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How to Make Tostadas - Tostadas 101
Many of us are only familiar with tostadas from their fast food incarnation; but there is a lot more to this immensely popular Mexican snack than what you can get from your local drive through Mexican take out place.
This is a dish which predates the arrival of Europeans in the New World by centuries, perhaps millennia. The Aztecs and other pre-Columbian civilizations discovered that by drying out tortillas in the sun until all moisture was gone, that they could store this staple food for a much longer time - and with this, tostadas were born.
Tostadas can be topped with almost anything you like and there are a large number of variations to choose from. However, in Mexico, the most common type of tostada is a simple dish, with a tostada shell topped with refried beans, vegetables, and cheese and eaten with salsa and wedges of lime. This is just such a traditional tostadas recipe.
Basic Tostadas
Ingredients -
12 tostada shells
Refried pinto or black beans (2 cans or you can make your own if you like)
2 cups shredded lettuce (iceberg or romaine)
2 medium tomatoes, diced
1 small onion, diced
1 avocado, peeled, seeded and diced
1-2 fresh or pickled jalapenos, diced (remove ribs and seeds if you want a milder taste)
8 ounces grated Monterrey Jack or crumbled queso fresco, plus a little cotija cheese if desired
¼ cup cilantro, chopped
Salsa and lime wedges for serving
Preparation:
Heat the refried beans in a pan or skillet with a little oil or water, stirring regularly to prevent burning. Chop the vegetables, slice the limes, and grate the cheese. Top each tostada shell with some refried beans and top with the vegetables, then cheese, a sprinkle of cilantro and some salsa. Serve with lime wedges and enjoy!
(Makes 4 - 6)
Photo Description:
A tostada is one of the easiest of all Mexican dishes to prepare - and other than the fact that they make a great meal or snack, may be why they have been around for more than a thousand years now. You can throw these tostadas together in a matter of minutes for a quick meal or a filling snack any time of day or night that you like - and as we all know, a tostada always tastes great, no matter when you eat them.
