Dining in Muscat: Nachos Night Out

By Swati Dasgupta   –   Times of Oman

What to do when you start your week with a serious Tex-Mex craving? Whether eaten at a restaurant or whipped up at home, a cheesy, spicy plate of nachos is just the thing to make your stomach salsa.

Happiness is a plate full of nachos, while I laze in front of the television watching my favourite rugby match,” said a very dear friend once when I had asked him the most common question on life and not on food. I’d asked him, ‘What’s one thing that makes you really happy?’ I grinned at his witty reaction, the first time in my life I’d heard such a response. It was this answer that peaked my curiosity about the appeal of this beloved snack, leading me to the ‘happy world of nacho lovers’.

I soon was convinced of the co-relation between happiness and nachos, so much so that anywhere I find people munching on a plateful, I can feel the increase in the happiness quotient. While a platter of crispy tortillas alongside well melted yellow cheese and sliced jalapenos is a common way to enjoy nachos, the real fun is creating your own crispy, cheesy masterpiece. Have it with white beans and sun dried tomatoes. Or with chicken, black olives, and a dollop of sour cream.

Whatever you choose to top it with, the charms of crunchy tortillas made slightly soft by hot, melted cheese is undeniable. So skip dinner and go for a plate of nachos this week. Or make a pan-full for yourself to enjoy on the couch as you watch your favourite programme. Like my friend, you too might just find your happiness on a nacho plate. —swati@timesofoman.com

Place to Go

Buffalo Wings and Rings

Go for: Buffalo chicken nachos. These tortilla chips are covered with buffalo chicken, tomatoes, jalapenos, onions, and melted cheddar cheese. It’s topped with bleu cheese and served with salsa.

Contact: +968 2494 9424

Location: Behind Al Masa Mall, Qurum

Pavo Real

Go for: Nachos chicos. It is corn tostaditas topped with chicken or beef and refried beans, melted cheese, and sour cream.

Contact: +968 2460 2603

Location: Al Madinat Plaza, MQ

TGI Fridays

Go for: Chicken fajita nachos. It is crisp tortilla topped with chargrilled chicken breast along with cheese, onion, pepper, and sliced jalapenos.

Contact: +968 2448 8899

Location: Near the City Seasons Hotel, Al Khuwair

Eat Street

Go for: Eat Street nachos. These are nachos topped with beef, grated cheese, salsa, sour cream, and lots of jalapenos.

Contact: +968 9848 4849

Location: Al Noor Plaza, MSQ

Sombrero

Go for: Red bean nachos. These corn chips are served with cheddar and ranch sauce, topped with jalapenos, and layered with kidney beans and onions.

Contact: +968 2469 2343

Location: Gallery Muscat Mall, near ABA, Al Khuwair

Slider Station

Go for: Dynamite nachos. It is corn tortillas topped with tomatoes, cilantro, onion, cheese, and sliced jalapenos.

Contact: +968 2469 8990

Location: Oasis by the Sea, Shatti Al Qurum

Blueberry Gardens Café

Go for: Irish nachos. In place of tortillas, crispy sliced baked potatoes are used for this dish, which is topped with mince meat, beef bacon, jalapenos, and cheese.

Contact: +968 9904 0559

Location: 18 November Street

Cafe Mexicano

Go for: Nachos platter. This classic is tortillas with choice of melted jalapeño cheese sauce or cheddar cheese served with refried beans, guacamole, and sour cream.

Contact: +968 2449 7374

Location: 18 November Street

Recipes

Chicken Nachos

Ingredients

• 2 boneless chicken breasts, chopped

• 2tbsp vegetable oil

• 1tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste

• 1 packet corn tortillas

• 250g cheese blend

• 7-8 green chillies, sliced

Preparation

• Stir chopped chicken, vegetable oil, and cayenne pepper and keep it aside.

• Heat a wok and fry the chicken till its done.

• Preheat oven to 165 degrees C.

• In a baking dish spread the tortillas and layer it with chicken, diced chillies, and cheese over the chips. Repeat the layering and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Serve with toppings of your choice.

Chocolate Nachos

Ingredients

• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 8 flour tortillas

• 1/2 cup melted butter

• 1 cup chocolate chips

• 2tsp shortening

Preparation

• Preheat an oven to 175 degrees C. Mix cinnamon into the sugar in a bowl and keep aside.

• Take the melted butter and brush on both sides of the tortilla.

• On it sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture and then cut each tortilla into 6 to 8 wedges. Place them onto the baking sheets in a single layer.

• Bake the tortillas in the preheated oven until the edges are lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes. While the tortillas are baking, melt the chocolate and shortening in a small saucepan over low heat.

• Spread half of the tortilla wedges onto a serving plate and drizzle with half of the chocolate mixture. Place the remaining tortilla wedges on top, then drizzle with the remaining sauce.

Recipe courtesy of food.com