From a game night to a hungover Saturday morning, there’s nothing like a plate of delicious nachos, smothered with melted cheese, salsa, and your pick of toppings. But did you know that November 6th is National Nacho Day, a day dedicated to celebrating this tasty Tex-Mex dish? Discover more about the origins of nachos, and discover some funny nacho gift ideas – plus nacho inspired cards for birthdays, special occasions, or just because.
Where do nachos come from?
The next time you’re tucking into a plate of loaded nachos, take a moment to think of Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Anaya, the Mexican restaurateur who gave the world the blessed combo of tortilla chips, cheese, and various toppings.
Nachos hail from Piedras Negras, Mexico, just over the border from Texas. Legend has it that a regular at the Victory Club where Ignacio worked asked for a different snack to the usual. Ignacio spotted some fried pieces of corn tortilla in the kitchen, added some melted cheese and pickled jalapeño strips – and when the customer asked what it was called, he suggested ‘Nacho’s especiales’, after his nickname. The delicious snack proved so popular that it was added to the menu – and thus, a legend was born.
National Nacho Day gifts
Celebrate National Nachos Day with some of these tasty treats. If you’ve got a friend who loves a cheeky plate of nachos, why not make their day with a thoughtful gift to really upgrade their nacho-eating experience? Here are some of our favourite picks for some gifts that are cheesy – but in the good melted-queso-and-cheddar kind of way.
Throw your nacho night back to the Jurassic era, with this hilarious Nachosaurus from Red Candy. Your tortilla chips make up this friendly stegosaurus’s spines, making a great fun centerpiece for an evening in with friends.
Image source: Red Candy
Upgrade your nachos with this Spicy Chilli Lovers Cheese & Jam Gift Box, from The Food Market. Take your plate to the next level with these spicy jams and cheeses – perfect for melting and dolloping onto your nachos. The kick of spice will make it a nice winter warmer – which is perfect since National Nacho Day is in November.
Image source: The Food Market
Got one friend who’s obsessed with avocados and guacamole? Make their day with this cute and clever guacamole nacho serving set from Debenhams. The ‘stone’ is actually a little dipping bowl – and since it also comes with some tasty guacamole seasoning, it’s a good excuse to get them to make you some.
Image source: Debenhams
How to make nachos
Fancy making your own at home? Nachos can be an easy snack, but part of their beauty is that they can be made into a low-effort weeknight meal alongside some veggies, or as a shared platter for your and your mates on movie night.
All you really need is tortilla chips, your choice of cheese for melting, and some assorted toppings. Fontina is the traditional choice, but a good cheddar is definitely fine – it might be sacrilegious to mix Italian and Mexican cuisine, but if you’ve got some mozzarella to melt in, even better. You can also make your own nacho cheese sauce, for a totally smooth and creamy finish.
The traditional additions for nachos are salsa, sour cream, guacamole, and jalapeños – add any combination for a delicious topping. But if you’re wondering how to make nachos a bit more substantial, you can bulk it out by adding some minced beef with taco seasoning and some refried beans.
Super easy nacho recipe
- If you’re bulking out your meal, add the taco seasoning to your minced beef and fry until brown and cooked. Mix through refried beans if you’re using them.
- Arrange tortilla chips on a baking tray. Spoon over the beef and beans if you’re using them, but otherwise cover your nachos with your pick of grated cheese. Cook for about 5 minutes in a 200°C oven, or until the cheese is melted.
- Scatter over your toppings like salsa, sour cream, guacamole, bacon bits, jalapeños or cilantro, or serve separately in bowls and let people assemble their own personalised nacho plates.
Nacho themed cards
Here are some hilarious nacho themed cards from our thortful creators – perfect to celebrate a friend’s birthday, or just to say hello. Looking for ideas on what to write? We’ve got you covered with our handy ‘what to write’ guides.
National Nacho Day is on 6th November – so celebrate by whipping up a tasty plate of nachos with your friends, or send them a card to brighten up a gloomy winter day with the thought of crunchy tortilla chips and creamy cheese. For more how to guide and ideas on how to celebrate special occasions, head to our blog.
Header image source: Unsplash
