Haystacks

I'm not talking about the structures made of straw. Haystacks happen to be a gastronomic delight of all things yummy. Tantilisingly healthy (well at least I tell myself this when I have them), they are fabulous for a lazy Saturday evening dinner for one, an impromptu movie dinner for vegetarian (or omnivorous) friends, or an easy way to feed multitudes at a Sabbath lunch picnic. The versitility of the dish is refreshing. In what other dish can you literally pick whatever salad ingredients you have in the fridge, chop them up, and then put them with the fail-safe ingredient of corn chips (whatever flavour you fancy) and voila, a healthy, no fuss meal.

There are endless versions, all revolving around the central core structure - cornchips, beans, salad, toppers. Substitute what you wish - some people serve it with rice instead of chips, others do both. I prefer the sans rice variety myself, but each to their own.

The original version I had involved a dairy feast - guacamole, sour cream and cheese, and it is truly a delight to eat it like this. Since going dairy free however, I've improvised, and to tell you the truth, I don't miss the dairy in haystacks. More power to the haystack!!!! I add chopped avocado if I have it, and put hummus on top. Delish!

Haystacks

Ingredients

Cornchips - I chose salted, but you can have anything your heart desires

Beans - I vary this depending on what I have in the cupboard, mix it all together in a saucepan to have nice hot bean mix
- refried beans
- kidney beans
- baked beans
- butter beans
- taco flavoring, tomato paste, tinned tomatos etc
+/- salsa
+/- mince if you so felt like it...although I must say I've never had a meat version

Salad ingredients - chopped up into easy to eat pieces
- green salad - lettuce, spinach, I even had watercress and sprouts today, and rocket is great too
- cucumber
- tomato
- capcisum
- carrot, grated
- mushrooms
- avocado or guacamole
- whatever else you wish for - gerkins, olives, capers etc etc

Toppings
- grated cheese (goes on top of the hot bean mix)
- sour cream
- hummus (my preferred topping)

Stack it yourself...that way you can create the haystack you desire. I prefer to start with the chips and layer on top of them, others like to have them in little piles over the plate. That is the joy of haystacks, you can really do whatever you want with them, they still taste mighty fine.

Chips + beans + cheese (if you are a believer) + salad (I tend to do the leafy greens first and then stack all the other chopped salad ingredients on top of that) + hummus (or topping of your choice)

Oh, and a word to the wise...these seem to take on a life of their own. Only add a small amount of each salad ingredient or you will end up with a mountain of food on your plate!!

Bon appetit!