Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Italian Nachos

I had a request for these. They are similar to the ones you get at Old Chicago or Carino's Italian Grill. They are great appetizers for any get together and if you drain the chips well after frying they hold up surprisingly well.

1-2 pkg wonton skins
2qts of canola or peanut oil for frying

In a deep electric skillet or deep fat fryer bring the oil to about 350^ temp. Make sure your oil is good and hot before you start frying the chips. Cut the wonton skins diagonally. Add about 10-12 at at a time to the hot oil. Fry to a golden brown turning over until both sides are browned.  Remove from oil and shake off any excess oil over fryer.  If you are going to serve immediately blot on a large cookie sheet lined with paper towel.  If you are going to serve later, after all chips are fried, stick pan in oven heated to 375^ for about 5 minutes.

1 pkg of Turkey Sweet Italian sausage crumbed and browned in fry pan.  To remove excess oil run under hot water in colander for about 30 seconds. Draining well to remove excess water.
1 pkg of Italian 5 Cheese shreds
1 jar of Peperoncini sliced
Black olives
Italian spice blend
Jar of Alfredo sauce
Red Pepper flakes
On a baking stone or pizza pan, layer 1/2 the chips and top with 1/2 of the sausage. If you like the Alfredo sauce on the nachos you can mix the sausage with about a cup or more of the Alfredo sauce before adding the sausage. Top with a generous sprinkle of the spices. If you don't like it too hot omit the pepper flakes. Add 1/3 of the cheese, a layer of Peperoncini, and black olives. 
Add another layer of chips, the other half of the sausage, and repeat the layering process. Top off with the remaining cheese. Heat in 375^ oven for about 8-10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and melted.  
If you are using 2 pkgs of Wonton's, double the meat and cheese amounts and make two pans of nacho's. You can use regular Italian sausage or Jimmy Deans hot Italian sausage works well too. I like the sweet flavor of the turkey sausage in contrast to the hot spices, but you can use the pork sausage in these as well.

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