A tostada is a crisp tortilla piled generously with any variety of toppings, often including beans, crisp lettuce, and salsa. Good accompaniments include: baked potatoes or sweet potatoes; or fresh corn on the cob. Add a salad and/or a simple steamed veggies, you’ve got an easy weeknight meal or fun quick fare to serve company. Recipe from Plant Power: Transform Your Kitchen, Plate, and Life with More Than 150 Fresh and Flavorful Vegan Recipes by Nava Atlas. ©2014, published by HarperOne, reprinted by permission. Photos by Hannah Kaminsky.

Recipe

Black Bean Tostadas

Add a salad and/or a simple steamed veggies to these black bean tostadas, and you’ve got an easy weeknight meal or fun quick fare to serve company.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Tortllla main dish

Cuisine: Vegan / southwestern / Mexican

Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian

Keyword: black bean tostadas, tortilla recipe

Prep Time: 25

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 50

Servings:

Calories: 161kcal

Author: Veg Kitchen

Ingredients

8 good-quality corn tortillas
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil or 3 tablespoons vegetable broth or water
1 medium onion or two shallots finely chopped
2 to 4 cloves garlic minced
Two 15-to 16-ounce cans black beans drained and rinsed,
or 3 to 3 ½ cups cooked black beans
Juice of ½ lime or lemon or more, to taste
1 to 2 small hot green chili peppers seeded and sliced, optional
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
2 teaspoons ground cumin

Garnishes

Shredded lettuce baby greens, or baby spinach
Plenty of mild medium, or hot chunky salsa such as chipotle, peach or mango
Store-bought or homemade Vegan Sour Cream or Cashew Cream

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

To toast the tortillas in the oven: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spread the tortillas on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, or until crisp and dry and just starting to be touched with golden brown spots. Remove them from the oven and place on a serving platter.
To toast the tortillas on a stovetop: Heat a large skillet. Toast the tortillas over medium heat (two or three at a time, depending on the size of the skillet) for about 5 minutes or so on each side, until crisp and touched with golden brown spots. Don't be afraid to let them get nice and crisp—that's better than ending up with a soggy tostada.
Heat the oil in medium skillet. Add the onion and garlic and sauté until golden, about 5 minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients (aside from the garnishes, of course) along with ¼ cup water and bring to a simmer. Using a potato masher, mash some of the beans so that the liquid becomes thick and saucy.
Place the shredded lettuce, sour cream, and salsa in separate serving bowls and let everyone assemble their tostadas as follows: A layer of shredded lettuce; the black bean mixture; salsa; and sour cream. Pick up the tostadas and eat out of hand (with plenty of napkins!).