Pork and Pinto Nachos with Fire Roasted Tomatoes

Trust me on the cucumbers, here.  They add great flavor and a good crunch - they don't really cook under the broiler. And they add a fresh lightness to an otherwise rather rich dish.

Enjoy the Super Bowl with these.
1 yellow pepper, diced
1 jalapeño pepper, diced
1 medium onion diced, about 1 cup
2 cloves garlic

1-1/4 lb boneless pork country ribs, cubed to 1/2-inch
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp cumin seeds (or 1/2 tsp powder)
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, or to taste

1 can pinto chili peans in chili sauce
1 can pinto refried beans

1/2 lb tortilla chips
1/2 lb grated Mexican mix cheese, or your favorite meltable cheese like Pepper Jack
1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes, very well drained, liquid reserved for another use
1/2 english cucumber, cubed

Preheat oven broiler. Sweat the peppers and onions in a large skillet in a bit of canola oil. Cook them down for about 8 minutes, until they begin to soften and caramelize.

Add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes. Add the chili beans and refried beans and stir gently to mix and heat through.

Meanwhile, heat a bit of canola oil in another large skillet. When the oil is hot and shimmering, toss in the pork cubes and brown them well.

After the first side browns, add the oregano, red pepper flakes and cumin. Salt and pepper generously to taste. Stir and shake the pan to brown all sides well.

Assemble the nachos in 1 large rimmed sheet pan, or 2 smaller casseroles. First spoon in the bean mixture. Then sprinkle on half the pork. Nestle tortilla chips into the bean and pork mixture, and cover with half the cheese. Now sprinkle on the tomatoes and cucumber and the remaining pork. Top with the remaining cheese.

Slip into the oven at least 5-inches from the broiler. Broil for just a few minutes, enough to melt the cheese. Serve with guacamole and sour cream or Greek Yogurt.

Serves 6-8 as an appetizer.


Cook’s Note: You can also use refried black beans and black beans in a cuban sauce, instead of the pinto varieties. Use your favorite beans!