What are tostadas?
Tostadas are a Mexican dish made of a fried or toasted tortilla topped with various ingredients like refried beans, lettuce, cheese, meat, and salsa. The key characteristic of a tostada is the crisp, flat tortilla base which provides a crunchy platform for all the tasty toppings. Tostadas make a fun and tasty appetizer, snack, or light meal.
Tortilla base
The base of a tostada is made from a corn or flour tortilla that has been fried or toasted to make it nice and crispy. Traditionally, the tortillas would be fried in oil to get the toasted effect, but you can achieve a similar result by baking or broiling them. The crispy tortilla can hold up to hearty toppings and provides a satisfying crunch with each bite. When preparing tostadas at home, you’ll want to look for tortillas that are a bit sturdier and will crisp up nicely like tostada tortillas or taco shells.
Toppings
While the crisp tortilla is the essential component of a tostada, the fun part is loading on all the delicious toppings! Some traditional tostada toppings include:
- Refried beans – Spread a layer of re-fried beans over the tortilla for a creamy base.
- Lettuce – Shredded lettuce adds freshness and texture.
- Cheese – A sprinkle of queso fresco or cotija cheese over the beans is classic.
- Meat – Cooked meats like shredded chicken, beef, or pork are tasty add-ons.
- Salsa – Salsa gives a flavorful punch, either as a dollop on top or mixed throughout.
- Sour cream – A dollop of cool sour cream balances the flavors.
- Avocado – Fan-favorite avocado makes a fresh, creamy addition.
Beyond the classic tostada toppings, you can get creative and top your crisp tortilla base with any combination that sounds good. Popular modern tostada topping ideas include corn, black beans, grilled shrimp, crab meat, tuna, eggs, chorizo, and more. The options are endless!
How to assemble tostadas
Making tostadas is easy because you can prepare the components in advance and assemble them just before serving. Here are some step-by-step instructions:
Prep the tortillas
Start by frying or toasting tortillas so they are crisp and golden. To fry: Heat 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a skillet over medium high heat. When hot, add tortillas one at a time and fry for about 15 seconds per side until crispy and browned. Remove with tongs to a paper towel-lined plate.
To toast: Place tortillas on a baking sheet and toast under the broiler, flipping once, until crisped and slightly charred, about 1-2 minutes per side.
Make the bean spread
Refried or whole beans are a tasty base for tostadas. In a bowl, mash pinto beans with salt until smooth and creamy. You can also use refried beans. Season the beans with cumin, garlic, onion, etc. to add flavor.
Prepare additional toppings
Chop, shred, slice, or dice any additional toppings you want to use like lettuce, tomato, cheese, onion, bell pepper, meat, etc. and have them ready to go.
Assemble the tostadas
Spread a layer of the bean spread over each crispy tortilla, about 1/4 to 1/2 cup per tortilla depending on size. Top with desired toppings in any order you prefer. Some examples:
– Cheese, lettuce, salsa, sour cream
– Beans, ground beef, cheese, avocado slices
– Shredded chicken, onions, cilantro, salsa
– Beans, cabbage slaw, avocado, cotija cheese
Layer on as many toppings as you can before they start falling off!
How to eat a tostada
Now comes the best part – eating these tasty Mexican creations! When you sit down with a platter of tostadas, here are some tips for enjoying them:
Use a plate
Tostadas are typically served open-faced and can be prone to spilling over if you try to eat them in hand. Place each tostada on a small plate to catch any falling toppings as you eat.
Fork and knife
While you can attempt to pick up a tostada and take a bite, a fork and knife is often easier. Use a fork to cut or break off bite-sized pieces, then use a knife to scoop up the toppings and tortilla base for each bite.
Chip and dip style
Another strategy is to break off smaller pieces of the tortilla as you work your way around the tostada, almost like a chip and dip. Scoop up some of the toppings with each tortilla piece.
Fold into a taco
If your tostada has sturdy enough toppings, you can fold it in half like a taco to pick up and eat if you want to get your hands messy. Just be careful of spillage!
Enjoy all the flavors
However you choose to eat your tostada, the most important tip is to get a taste of all the components in each bite. Grab a bit of tortilla, beans, cheese, meat, lettuce, salsa, and anything else you piled on for a delicious flavor combo.
Have plenty of napkins
Tostadas can be a messy meal, so make sure to have plenty of napkins on hand! The crispy tortillas often shatter into crunchy pieces that spread everywhere. Embrace the mess and enjoy every tasty bite.
Tostada FAQs
What’s the difference between a tostada and a taco?
Tacos are made with folded tortillas while tostadas use a flat, open-faced crisp tortilla. Fillings are layered on top of a tostada rather than stuffed inside a taco.
Are tostadas supposed to be crunchy?
Yes, the crispiness of the tortilla base distinguishes a tostada from other Mexican dishes like tacos or burritos that use soft tortillas. Frying or toasting the tortilla gives it the signature crispy texture.
