Chicken Tostadas are Perfect for Cinco De Mayo!
Tostada (/tɒˈstɑːdə/ or /toʊˈstɑːdə/; Spanish: [tosˈtaða]) is a Spanish word meaning “toasted”. In Mexico and other parts of Hispanic America it is the name of different local dishes which are toasted or use a toasted ingredient as the main base of their preparation. Even though the tortilla is fried; the meaning sticks with it.
In Mexican usage, tostada usually refers to a flat or bowl-shaped (like a bread bowl) tortilla that is deep fried. It may also refer to any dish using a tostada as a base. It can be consumed alone, or used a base for other foods. Corn tortillas are usually used for tostadas, although tostadas made of wheat flour may occasionally be found.
Here’s an awesome recipe for Chicken Tostadas that you’re sure to love! Yummy!
Ingredients
Crispy Tortillas
Vegetable oil for frying
6 white corn tortillas
Kosher salt for sprinkling
Chicken
3 cups cooked shredded chicken
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander ( cilantro)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Tostadas
Refried beans, warm, recipe follows
3 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, shredded (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 head iceberg lettuce, cored and shredded
1 Hass avocado, thinly sliced or guacamole, recipe follows
2 cups salsa cruda, recipe follows
1/2 cup sour cream
1 scallion, thinly sliced
12 fresh coriander (cilantro) leaves
REFRIED BEANS
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 medium Spanish onion, finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 cloves garlic, minced
One 15-1/2 ounce can pinto beans (with liquid), mashed
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
SALSA CRUDA
2 ripe tomatoes or 4 plum tomatoes, cored and roughly chopped
1/4 medium onion, finely chopped (about 3 tablespoons)
1/4 jalapeno, seeded and minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
To make the tortillas: Pour the oil for frying into a large heavy-bottomed pot to a depth of about 2 inches. Place over medium heat and heat to 375 degrees F. Add the tortillas, one at a time, and fry until golden brown and crispy, about 1 1/2 minutes. Using tongs, transfer to a paper towel-lined pan and sprinkle with salt. Set aside.
To make the chicken: In a small bowl, mix together the chicken, lime juice, oil, coriander, and salt and season with pepper to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
To assemble the tostadas: Preheat the broiler. Spread the beans evenly over one side of each tortilla and sprinkle with some of the cheese. Transfer to a baking sheet and broil until the cheese is lightly browned and melted, about 30 seconds. Divide the tortillas among 6 plates.
Evenly mound the chicken on each tortilla and top with the lettuce. Top each tostada with avocado, salsa, and a dollop of sour cream. Sprinkle with the scallion and garnish the tostada with the coriander leaves. Serve immediately.
Cook’s Note: The tortillas must be fried until very crispy, otherwise they may become rubbery, making them difficult to cut with a knife and fork.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion, coriander, and cumin and cook, stirring, until lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, until lightly browned, about 1 minute more. Add the beans and cook, stirring frequently, until thick and amber brown in color, about 4 minutes. Stir in the salt and season with pepper to taste.
SALSA CRUDA
In a small bowl, mix together the tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, coriander, salt, and season with pepper to taste. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.
© 2014 Television Food Network. Used with permission. 
Enjoy these Chicken Tostadas! And, while your’e at it, go grab this recipe from Food Network for a Green Margarita! Enjoy!
These chicken tostadas look yummy. I’ll have to try them some time.
I was about to rave about the recipe and then I was stopped by a Green Margarita?!?! Wow, I will have to check that out as well!
We eat a lot of Mexican in our house and those look & sound absolutely amazing. They are totally up our alley!
I recently made a tostada at home – they are so much easier than I would have thought. Happy Cinco!!
that looks delicious. I was planning a real mexican themed feast tonight but instead we’re headed to a baseball game
OH yum that looks so good!!! We love Mexican food but I’ve never made tostadas at home.
My husband would love this! I’m pinning!
These look so delish,. Real easy too.
That Green Margarita looks delicious. I have not made my own tostadas before. Looks like fun!!
Your tostadas looks so appetizing! I am going to have to try your recipe.
Ohhhhh my get me some of that. They look delish! I am bookmarking
Happy Cinco de Mayo! These look fab. I made some blender salsa. go me. 😉
These look so good! I just showed my husband and he said I better make them!
These look delicious for any day of the week not only Cinco De Mayo! We had a long day today so we are actually having a celebration tomorrow night for dinner. These would be SO good!
Oh my goodness – those look so good! We went to a Mexican restaurant tonight and the food didn’t look half as good!
These look amazing! I wish this was what we had for dinner tonight!
Those put my build your own taco night to shame! I will have to save this- I have left over avocados!
Yum. It is now 6 de Mayo, but I might have to try these anyway!
This looks amazing! I wish I made this for dinner verse what I made. UGH well there is always tomorrow or next year right lol
That green margarita looks AMAZING. Thanks for sharing! Happy Cinco!
I’ve never had a chicken tostada. I think my oldest son would love it!
That sounds delicious! And I would love to try that margarita thanks!
🙂 These look wonderful! 🙂 and they sound delicious
those tostados look so good. We had fajitas last night for Cinca De Mayo.
I love tostadas, not just Cinco de Mayo time.Thanks for sharing something super yum
YUM! Those look amazing! Love that you put avocado on them!
This looks really delicious, and simple to whip up. (And that green margarita is so gorgeous!)
It all looks so delicious! We had a low key Cinco De Mayo, but I’ve pinned for later use.
I haven’t had a tostada in a really long time. I think I am overdue for one. These look soooo good!
I don’t mind if I do, and that goes for the margarita as well. It all sounds delicious!
That looks amazing! I love finding good Mexican inspired dishes. It would have been perfect for dinner yesterday!
OH my goodness, these look amazing. I am going to have to make these soon!
Mmm… I love chicken tostadas! And these looks so good. Thank you for the recipe!
These looks yummy! I need to try to make these. I spend way too much money going out for Mexican food! I need to master a recipe! 🙂