Black bean tostadas with salsa
This recipe uses canned black beans and tomatoes, but it tastes like homemade.
This recipe, inspired by one from New York Times Cooking, is sure to get rave reviews. This version includes poblano and cayenne. You can crisp the tortillas in the oven at the same time you’re cooking the beans.
Servings: 8
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola, safflower, or grapeseed oil
- 1 poblano pepper, chopped
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds, toasted in a skillet and ground in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder
- 2 15-ounce cans black beans (reduced salt or no salt added)
- Large pinch of cayenne
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 8 8-inch tortillas
Salsa
- 1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes
- 2 1/4-inch slices red or white onion
- 1/2 cup cilantro, coarsely chopped
- 1 large jalapeño, minced
- Juice of 1 lime
- 1 Hass avocado, diced
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Thin shreds of lettuce or cabbage
- Grated cheese of choice
Directions
- To make the salsa: Drain the tomatoes. Soak the onion slices in water for about 5 minutes, dry on a paper towel, and then dice. To a mixing bowl, add the tomatoes, chopped cilantro, minced jalapeño, lime juice, onion, and avocado. Salt and pepper to taste. Let sit at least 30 minutes for the flavor to develop.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. Arrange the tortillas in a single layer on baking sheets. Bake until crispy, maybe 10 minutes. Turn on your oven light and watch them to make sure they don’t burn.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet. Sauté the poblano until the skin is soft. Add the cumin. When it sizzles, add the beans with their liquid. Bring to a gentle boil. Stir and smash as they cook. Add some cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste. Continue to cook and smash until most of the liquid is gone and you have “spreadable” black beans.
- Plate the crispy tostadas. Top the tortillas with black beans, salsa, lettuce, and cheese.
Nutrition information (per serving)
- Calories: 264
- Total fat: 11 g
- Saturated fat: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
- Total carbohydrate: 33 g
- Sodium: 174 mg
- Dietary fiber: 10 g
- Total sugars: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
For 8 servings, using corn tortillas topped with 1/4 cup shredded lettuce and 2 tablespoons of grated cheese.