Do tostadas have to be fried?
No, you can also toast or bake tortillas until they are crispy. Frying gives the most traditional, crispiest result, but broiling is a healthier cooking method if you are looking to avoid added oils.
How do you keep tostadas crispy?
They are best eaten right after cooking while the tortilla is still warm and crispy. Layering on hefty wet toppings can make them go limp quickly. You can also put them back in the oven for a minute to re-crisp if needed.
What protein goes on tostadas?
Any protein can be used as a tostada topping! Classic options are ground beef, shredded chicken, pork carnitas, chorizo, or fish. Vegetarian options include beans, tofu, tempeh, and seitan.
Can you make tostadas ahead of time?
You can prepare the components in advance, but it’s best to assemble tostadas just before serving to preserve the tortilla’s crispness. Store the crispy tortillas, fillings, toppings separately and put them together right before eating.
Do tostadas need salsa?
Salsa provides great flavor, but it’s not essential. Many delicious topping combinations don’t require it, like beans and cheese or chicken and avocado. But it never hurts to have some salsa on hand for those who want an extra kick!
Healthy tostada options
Tostadas are highly customizable, so they can be as healthy or indulgent as you want. Here are some ideas for lightening up your tostadas:
- Use lean proteins like grilled chicken breast, shrimp, or fish
- Load up on veggies like lettuce, tomato, onion, bell pepper
- Choose whole grain tortillas when possible
- Use reduced fat cheese and Greek yogurt instead of sour cream
- Make “skinny” guacamole with Greek yogurt
- Use corn tortillas instead of flour for a gluten-free option
- Bake or broil the tortillas instead of frying in oil
With so many possible healthy substitutions, you can enjoy tostadas guilt-free!
Tostada recipes
Ready to whip up some tostadas at home? Try these fun recipes:
Chicken avocado tostadas
Ingredients:
– 6 corn tostadas
– 2 cups shredded chicken
– 1 avocado, sliced
– 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
– 1/4 cup crumbled queso fresco
– Lime wedges for serving
Instructions:
1. Toast tortillas until crispy.
2. Layer chicken, then beans, avocado slices, and cheese over each tortilla.
3. Squeeze lime juice over tostadas before serving.
Shrimp ceviche tostadas
Ingredients:
– 8 tostada shells
– 1 lb cooked shrimp, chopped
– 1 cup chopped tomato
– 1/2 cup chopped onion
– 1 jalapeno pepper, minced
– 1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
– 3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
– Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
1. In a bowl, mix together shrimp, tomato, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
2. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to “cook” the shrimp in the citrus juice.
3. Spoon ceviche mixture over crisp tostada shells to serve.
Carne asada tostadas
Ingredients:
– 6 tostada shells
– 1 lb carne asada, grilled and sliced
– 1/2 head lettuce, shredded
– 1/2 cup queso fresco, crumbled
– 1 avocado, sliced
– Lime wedges for serving
Instructions:
1. Grill carne asada steak to desired doneness, let rest, then slice thinly.
2. Layer lettuce, carne asada, cheese, and avocado over each tostada shell.
3. Squeeze fresh lime juice over tostadas before serving.
Where to find great tostadas
You can’t beat homemade, but if you want some restaurant-quality tostadas, here are some top spots to check out:
Guelaguetza – Los Angeles, CA
This Oaxacan restaurant serves giant crispy tostadas piled high with carnitas, cabbage, pinto beans, Crema Oaxaquena, and queso Oaxaca. They have both classic and inventive tostada flavors.
Bartlett’s Restaurante – San Antonio, TX
With outdoor dining on a riverfront patio, this restaurant has awesome fish and shrimp tostadas served with avocado, cabbage, and special crema. The perfect summer snack.
Taco Maria – Costa Mesa, CA
Chef Carlos Salgado puts a fine dining spin on traditional tostadas with unique flavors like duck confit, port-braised octopus, and Dungeness crab.
Ermanos Taco Shop – San Diego, CA
This local favorite keeps it classic with big crunchy tostadas topped with carne asada, guacamole, beans, cabbage, crema, and salsa on request. Authentic Baja flavor.
Mi Tocaya Antojería – Chicago, IL
This modern Mexican spot serves up delightful crab tostadas with mango, jicama, and serrano crema. They also let you build your own tostada combination.
Conclusion
With a crispy fried tortilla base and endless flavor possibilities, tostadas make an exciting Mexican meal or snack! Load them up with your favorite fillings and dig in. Just be prepared for a deliciously messy experience. However you choose to eat them – with a fork and knife or with your hands folded like a taco – tostadas satisfy cravings for Tex-Mex flavors with crunch. Now that you know how to assemble and eat them properly, get creative in the kitchen making your own tostada masterpieces at home. ¡Buen provecho!