if you do not like them, etc. However, I added some fun new twists. Instead of just sour cream on the side, I made a sour cream-based jalapeño ranch sauce. Instead of plain jalepeño slices, I added homemade jalepeño jelly. I also added some pickled red onions and avocado.
It was fun to re-create this food memory and remember funny memories from days long gone. This pub will always hold a special place in my heart. Do you have any fun food memories from your younger years? Have you ever tried to recreate them?
I hope you enjoy! For more recipes and photos, follow along on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theblackcatkitchen1/
Irish Nachos
Recipe details
Ingredients
Nachos
- Frozen waffle fries-1 bag
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 avocado, sliced
- 6 green onions, diced
- 1/2 C cherry tomatoes, diced
- 1/4 C black olives, diced
- 1 C shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional-jalepeno or pepper jelly for topping
- Optional serving: sour cream, salsa, or homemade jalepeno ranch sauce
Quick pickled red onion
- 1 medium red onion (this will make extra, but keep on hand in the fridge for about a week and use on other recipes)!
- Optional-garlic cloves and whole peppercorns
- 1 C apple cider vinegar
- 1 C water
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp salt
Jalepeno Ranch
- 1 C sour cream (or plain greek yogurt)
- 1/4 C mayo
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1/2 jalepeno pepper, minced
- 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 C olive oil
- 1/4 C milk
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- fresh dill, parsley, minced to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Nachos
- Preheat oven to 400 F (or what the directions state on your bag of waffle fries)
- In oven you will cook fries and bacon (you can also cook bacon on stove top)
- Cook fries and bacon and set aside. Crumble bacon once cooled
- While fries and bacon are cooking, slice your red onion into rings and quick pickle (see below)
- Dice your tomatoes, and black olives. Slice your avocado, and green onions
- Make jalepeno ranch sauce-instructions below
- Assemble-waffle fries on bottom, followed by shredded cheddar cheese- either broil or microwave quickly to melt cheese
- Add bacon, tomatoes, olives, green onions, avocado, pickled red onions, optional pepper jelly and sauce to top.
Quick pickled red onion
- Slice onion into thin rings (can be easier using mandoline)
- Boil vinegar, water, sugar and salt. Remove from heat
- Let cool slightly and pour over red onions in jar
- Add optional peppercorns and garlic cloves
- Keep stored in tightly sealed jar for about a week to use in other recipes!
Jalepeno Ranch
- Mince garlic and jalepeno pepper
- Stir sour cream and mayo together and add seasonings and all other ingredients. Thin with a little milk if needed for right consistency. You can also choose to blend all ingredients for smoother ranch with no chunks
Tips
- Cooking time includes time to cook bacon and waffle fries as well as lightly bake the nachos with the cheese on top.
Comments
Share your thoughts, or ask a question!
I dream of the sour cream chicken enchiladas of 50 years ago. I think the filling was normal, but the white sauce with Monterey Jack melted on top was nicely tart . Served with pickled jalapeño and carrots.
3 recipes in one. Sounds delicious. Many thanks