Merienda serye: Nachos with Taco Dip

Ingredients:

- 1 cup ground chicken breast
- 1 large red onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 small carrots, chopped
- 2 siling haba, chooped
- 3 tbsp. taco seasoning
- 1 tsp. Spanish paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
- half a cup of water

Cheese Sauce: (optional)

- grated cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese (amount depends on how cheesy you wanted)
- half a cup of soy milk or fresh milk (I used soy milk for the extra sweet taste)
- 1 tbsp. of flour
- 2 tbsp. of butter
- salt and white pepper to taste

Taco Dip Procedure:

1. In a saucepan, saute the garlic and onion.
2. When the onion turns translucent, add the rest of the vegetables and saute for a minute.
3. Add the chicken in and saute until the chicken turns brown.
4. Season with Spanish paprika, salt and pepper, and the taco seasoning and continue to saute.
5. Add water and simmer until all the consistency is dry or if you want a little sauce, add more water and stir in a slurry for a thick consistency.

How to make a slurry: 1 tbsp. of cornstarch dissolved in 1 part water.

6. Pour into a serving dish and enjoy it with nacho/tortilla/ taco. 
   Top it with the cheese sauce and grated cheese. partner it as well with salsa  dip.

Cheese Sauce Procedure:

1. In a saucepan, melt the butter (not brown just melted)
2. Add in grated cheese and flour. Stir continuously until the cheese has melted.
3. Add in the soy milk while continuously stirring. Add more water if consistency is too thick. Turn off the heat if already reached the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper.

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Why order nachos in a restaurant if you can make them at home? This is my own nacho recipe the easy way using McCormick Taco Seasoning. You can actually use it as is without adding other veggies but I wanted to create that extra layer of texture and flavor. Instead of the traditional beef, I used chicken which is a little cheaper and a lot healthier option. 

Taco sauce or dip is best enjoyed on a basket of nacho chips, tacos, and/or fries and can be loaded with chili sauce, cheese sauce or guacamole and with fresh tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cabbage or lettuce. Instead of jalapeno which is expensive to buy here in the Philippines, I used siling haba which gave that same heat except of course the flavor is different.

. Well, it depends on how you want it. I like mine on a bed of nachos with cheese sauce and grated cheddar cheese. What about you, how do you enjoy your taco dip?
😊👍