Matzoh Nachos

Thus begins the yearly quest to get rid of the matzoh mega-box.  I actually do have some sliced bread in the freezer, but I'm trying not to use it unless I'm in desperate need of a sandwich.

This one was an easy way to off half a box for Cinco de Mayo.  Once again, the things I like on matzoh are not KLP, or even kosher.  But there was a ton of cheese in the fridge and I had an extreme urge to make not-refried beans.  It's amazing the cravings you get when something is taken out of your diet.

One of my non-Jewish co-workers actually tried this before I did, when I told him how it worked and handed him a box of matzoh.  He was thrilled that the matzoh stays even crunchier than tortillas.  Yep, that stuff is pretty hard to get soggy.  The trick is to broil only until the cheese is melted.  The top photo shows what happens if you turn away for half a minute.  The most burned pieces are actually upside-down.  At least they had some taste to them.

1 batch Not-Refried Beans (or one can refried beans)
1/2 lb ground beef
dash chili powder
salt and pepper
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
*2 green onions, diced
*1 C shredded cheese of choice (I used mozzarella)
*6 pieces of matzoh
*parsley or cilantro for garnish
*sour cream for garnish

1.  Brown the ground beef, seasoned with chili powder, salt and pepper, until cooked and crumbly.  Drain off fat.

2.  Break the matzoh squares into tortilla chip-sized pieces and arrange on the edge of a plate or serving platter.  For individual servings, use 1-1/2 matzoh each.  Check the underside of the plates to make sure they're oven safe.

3.  Spoon the beans into the middle.  Top with some ground beef.  I added the tomatoes at this point, but you can put them on after broiling if you prefer.  Sprinkle with cheese.

4.  Place plate on a baking sheet, in case the plate wasn't actually oven safe and cracks.  Place under the broiler until the cheese melts, about 2 minutes.  Watch it.  As soon as the matzoh starts to burn, it's going to happen fast.

5.  Top the hot nachos with green onion, herbs, and sour cream.  Add avocados if you like, or any other garnishes you want.  Warn diners that the plate is hot and serve immediately.

Difficulty rating  π , :) if you make your own beans