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Dessert Nachos with Strawberry, Mango and Avocado Salsa

Avatar photoby Updated: Aug 30, 2018

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This is the thing I like about nachos. If you agree, you’re invited to the party. If you don’t, I’ll be the first to pass along an elementary-style lunch tray to ensure all of your primary food groups stay at arm’s length of one another.

Nachos. They’re layers upon layers of my favorite tastes. A little bit of salt, a lot of spice, maybe a little bit of protein—if I’m feeling the urge to act like a well-rounded adult—all blanketed in cheese, aka the glue that melds this flavor bomb together.

Last week I asked my friends on Facebook for help on what recipe they wanted to see this week: spring pasta or salsa? By the looks of today’s post I think you can see which dish came out as the clear winner.

Fruit-Salsa-Nachos-FoodieCrush.com-005-Edit

Dessert Nachos with Fruit Salsa | FoodieCrush.com

Dessert Nachos with Fruit Salsa | FoodieCrush.com

afterlight

The confirmation that this recipe was the clear winner came from my Smudge who declared it would had judiciously been added to her birthday party menu. This is serious stuff folks. Maybe it received this exclusive validation because she had become invested in the recipe as my scribe, studiously practicing her cursive skills as I dictated the ingredients and portions. By the way, I DO know there is no “t” in avocado. Most of the time. Can you even tell the difference between my handwriting and a 3rd graders? Aye—yi—yi. Scary.

Cinco de Mayo is on the calendar for this weekend’s celebrations replete with menus full of chunky guacamole, tacos (you gotta try this fried avocado version), enchiladas and a serious round of salsa. I thought about adding to the Mexican madness by recreating a standard savory affair, but headed off on a bender, pointed South and conquered the sweeter side of the border, thanks to mangos in my refrigerator in dire need of a destination resulting in this Mango, Strawberry and Avocado Salsa.

But I couldn’t just leave you, or the salsa, hanging about with no buddies to blend with. This salsa needs a date. A pairing to do the latin tango with. To keep it in tune as “la cucaracha” breaks out in song after that celebratory tequila shot. Or four. I’ll take Lime and salt with mine, and the salsa will too, please.

Dessert Nachos with Fruit Salsa | FoodieCrush.com

Dessert Nachos with Fruit Salsa | FoodieCrush.com

Dessert Nachos with Fruit Salsa | FoodieCrush.com

Cut to this: Fresh tostada chips sweetened with cinnamon sugar and baked to a golden crisp. A smattering of creamy, melted Monterey Jack cheese. With citrus spiked fruit kicked up with jalapeño heat. Cinco de Mayo celebratin’. It doesn’t take much more than that. Well, besides a trusty sombrero and some fine dipping skills.

Wing it! Try one of these recipe adaptations or add one of your own. Tell us your idea in the comments below. 

1. This is one of those recipes that can be so easily adapted and given a heartier protein punch by simply adding a handful of grocery store rotisserie chicken chicken, turning it into a quick weeknight main mealio.

2. Mango and spice go oh so nice atop a freshly grilled piece of halibut, salmon or any Hawaiian fish. Blacken the fish with creole seasonings to really emphasize the contrasting sweetness of the bright fruit flavors.

3. I can see this as a bruschetta topping, perfect as an appetizer. Cut a few slices of baguette, drizzle with olive oil and toast in the toaster oven for a few minutes. Spread with a creamy brie cheese if you’re looking for savory, a bit of mascarpone if you’re sticking with sweet, and top with the salsa and serve with a tequila spiked lemonade.

