Today’s Spotlight is on Nachos.

Nachos is a Mexican culinary dish consisting of tortilla chips or totopos covered with cheese or cheese sauce, as well as a variety of other toppings and garnishes, often including meats, vegetables, and condiments such as salsa, guacamole, or sour cream.

They can also include other toppings and garnishes, such as:

• Meats, such as ground beef or grilled chicken
• Vegetables, such as chili peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and olives
• Condiments, such as pickled jalapeño peppers, tomatoes, onions, and spicy ground beef
• Other toppings, such as guacamole, pico de gallo, shredded lettuce, cotija cheese, grilled corn, pinto beans, black olives, pickled red onions, shredded chicken, or crumbled tofu.

The cheese can be spread over the chips or served in a bowl for chips to be individually dipped.

Nachos are a frenzy of flavor and texture, including:

• Crunchy and chewy
• Creamy and gooey
• Spicy and roasty
• Tangy and sweet

Nachos are traditionally served as a snack, but they have also evolved into a main meal. They are a finger food, much like French fries, so you’d want to eat them with your fingers.

 

History

Nachos were invented in 1943 by Ignacio “Nacho” Anaya, a Mexican restaurateur at the maître d’hôtel at the Victory Club in Piedras Negras, Mexico. The name “nacho” comes from Anaya’s nickname.

He created nachos when a group of US military wives asked for a different snack.  The story goes that the military wives were from Eagle Pass, Texas and had crossed the Rio Grande for a shopping trip. They arrived at the Victory Club after closing time.

The original recipe was simple and included:

Tortilla chips, Cheese, Pickled jalapeños.

Anaya sliced and fried the tortilla chips, covered them with shredded cheddar, and put them in the oven for a few minutes. He named the snack after himself, using his nickname “Nacho”. The dish has evolved since then and is often topped with: Beans, Guacamole, Ground beef, Salsa, Sour cream.

 

Here are some fun facts about nachos:

• The first known appearance of the word “nachos” in English was in 1950 in the book A Taste of Texas.
• The University of Kansas set the record for the world’s largest plate of nachos in 2012. The plate was 80 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 10 inches deep, and weighed nearly 5,000 pounds.
• Nachos are in the public domain.
• Nacho toppings can be a good way to add vegetables, plant-based protein, and other nutrients.
• Nacho cheese has killed at least one person. In 2017, a bag of nacho cheese was found to be the cause of an outbreak of botulism.

Other fun facts about nachos include:

• Nachos were popular in America by 1949.
• Carmen Rocha is credited with making nachos in San Antonio, Texas, before introducing them to Los Angeles in 1959.

It’s hard to believe that before the 1950s, nachos didn’t really exist in the U.S.

 

Here is a Nacho Recipe for you to try:

Nachos are made by:

• Crisping pieces of tortilla
• Broiling them with cheese
• Adding other toppings and garnishes, often including:
  • Meats, such as ground beef or grilled chicken
  • Vegetables, such as chili peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, and olives
  • Black beans, which are slow cooked for at least four hours.
  • Fresh vegetables in a chili and chipotle sauce

Nachos are eaten with your fingers. If you are serving nachos at a party, consider including some baby wipes or hand sanitizer.

 

Consumption

According to Tastewise, the average person eats nachos 1.6 times a year. In 2020, 236.78 million Americans consumed corn and tortilla chips and cheese snacks.

Here are some other statistics about nachos:

• 81% of people love nachos, and 17% say they like them.
• One in four people have eaten a full plate of nachos or more.
• Nachos are considered one of the worst Mexican dishes for your health.
• Craving salty foods like nachos can indicate a high level of cortisol (stress hormone).

Nachos originated in Northern Mexico. They became an international sensation after San Antonio businessman Frank Liberto introduced them to Arlington Stadium in 1976.

Celebrating Nachos

October 21 is International Day of the Nacho, which honors Anaya.

National Nachos Day is celebrated on November 6th every year. It’s a day to celebrate the snack that’s enjoyed at sporting events, restaurants, bars, and tailgates.

Nachos are tortilla chips covered in nacho cheese, queso, or other melted cheese and served with salsa. They come in a variety of flavors and toppings, including:

• Traditional cheese sauce
• Guacamole
• Chili con carne

Some places that offer deals on National Nachos Day include:

• 7-Eleven: Reward members can get an order of nachos for $2 with their choice of toppings.

So, we’d love to know, how do you celebrate Nachos? Did you know that they were named after a person? Let us know in the comments.