Skip The Meat And Use This Flavorful Pouched Staple For Hearty Nachos

A loaded plate of nachos is one of life's simple pleasures. It's a fun treat to have when you're out at a bar or restaurant, but making nachos at home gives you so much freedom to play around with ingredients and make them the exact way you want. No more enduring someone eating all the loaded chips and leaving you to pick at a plate of untopped chips with random bits of stray cheese. If you want to shake up your nacho routine or try a meatless alternative, add a pouch of Madras lentils in place of your usual protein.

It's pretty easy to add Madras lentils to your nachos. Trader Joe's and Tasty Bite both sell a heat-and-eat version of the lentils in a pouch. Just a minute or so in the microwave will heat the lentils, and then you can spread them over tortilla chips along with any other toppings you like.

Madras lentils and dal makhani (one of the Indian dishes we think you absolutely have to try at least once) are sometimes considered the same dish, with Madras lentils just being the Americanized version of the Indian staple. It features black lentils and kidney beans in a heavily seasoned, buttery tomato sauce. Madras lentils are sometimes described as being less spicy than a traditional dal makhani, and they have a consistency similar to refried beans, which makes them an ideal topping for nachos.

Madras lentils are typically made with aromatics like onion, bell pepper, and fresh ginger, and the dish often includes butter, cream, and tomatoes, which gives it a thick and creamy texture. It's flavored with Indian spices such as garam masala, cumin, and chile powder, and recipes vary, with some using a more spice-heavy blend than others. 

Spooned onto nachos, Madras lentils add a meaty texture combined with a rich creaminess that balances the crunch of the chips. It's hearty, spicy, and full of umami flavor, so you don't feel like you're missing the meat. The spice mixture also ensures a flavorful bite each time you get some on a chip. If you want more control over the spice level and flavors than you'd get from a premade pouch, you can try our recipe for vegan refried lentil nachos. This way, you can lean into more chile powder or red pepper flakes if you like a spicier nacho. 

Of course, the thing that really makes nachos fun is getting creative with the toppings. Lentils happen to pair well with classic nacho toppings like fresh tomatoes, onions, and pickled jalapeños. Pickled or caramelized onions would also work, as would roasted corn and fresh pico de gallo. You can't have nachos without cheese, and you could crumble some paneer over the nachos to keep with the Indian theme. If you can't find paneer, you can definitely load up on shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack. Cotija and Oaxaca cheese also work well, adding more Mexican-inspired flavor to the nachos. If you're going the vegan route, you could even make vegan nacho cheese sauce with cashews.