3.40 from 5 votes

Dessert Nachos with Strawberry, Mango and Avocado Salsa

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Ingredients 

For the Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips

  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 10-12 4- inch white corn tortillas
  • 3 tablespoons butter

For the Mango, Strawberry and Avocado Salsa

  • 1 ½ cups mango cut into a large dice
  • ½ cup strawberries cut into a large dice
  • ½ cup avocados cut into a large dice
  • ⅛ cup red onion minced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 red jalapeño seeded, deveined and minced
  • 2 tablespoons cilantro slivered
  • 2 limes juiced (about ¼ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon honey

For the Dessert Nachos

  • Cinnamon sugar tortilla chips
  • 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • Mango Strawberry and Avocado Salsa

Instructions

For the Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips

  • Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside.
  • Stack 3-4 white corn tortillas and cut in half with a sharp knife, then cut the halves into thirds so you end up with 6 triangle shaped chips per tortilla and place on a baking sheet lined with foil. Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave set on high for 20 seconds. Brush the tortilla chips with the butter and sprinkle each with a generous amount of the cinnamon sugar. Toast a toaster oven until golden and let cool, repeating until all of the chips have been toasted. Set aside.

For the Mango, Strawberry and Avocado Salsa

  • Mix all of the ingredients up to the cilantro in a medium size bowl. Heat the lime juice and honey in the microwave in a microwave save bowl for 15 seconds and then whisk to combine. After it has cooled, add 2 tablespoons to salsa and gently fold to combine. Add more honey lime juice to taste.

For the Dessert Nachos

  • Place a layer of Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips on a heat proof plate then top with a handful of shredded cheese, then a few spoonfuls of salsa, top with more tortilla chips and repeat 2 or more times ending with cheese. Place in a toaster or regular oven and broil for 3-5 minutes until cheese melts. Top with more salsa and serve hot.

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Heidi of FoodieCrush

Hi! I’m Heidi and I cook real good, real food I hope you’ll love to make, too.

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    3.40 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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  5. Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out

    I think it’s so cool when family members have similar handwriting. My best friend and her sister have handwriting that is almost impossible to tell apart. Also, your third grader has far neater cursive than I ever had or could wish to have. Mad props.

    I love the sweet/savory combo going on here. Just enough of both to keep you coming back for more!

    Reply

  7. Brooke @ Food Woolf

    I love your site! So beautiful and inspiring!

    I love this post so much for all the incredible photographs, beautiful light, and especially the shot of your recipe development notebook. That is SO what my notes look like as I put together a recipe. It’s so nice to see another person’s process. You rule. Honestly.

    xoxo,
    Brooke

    Reply

  9. Gerry @ Foodness Gracious

    So darn beautiful… I had a post ready in my mind for something else but after reading this I have completely changed my plans so thanks Heidi for giving me another store run ;) just kidding. Thanks for some much needed inspiration!

    Reply

  12. kelley

    Yum scrum as my friend Nina would say. The cinnamon sugar tortilla chips wouldn’t last long enough in my house to make nachos. These look amazing. Nice work sista!

    Reply

  23. Cookin' Canuck

    If you don’t mind, I think I’m going to crash Smudge’s birthday party. Dessert nachos?! Heck yeah – count me in.

    As usual, your photos are stunning and that light worthy of sunbathing in.

    Reply

  26. Jeni {Bakerette.com}

    This looks amazing! I love your daughter’s handwriting for the recipe. So cute! The best thing is? I just bought some fresh mangos and strawberries and I already have the avocados. So it sounds like this is something I will be making! As always, your photos rock!

    Reply

  27. Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom

    Love the idea of having nachos with Cinnamon Sugar Tortilla Chips!!! uh, yum!! Smudge is one smart cookie! :) and I love that she was working with you and writing things down for you. . her cursive is amazing by the way. . :P

    Reply

  36. Vicki Bensinger

    WOW, I love the sound of these dessert nachos. What a brilliant idea – so flavorful, colorful and even your tortilla chips have that added sweet cinnamon taste. This would definitely be a nice treat and surprise to Cinco de Mayo or any party for that matter. Thanks for sharing.

    I’m curious – which photo program did you use to display the nachos with the names labeled on it – I really like that?

    Reply

  39. Averie @ Averie Cooks

    I am in heaven with this post! The colors, the light, the fact that it’s Dessert Nachos…and uses mango, my fave fruit! And strawberries. Your photography just blows me away, Heidi. Pinned!

    And it was great seeing you on Friday!! :)

    Reply

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