Chana Masala Nachos

• Chana Masala Nachos
• 3 large handfuls tortilla chips, divided
• 1 cup chana masala (recipe below)
• 2 handfuls shredded cheese (Note: I used a vegan cheddar cheese blend, but feel free to substitute with any full-dairy or no-dairy types out there, like: Monterrey Jack, Pepper Jack, or Cheddar)
• cashew cheese sauce (for topping; see last instruction below for steps on how to make this), optional
• Chana Masala
• 1 tablespoon mild-flavored oil (I used coconut oil)
• 3 cups chopped (fresh) tomatoes - with skin
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, smashed then minced
• 1 teaspoon sugar (or other sweetener, like: agave)
• 2 teaspoons garam masala spice (store bought or homemade)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cups cooked chickpeas
• salt and pepper, to taste

1. Directions: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a baking pan with cooking spray or a *touch* of oil. Evenly spread 1 and 1/2 handfuls of chips on the bottom of the pan. Top with 1/2 cup of chana masala, then, one handful of cheese. Next, repeat layers with remaining ingredients (except for cashew cheese spread): chips, chana masala, cheese. Bake in oven for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
2. Make Cashew Cheese Sauce: In a blender, combine 1/2 cup raw cashews, 1/4 cup raw sunflower seeds, 1 Tablespoon nutritional yeast, 1/2 cup water, and salt and pepper - to taste. Blend until smooth. Makes about 1/2 cup. Next, take out 2 tablespoons, and thin with a bit of "milk" - do this by stirring in a teaspoon at a time until it reaches a pourable (Yogurt-like) consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Next, drop it by "dollops" onto cooled nachos.
3. Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil, tomatoes, and garlic. Stir well. Cover with a lid and cook for around 10-15 minutes, or until tomatoes begin to fall apart. Add sweetener, masala, cumin, and chickpeas. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes. When the lid is lifted, there should it should smell fragrant, like a melded spice. You know it's done when: (A) You smell the dish and can't pick out the singular flavors or (B) You taste it and you can't pick out the singular flavors.
4. Set aside one cup to use in Chana Masala Nachos (recipe above). Serve the remainder with cooked rice or quinoa.

masala, tortilla chips, chana masala, cheese, cashew cheese sauce, masala, mildflavored oil, tomatoes, fresh garlic, sugar, garam masala, ground cumin, chickpeas, salt

Taken from food52.com/recipes/25282-chana-masala-nachos (may not work)