Make Some Delicious Mediterranean Potato Nachos

Enjoy some delicious Mediterranean potato nachos for a different type of lunch or light lunch, or dinner.

By posting this recipe, I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Potatoes USA and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.”

Whether you have been working out at the gym, trying to shape up for summer, or training and competing in sports with a team, potatoes can be a great source of energy for your body and brain throughout the day.

These Mediterranean potato nachos are packed with complex carbohydrates to help athletes and weekend warriors perform their best! Potatoes contain more energy for their size than any other popular vegetable! Good nutrition is also important for the long-term health of athletes, for example, bone health and proper regulation of hormones in the body.

In addition to being a great source of energy, potatoes are a nutritious source of potassium, which is an important electrolyte which is especially important after someone exercises for over an hour and in the summer. We often think about a banana as a good source of potassium, but did you know that a potato has even more of this important nutrient!

Potatoes are the most versatile vegetable out there. They come in a variety of colors and shapes to keep things interesting which include russets, reds, whites, purples/blues, yellows, petites and fingerlings are just a few of the ones to choose from. They can be grilled, baked, steamed, mashed, and grated.

I love to add them to salad, tacos, and even pizzas. For athletes on the run without a lot of time for food preparation, they also come frozen, dehydrated, and refrigerated so they can make a quick snack or meal before they run out the door!

Here Are a Few Guidelines for a Pre-Workout Meal or Snack

Because nutrition is so important for an athlete’s performance, I wanted to share a few general nutrition guidelines for carbohydrates, protein, and fat before and after exercise.

These energy needs differ depending on a person’s weight, but my example is based on the needs for a 150-pound individual. To determine your specific nutrition needs for your weight, sport, and duration, consult with a registered dietitian nutritionist with experience in sports nutrition.

• 1 hour before exercise: 68 grams of CHO + 10 grams protein and <10% of calories from fat.
• 2 hours before exercise: 136 grams of CHO + 10 grams of protein and < 15% of calories from fat.
• 3 hours before exercise: 204 grams of CHO + 10 grams of protein and <20% of calories from fat.

Here Are a Few Guidelines for a Post-Workout Meal or Snack

In addition to carbohydrate, moderate protein, and low fat, post-exercise meals should also contain electrolytes like sodium and potassium, along with fluid for rehydration.

• High carbohydrate: at least 50 grams of CHO per serving.
• Moderate protein: at least 10 grams of protein per serving.
• Low in fat: < 20% of total calories per serving from fat.
• Contains sodium and at least 100 mg of potassium per serving.
• Contains fluid.

I have put together a delicious recipe that can be used as a great pre-workout snack that you can eat an hour before exercise or even a recovery snack if you add a glass of juice, milk, or even water.

This snack is rich in potassium and has adequate sodium for exercise recovery. And milk, a serving contains over 70 grams of carbohydrates, 10 grams of calories, without too much fat. I hope that you like it as much as my family and friends do! It also makes a nutritious snack anytime!

Mediterranean Potato Nacho Recipe

If you are looking for a potato nachos recipe with a Mediterranean twist, look no further!

Mediterranean Baked Potato Nachos

These healthy Mediterranean potato nachos with potatoes are easy to pack for before or after exercise and even easier to eat! These potato nachos are also the perfect one-hour before or post-exercise recovery snack! Think outside the box of the traditional tortilla chips or Mexican seasonings and try some of these Mediterranean flavors for your next plate of nachos!

With the addition of hummus, you might also call them “hummus tacos”!

Makes 1 serving of 14 nachos

1 medium red potato sliced thin, into approximately 14 slices, depending on the potato size. My slices were about 1/4 inch thick.

1 ounce sun-dried tomatoes, julienne cut, rehydrated in hot water

4 Greek olives, sliced into 4 slivers each

Thinly sliced spinach around 1/3-1/2 cup

1/2 cup hummus

2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese (or for a vegan version, try Plant Based Artisanal Cheese – Kite Hill Dairy Free Products (kite-hill.com)

Olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions to make Mediterranean Potato Nachos

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss potato slices in olive oil, salt, and pepper, and lay the potatoes carefully on a baking sheet and bake for about 15 minutes, turning once after 8 minutes.

Bake until potatoes begin to brown and caramelize. You can leave them a little soft or make them crunchy, but be careful not to burn. Take out of the oven and allow to cool to the touch. Spread thinly with hummus.

Divide the sliced spinach between the nachos and top with two rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes. Sprinkle feta on top, and for the final garnish, add 1/4 of a Greek olive sliver.

Make a Healthy Mediterranean Potato Nacho Recipe

I hope that you get a chance to make this Mediterranean potato nacho recipe for your next snack or mini lunch!

As an Asheville registered dietitian nutritionist, I love helping clients and readers of my blog find healthy recipes and menu ideas that work for them, depending on their nutritional needs. Potatoes are a great source of energy and potassium and make a great addition to our diet!

I hope that you picked up a few tips on eating before or after exercise that will help you. I enjoy helping athletes determine their nutrition needs. You can find out a little bit more about some of the other work that I do here! Check out some other great potato recipes on Potatoes USA! Enjoy these nacho potatoes in this post!

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