Make sure the oil is super hot; that way, the tortillas will be in and out fast—the idea is to get them crisp and golden but not greasy. Then start layering and sprinkling the components on top like a Mexican pizza.
SERVES: 4 to 6
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus more for frying
- 1 pound ground beef
- One 1¼-ounce package taco seasoning, or 1 teaspoon each ground cumin and chili powder
- ⅓ cup water
- Salt
- 1 small red onion, diced
- ½ cup minced fresh cilantro
- 1½ cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese
- 2 cups fresh salsa (page 53), or one 16-ounce jar store-bought salsa
- 1 cup guacamole (optional; page 51)
- 1 cup sour cream (optional)
- 6 small corn tortillas (use flour tortillas if corn is not available)
- One 16-ounce can refried beans, warmed in the microwave
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Preheat the oven to 200°F. In a medium cast-iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over moderately high heat. Add the beef and cook, stirring to break up any lumps, until browned, about 6 minutes.
- Spoon off any excess oil from the skillet. Stir in the taco seasoning and water and cook for 1 minute. Add salt to taste. Scrape the meat into a heatproof bowl, cover with foil, and keep warm in the oven. Wipe out the skillet.
- Assemble the condiments in little bowls: diced onion, cilantro, lettuce, cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sour cream (if using).
- Heat ½ inch of vegetable oil in the skillet over moderately high heat. Test the temperature of the oil: When a drop of water sizzles on the surface, using tongs, place 1 tortilla in the oil. Fry, turning once, until golden brown, about 1 minute. (A flour tortilla may bubble a bit, but it will flatten out after frying.) Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate. Repeat with the remaining tortillas.
- To serve, spread each tostada with warm refried beans, then top with a few tablespoons of ground beef and the desired condiments.
TIP:
- It’s always a good idea to buy extra ingredients when trying a new cooking technique, like frying tortillas. Tortillas usually come in packages of ten, so if you over-or undercook a few, you’re still okay.
