Preparation
- Put the lentils, stock, salt, pepper, chilli powder, cumin, garlic powder and oregano in a pot, bring to the boil, then cover and cook over a low heat for 35 minutes until the lentils are soft.
- Preheat the oven to 175 °C. Mix the sweetcorn and black beans into the cooked lentils.
- Spread a layer of tortilla chips on a baking tray, top with the lentil mixture and cheese, then layer a second round of chips, lentil mixture and cheese on top.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Top with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, jalapeños and coriander, add dollops of soured cream and serve immediately.
Drink with it
Pale lager · excellent match
Mexican lager or pilsner, ice cold, ideally with a lime wedge
Cold and carbonation refresh after cheese and chips, and the slim malt carries the sweetcorn, beans and salt without getting in the way of the cumin.
Pils or Helles: What's the Difference?Tequila blanco · excellent match
Margarita with blanco tequila, on ice
Lime acidity cuts the cheese fat, the salt rim suits the chips, and the green agave spice meets the coriander and jalapeño.
Tequila Blanco, Reposado, and Añejo: what aging changesMezcal · good match
Mezcal joven as a highball with soda, ice and lime
The smoke suits the cumin and baked cheese; soda and ice make the strong spirit light enough for a snack.
Tequila and Mezcal: What's the Difference?Wheat beer · good match
Pale hefeweizen, well chilled
Fruity yeast notes and plenty of carbonation carry the salty chips and refresh after the cheese.
Wheat Beer: Where Do Banana and Clove Come From?
Why it pairs well
Mezcal is not usual with nachos; stretched into a highball, its smoke builds a bridge to the cumin.