Cookbook:Roasted Chicken Nachos With Green Chili-Cheese Sauce

Nachos made into a meal.

Ingredients

 * 4 medium tomatillos, husked and rinsed (or used canned if unavailable)
 * 2 jalapeños, stemmed
 * ½ medium onion, peeled and quartered
 * 2 garlic cloves, peeled
 * 1 handful fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped
 * 1 lime, juiced
 * 1 teaspoon toasted cumin seeds
 * Kosher (coarse or margarita) salt
 * ¼ cup (60 ml / ½ stick) unsalted butter
 * ¼ cup (60 ml) all-purpose flour
 * 2 cups (480 ml) chicken stock, at room temperature
 * 4 cups (950 ml) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
 * 1 bag (1 pound / 450 g) salted corn tortilla chips
 * 1 ea. (3 pounds / 1350 g) whole roasted chicken, meat finely shredded, skin and bones discarded

Quick Salsa:


 * 1 pint (570 ml) cherry tomatoes, halved
 * 2 green onions, white and green parts, chopped
 * 1 jalapeño, chopped
 * 2 handfuls fresh cilantro leaves, hand shredded
 * 2 limes, juiced
 * Kosher (coarse or margarita) salt and freshly ground black pepper


 * Sour cream and guacamole, for serving

Procedure

 * 1) Bring a pot of water to a boil; add the tomatillos, jalapeños, onion, and garlic. Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the tomatillos are soft.
 * 2) Drain and cool slightly, then put them in a blender.
 * 3) Add the cilantro, lime juice, and cumin. Puree for a few seconds to blend, and then pour in about a ¼ cup of water and process to a coarse puree; taste and season with a generous pinch of salt. You should have about 2 cups of this green salsa (salsa verde).
 * 4) Make a roux by melting the butter over medium-low heat in a thick-bottomed saucepan.
 * 5) Just as the foam subsides, sprinkle in the flour, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or whisk to prevent lumps.
 * 6) Cook for 2–3 minutes to remove the starchy taste from the flour; don't allow it to brown.
 * 7) Gradually whisk in the chicken stock and simmer for 8 minutes to thicken.
 * 8) Once you have a good base, fold in 2 cups of the shredded Jack cheese; mix until completely melted into a sauce.
 * 9) Stir in the prepared salsa verde until incorporated; remove the green chili cheese sauce from the heat.
 * 10) Make a quick salsa by combining the cherry tomatoes, onions, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice in a bowl; season with salt and pepper, tossing to combine.

Assembly

 * 1) Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
 * 2) Get a very large oven-proof platter and cover it with a few handfuls of tortilla chips, follow with a portion of the shredded chicken, a coating of the cheese sauce, and a nice sprinkle of the remaining shredded jack.
 * 3) Make 3–4 layers of the nachos, depending on the size of the platter.
 * 4) Bake the nachos until they are all hot and gooey, about 5–10 minutes.
 * 5) Spoon the tomato salsa over the top of the nachos and serve with the sour cream on the side.