Vegan Cauliflower Nachos

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These delicious plant based nachos are sure to satisfy your cravings without leaving you feeling guilty for indulging. Made with crispy cauliflower florets in place on tortilla chips this yummy dish will leave you feeling light and satisfied. Made in the air fryer or baked in the oven, the options are endless and can be completely customized for your preferences. I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

• Cauliflower: 1 head sliced in thin strips or 2 bags of florets.
• Vegan refried beans: You’ll want to check the back of your can to make sure they are in fact vegan/vegetarian. Often traditional refried beans add lard. 
• Salsa
• Garlic salt
• Onion Powder
• Vegan shredded cheese or plant-based vegan queso
• Green and yellow bell peppers
• Chopped avocado
• Diced roma tomatoes
• Chopped red onion
• Lettuce shreds
• Optional vegan sour cream
• Optional nutritional yeast
• Air fryer

How to Make Cauliflower Nachos in the Air Fryer

For this recipe I use my air fryer. Now with that being said you could also use the oven if you don’t have an air fryer but seriously, an air fryer is definitely worth the expense. The first step to make your nachos, is to wash, pat dry, and slice your fresh cauliflower into thin strips. If you would rather save some time you are welcome to use bagged cauliflower florets instead. Next, if using an air fryer, line your bottom sheet with parchment paper and spray top basket with cooking spray. Place cauliflower on basket and lightly mist your cauliflower with cooking spray. Sprinkle with garlic salt, onion powder, and pepper. 

Place in the air fryer for 5-8 minutes on 350 F using the air fry setting. In a medium sized bowl, stir together 1 can of refried beans, 1/2 cup of salsa, and if desired a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. When your cauliflower looks crispy, carefully pull out the air fryer sheet and top your cauliflower with an even layer of bean mixture, vegan cheese shreds (or dollops of plant based queso), diced roma tomatoes, diced yellow and green bell peppers, and diced red onion.  Place back into air fryer for 5 minutes or until heated through. Carefully remove from air fryer and top with lettuce shreds, chopped avocado, salsa, and vegan sour cream. Let cool for 5 minutes and serve. 

Vegan Cauliflower Nachos

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Course Main Course

Equipment

• Air fryer These could also be made in the oven.

Ingredients

  

• 1 head of cauliflower cut into strips  or 2 bags of bagged florets
• 1/2 cup salsa for bean mixture
• 1/2 cup salsa for topping
• 16 oz. vegan refried beans
• 1 cup vegan cheese shreds or plant based queso
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/4 finely diced red onion
• 1/2 medium diced yellow bell pepper
• 1/2 medium diced green bell pepper
• 4 diced roma tomatoes
• 1/2 chopped avocado
• shredded lettuce
• dollop vegan sour cream

Instructions

 

• wash and pat dry one head of cauliflower and cut into thin strips. You could also use two prewashed bags of florets (fresh NOT frozen)
• Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper and spritz with cooking oil.
• Start by placing cauliflower onto parchment sheet and spray lightly with cooking oil.
• sprinkle with onion powder, garlic salt, and pepper.cook for 5-8 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, stir together refried beans, salsa, onion powder, salt, and pepper. You could also add in a sprinkle of nutritional yeast for an extra boost of vitamins and minerals.
• Dice tomatoes, onion, and peppers.
• One cauliflower has been in the airfryer 5-8 minutes, remove and spread the top of your cauliflower with a layer of bean mixtures, vegan cheese, peppers, onion, and tomatoes.
• Place back into air fryer for an additional 5 minutes. 
• Remove and top with shredded lettuce, avocado, and a dollop of vegan sour cream if desired.
• Let cool for 5 minutes and enjoy.