This straightforward tostada recipe is a quick, contemporary dinner! I pile crispy tortillas with flavorful toppings like refried beans, avocado, veggies, and cheese.
This tostada recipe is a enjoyable, contemporary, and FAST weeknight dinner. Simply load up crunchy tostadas with toppings like refried beans, crisp lettuce and cabbage, tomatoes, cheese, and avocado. Squeeze with lime juice, and dig in!
This recipe has turn out to be an ideal household meal for us currently…as a result of it’s not a real “recipe” in any respect. It’s extra of a suggestion—the toppings listed here are versatile, and in our home, everybody chooses their very own. I take my tostadas with additional avocado and spicy peppers, Jack skips the avocado and piles on additional cheese, and Ollie goes for no matter he’s within the temper for that day (usually simply beans and cheese).
Within the recipe, you’ll discover some advised toppings (my faves!), however I’ve additionally included extra topping concepts within the weblog put up. Combine and match to create a mix you’re keen on!
What’s a tostada?
Let me again up! Should you’ve by no means heard of tostadas earlier than, right here’s a fast intro:
A tostada is a corn tortilla that has been baked, fried, or grilled till crisp (the phrase tostada additionally means “toasted” in Spanish). In Mexican and different Latin American cuisines, tostadas are sometimes served with toppings similar to beans, meat, cheese, and avocado for a snack or meal. Although not completely genuine, this straightforward recipe is one among my favourite methods to get pleasure from them.
Retailer-bought vs. Selfmade Tostada Shells
I’m calling for store-bought tostadas right here, as a result of they’re sometimes what I take advantage of after I make this recipe. Search for them within the Mexican part of your grocery retailer—in mine, they’re proper by the chipotles in adobo sauce and laborious taco shells.
However for those who’d reasonably bake or fry the tostadas your self, you’ll be able to. Right here’s how:
- To fry: Use the strategy from my do-it-yourself tortilla chips recipe. Warmth 1/4 to 1/2 inch vegetable oil to 350°F in a heavy skillet or Dutch oven. Add a single layer of corn tortillas and cook dinner, utilizing tongs to flip the tortillas repeatedly till they crisp up, about 1 to 2 minutes. Switch to a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the surplus oil and season with salt.
- To bake: Spray corn tortillas with cooking spray on either side and season with salt. Unfold in a single layer on a baking sheet. Then, bake in a 425°F oven till crisp, 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them midway.
Full disclosure: I favor store-bought or fried tostadas to baked ones. I discover that baked tostada shells can get slightly too laborious within the oven, and so they don’t turn out to be as ethereal and crisp. That’s simply my opinion although—select whichever possibility works finest for you!
The best way to Make Tostadas
When you put together your precise tostadas (or take them out of the bundle, for those who’re utilizing store-bought…), you simply have so as to add toppings!
I all the time begin with a layer of refried beans, which provides protein and helps the opposite toppings stick. Then, I pile on:
- Shredded cabbage and iceberg lettuce, for crunch
- Avocado, for creamy richness
- Chopped tomatoes, for juicy sweetness
- Pickled serrano peppers or pickled jalapeños, for warmth and tangy taste
- Cotija cheese, for additional tang
- And chopped cilantro, for a contemporary of entirety
I season to style with salt and squeeze with lime juice earlier than serving.
Discover the entire recipe with measurements beneath.
Different Topping Choices
This tostada recipe is tremendous versatile—be at liberty to make it your individual! Listed here are another toppings that will be nice:
Let me know what toppings you strive!
What to Serve with Tostadas
You might completely get pleasure from these tostadas on their very own for a fast and simple dinner—no sides required!
However for those who’d prefer to serve them as half of a bigger meal, they pair properly with aspect dishes like these:
