Easy and Healthy Tostada Recipe

Tostadas with a side of avocado.

   If you are in a hurry but don't want to eat fast food or take the family out to a restaurant you can still make a tasty, healthy and cost effective meal that everyone will enjoy.  I usually have a bowl of the pico de gallo in my refrigerator (see my post dated March 12, 2011 for the recipe) and I buy some corn tortillas from a local Mexican food market.  I get them there because they are made fresh daily and taste so much better than the corn tortillas you buy at the grocery store and they don't have all the preservatives that the ones in the grocery store have either.   If you are in a big hurry, you can also buy fresh pico de gallo and salsa there as well. You will need 1 can of black beans (or pinto beans), corn tortillas, grated cheese (I usually use Colby Jack or Monterey Jack cheese) pico de gallo, and salsa.


    You can fry up your corn tortillas in a skillet under medium/high heat with some extra virgin olive oil until they are crispy and no longer pliable.  Then sprinkle a little bit of sea salt on them when you first pull them out of the skillet.  I usually fry up two per person. Then you can open your can of beans and rinse them thoroughly (to take off any extra sodium) then warm them in a sauce pan.  Once they are warm you can smash them with a potato masher until they are creamy.  I sometimes add some water and a little drizzle of extra virgin olive oil to make them smooth.  Once the beans are done you can smooth them on the fried shells, add your pico de gallo and cheese and your favorite salsa. I usually make my salsa but you can use your favorite brand from the store or buy some at your local Mexican food market.  Sometimes I also serve tostadas with a side of sliced avocado or with chopped cucumbers.  My husband likes them without cheese.  The good thing about this dish is you can make the tostadas to suit different tastes so no one is unhappy. 

Tostadas without cheese plus salsa.

 

   This is a quick meal to make and healthier than fast food.  Your family will enjoy it and it will look like you spent much more time on it than you actually did.  You can feel good knowing you have fresh ingredients and you've cut out many of the preservatives and much of the sodium.  Enjoy!