Random Tostada

I've mentioned before my problem with the number of corn tortillas i have to buy for many of the recipes i like to make. One of the best things you can do with tortillas that are getting stale, but aren't too old to eat is to make a tostada. This can be done but simply baking the stale tortilla until it is crisp. You can also deep fry it until its crisp also. I find the baking option not only healthier, but also easier as you don't have to watch it as carefully so you can chop your toppings.

Basically you can put whatever you want on the top of the tostada, i usually just use the leftovers from the dish i made that required them, but on occasion i've made something particular for the tostada like Chipotle Shrimp Tostada. (see Corn Tortilla Ideas) You can also your leftover tortillas to make a taco salad. You don't need to form the bowl, and/or deep fry it, instead you can cut the raw torillas into strips, then bake them until they are crisp and top a mexican-themed salad with it. A lot healthier than Taco Bell.

Also, corn tortilla are essentially corn chip, if you have a bunch left over cut them into triangles, baking or frying them. You can season them with taco seasoning, and serve them with salaa or guacomole. Instant corn chips without a lot of the guilt. Tostadas are generally considered an appetizer, but i am quite happy to eat one as a light meal, but they are pretty impressive and easy to assemble if you want to serve them that way. You can use all the ingredients you would use in any taco situation, refried beans, pulled pork, chicken even fish or shrimp.

For the one i made this time i did a "tostada vegetariana" in other words a vegetarian tostada. Using bib lettuce, left over from a nicoise salad, the cabbage and tomatos left over from the Marlin tacos, and an avocado that was about to go i put the ingredients together while the tortilla baked in my toaster oven. I dressed the cabbage in light sour cream, some redwine vinegar and pepper. I also had some of the tomatillo sauce left over, a few dots of that really give the dish more depth. A quick, pretty random dinner.


Above:

Finished tostada
Random ingredients
Dressing the cabbage.