Turn a basic mince mixture into an aromatic meal by adding some extra spices and your choice of toppings to serve as this Mexican inspired dish. You can make it as spicy as your family will enjoy. This is a fun family meal, as everyone can tuck into the mince and chips and top it with their choice of accompaniments. We call this a no bake version, as plant based cheese doesn’t always melt in the same way a dairy version does, so the cheese is used fresh for the most appetising result. 

The type of cheese your child can eat will determine what you buy for this recipe. 

NO BAKE FAMILY STYLE NACHOS 

Serves 6 

Ingredients 

• 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil  

• 500 g lean beef mince  

• 1 onion, chopped  

• 2 cloves of garlic, chopped  

• 2 carrots, coarsely grated  

• 1 tbsp (15 ml) ground cumin  

• 2 tsp (10 ml) ground coriander  

• 2 tsp (10 ml) mild curry powder or to taste  

• 2 tsp (10 ml) ordinary paprika or 1 tsp (5 ml) smoked paprika  

• 1 × 50 g sachet (50 ml) tomato paste  

• 1 × 410 g tin chopped tomatoes  

• 2 tbsp (30 ml) chopped fresh coriander leaves or Italian parsley  

• 1 × 400 g red kidney beans, drained and rinsed  

• Lemon juice, salt and pepper  

For serving 

• 1 × 250 g bag organic corn tortilla chips  

• Sliced jalapeños (optional)  

• 100 to 150 g (1½ cup) coarsely grated plant based or nut free cheese alternative (see tips)  

• Homemade guacamole (see tips)  

• Fresh salsa made with cubed cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, peppers and herbs to taste, seasoned with a dash of olive oil and vinegar  

• 2 to 3 spring onions, thinly sliced  

• Fresh coriander leaves and lemon or lime wedges for serving  

Method 

1. Heat a thin layer of the oil in a large saucepan and fry mince until browned. Spoon out and set aside.  
2. Heat the remaining oil in the same saucepan and fry onion and garlic for a few minutes until softened. Add carrots and spices and sauté until aromatic.  
3. Add tomato paste and tinned tomatoes. Rinse the tin out with a little water and return with the mince to the saucepan. Stir the mixture well, reduce the heat, cover with a lid and simmer for 30 to 45 minutes or until the mince is cooked and flavourful.  
4. Add herbs and drained beans to the mince and allow to simmer until heated through. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.  
5. Arrange a third of the chips around the edge of a shallow serving dish or platter. Top with warm mince mixture, jalapeños (if using), and cheese.  
6. Serve immediately with the remaining chips and let everyone add toppings of their choice from the list above. A fresh salsa and homemade guacamole is perfect for this meal-in-one.  

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