Nachos

For the NACHOS operating system, see Not Another Completely Heuristic Operating System.

"Nacho" redirects here. For the Spanish nickname, see Ignacio.

A tray of Nachos

Nachos with beef, beans, and cheese.

Nachos, in their simplest form, are usually tortilla chips covered in melted cheese. First created in 1943 by Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya, the original nachos consisted of fried tortilla chips covered with melted cheese and jalapeño peppers. The first ballpark nachos were served at Arlington Stadium. The International Day of the Nacho is celebrated on October 19th with the International Nacho Festival held at Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico.

Origin

Nachos originated in the city of Piedras Negras, Coahuila in 1943 at a restaurant called Club Victoria. The traditional story is that one day the wives of several U.S. soldiers arrived after the restaurant had closed, so the waiter Ignacio "Nacho" Anaya invented a new dish for them with what little he had available in the kitchen: tortillas and cheese. Anaya cut the tortillas into triangles and fried them, then added yellow Wisconsin cheese. The women enjoyed the dish very much, so they asked for its name, to which Anaya quickly responded "Nachos especiales" — i.e., "Special Nachos" or possibly "Nacho's Special".

Variations

A traditional variation consists of a quartered tostada topped with a layer of refried beans and/or various meats and a layer of shredded cheese.

Processed cheese is often used in place of freshly shredded cheese in institutional or large-scale production settings, such as schools, movie theaters, sports venues, and convenience stores, or wherever using freshly grated cheese may be logistically prohibitive. Such processed cheese is referred to informally in the United States as "nacho cheese", though the term "nacho cheese" does not denote any particular variety of cheese.

Common additional toppings include:

• Ground beef or chicken
• Jalapeño pepper slices
• Other spicy or mild peppers
• Onions
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Refried beans
• Sour cream
• Lettuce and/or tomatoes
• Olives

In Memphis, Tennessee, barbecue nachos are served in most barbecue restaurants, and also at sporting events. Generous portions of barbecued pork shoulder are placed atop tortilla chips, then covered with melted cheese, barbecue sauce, and sliced jalapeno peppers.

A similar dish that involves tortilla chips and cheese is found in Tex-Mex restaurants. Small bowls of chili con queso and/or, more commonly, salsa, are served with baskets of warm tortilla chips as appetizers.

See also

• Tex-Mex cuisine
• Mexican cuisine
• Chili con queso

References

• Denver Post reference to International Day of the Nacho, October 21.
• Oxford English Dictionary reference to International Day of the Nacho, October 21.
• Dunne, Mike. (January 28 2004). "One spicy tale: 'Macho Nachos'. Sacramento Bee, p. F1.

External links

• Recipe for vegetarian nachos
• ILoveNachoCheese.com - Recipes, Humor, and Opinions on nachos and nacho cheese