Homemade Nacho Cheese Sauce

When I was a teen (I feel old just for saying that) I was addicted to tortilla chips and cheese salsa. Addicted. Me and one of my friends would get together on the weekends and we’d eat the same thing every time – poutines, dill pickle chips (can you tell we’re Canadian?) and tortilla chips with cheese salsa. I’m not quite sure how any of us survived the eating patterns of our teenage years. I still love those same things but there’s no way I’d get away with that now without a huge belly ache.

I’ve tried many times to recreate both my favourite cheese salsa and the nacho cheese sauce you get poured over your chips at the theatre, but nothing ever came close. I’m proud to say I have finally conquered it! Well technically Kenji conquered it and I’m just reaping the benefits. Every cheese sauce I tried to make ended up grainy, gloopy and not even close to silky. And, the ones that promised to be smooth always had velveeta or some other processed cheese. This is the first one I’ve seen that doesn’t! And, just look at how silky smooth it is. The taste is so close to my favourite cheese salsa, just more real (woot!). And bonus, you can adjust the thickness according to your needs. Thicker for dipping and thinner for drizzling. I’m excited to make cheese fries and cheesesteaks, my mind is reeling with the possibilities of what I can pour this all over.

You can control the heat in many ways. As it is, it’s nice and spicy. For a mild sauce use only cheddar cheese. For super hot sauce add jalapeño peppers. For medium sauce substitute half of the pepper jack for more cheddar.

To be honest, I probably won’t be watching the Super Bowl on Sunday. But if you are, and are in need of a good dip, this is your meal ticket. 😉

Homemade: Nacho Cheese Sauce

Ingredients

• 4 oz. pepper jack cheese,shredded
• 4 oz. cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1 (12 oz.) can evaporated milk, divided
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce
• pinch salt

Instructions

1. Toss together cheese and cornstarch, in a medium-sized saucepan, until evenly coated. Stir in 1 cup evaporated milk, the hot sauce and salt. Cook, stirring often, over medium-low heat until thickened, smooth and bubbly. Stir in additional evaporated milk, if needed, until desired consistency is reached.

Adapted from Serious Eats.