You've Gotta Try These Nachos

Total Time: 35 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• 2 (13 ounce) bags corn tortilla chips, i like to use 2 different colors, ie. 1 bag yellow and 1 bag blue corn chips
• 4 vine-ripe tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1 -2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped (adjust to your heat level)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaf, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 lb ground sirloin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dark chili powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons frank's red hot sauce (or up to 1 t., adjust to your heat level.)
• 1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained
• 2 tablespoons butter (i use unsalted)
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 1/2 cups monterey jack pepper cheese, shredded
• sour cream (optional)
• 1 avocados, sliced (optional) or 1 guacamole (optional)
• black olives, sliced (optional)
• scallion, chopped (optional)
• hot sauce (optional)

Recipe

• 1 arrange the corn chips on a large serving platter.
• 2 combine the salsa ingredients and let the flavors meld.
• 3 make the beef and beans topping:.
• 4 heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high and add the olive oil, garlic, onion and jalapeno. saute for about 2 minutes.
• 5 add meat and break into smaller bits. season with salt, chili powder, cumin and the cayenne pepper sauce. cook meat mixture until browned, about 5 minutes. (drain any grease.).
• 6 stir in the beans and turn the heat down to low.
• 7 make the cheese sauce:.
• 8 in a saucepan, melt the butter over moderate heat.
• 9 then add the flour, stirring and cooking for about a minute.
• 10 whisk in milk.
• 11 when the milk comes to a bubble (watch carefully and keep stirring to make it lump-free and so it doesn't scald), stir in cheese using a wooden spoon.
• 12 remove cheese sauce from the heat.
• 13 pour cheese sauce evenly over the tortilla chips.
• 14 top evenly with the beef and beans mixture.
• 15 top it all off with the pico de gallo salsa (and optional toppings, if using).
• 16 serve it while it's hot!