Name: Easy Tostada Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 8 to 10 tostada shells; 3 cups homemade refried beans, or 2 (16-ounce) cans refried beans, warmed; 2 avocados, pitted and thinly sliced; 3 cups mixed shredded iceberg lettuce and red cabbage; 1 cup crumbled Cotija cheese; Sea salt, to taste; Lime wedges, for serving; Chopped fresh tomatoes, Pico de Gallo, or salsa; Mexican crema or Cilantro Lime Crema; Pickled Jalapeños or Pickled Serrano Peppers; Fresh cilantro leaves

Description

This Easy Tostada Recipe is a quick and flexible weeknight dinner perfect for family or friends. Featuring crunchy tostada shells layered with creamy refried beans, fresh avocado slices, crunchy lettuce and cabbage mix, and tangy Cotija cheese, it's a customizable meal where everyone can add their favorite toppings such as pico de gallo, crema, or pickled peppers. Ready in just 15 minutes, this vibrant dish brings authentic Mexican flavors to your table with minimal effort.

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

8 to 10 tostada shells
3 cups homemade refried beans, or 2 (16-ounce) cans refried beans, warmed
2 avocados, pitted and thinly sliced
3 cups mixed shredded iceberg lettuce and red cabbage
1 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
Sea salt, to taste
Lime wedges, for serving

Optional Toppings

Chopped fresh tomatoes, Pico de Gallo, or salsa
Mexican crema or Cilantro Lime Crema
Pickled Jalapeños or Pickled Serrano Peppers
Fresh cilantro leaves

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Instructions

Prepare the base: Spread each tostada shell with about ¼ to ⅓ cup of warmed refried beans, creating an even layer that will hold the toppings.
Add fresh toppings: Top the bean layer with thinly sliced avocado, followed by the shredded iceberg lettuce and red cabbage mix for a crunchy freshness.
Finish with cheese and seasoning: Sprinkle the tostadas generously with crumbled Cotija cheese, season with sea salt to taste, and add any desired additional toppings like pico de gallo or pickled peppers.
Serve with lime: Offer lime wedges alongside the tostadas to squeeze over just before eating, enhancing the flavor and adding a zesty brightness.

Notes

This recipe is highly adaptable—feel free to switch out toppings based on what you have available or your personal preferences.
Use warm refried beans for an ideal texture that helps the toppings stick to the tostada shells.
To keep tostadas crispy, serve them immediately after assembling and avoid pre-assembling too far ahead of time.
For a vegetarian and gluten-free meal, be sure tostada shells are corn-based and toppings are free of meat or gluten-containing additives.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Dinner
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: Mexican