Mexican Vegan Recipes: Tostadas

Eating healthy is essential nowadays, with some even embracing the vegan way of living. It's not easy to find delicious vegan recipes, especially if you're craving ethnic cuisine such as Mexican food. Though its not know to be the healthiest cuisine (with all the saturated fat and lard in most dishes) you may be surprised at how many key ingredients are actually healthy. A good example of the ingredients are staples such as beans, tomatoes, avocados, chillies, corn and peppers. These rich ingredients are packed with protein, vitamins and minerals. Combine these ingredients and a few more you will be able to create wonderful recipes like a healthy tostada. Tostadas are tortilla shells that have been toasted topped with bean, salsa, cheese and practically anything you want. To toast the shells brush them lightly on each side with your oil of choice (try olive or peanut oil) and place them on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400. Bake them for about 3-6 minutes or until light brown.

These three recipes shows you the versatility of the dish. For those who are not Vegans, you can add shredded chicken, shredded pork and even seafood.

Tofu Tostadas

Ingredients
1 cake (8oz.) firm TOFU, diced
2 tbsp. Vegetable Oil
1 can(4oz) diced Green Chiles
1/2 tsp. Garlic Salt
12 Tostadas Shells
1 can Vegetarian Re-fried Beans
1/2 head Lettuce, shredded
1 cup shredded Longhorn Cheese
2 Tomatoes, diced
Sour Cream
Salsa

Directions
*In a pan set to medium heat, fry the tofu until slightly brown
*Add chillies and garlic
*Saute for 2 minutes and set aside

*Heat beans in a separate pan or in the microwave

*Spoon them evenly in tostada shells

*Add the lettuce, tomatoes, fried tofu with chillies and garlic

*Sprinkle cheese on the top

*a spicy salsa or sour cream sauce goes well with the tostadas

Tostada with Avocado and Cheese

Ingredients

4 8-inch corn tortillas for tostada shells
1 1/2 tbsp Olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp Vinegar
1 cup  lettuce, shredded
1 can Red Salsa
1/4 can  jalapeños, sliced
6 tbsp ripe avocado
1/4 cup Crumbled goat cheese or feta or shredded Monterrey Jack or Cheddar
12 Olives
1 can Refried beans
salt and pepper

Direction

*Mashed the avocados

*Heat re-fried beans in pan or microwave

*First layer: Spoon bean evenly on the tostada shells

*Second layer: Spoon avocado on the first layer

* Add in lettuce, jalapeños, and salsa over the avocado

*Season with salt and pepper

*Sprinkle with cheese and a splash olive oil

Spicy Bean and Feta Cheese Tostada

Ingredients

1 28 ounce can vegetarian baked beans
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 tbsp olive oil
4 8-inch corn tortillas for tostada shells
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup chopped fresh tomatoes
1/4 cup chopped olives
3 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Direction

* In a pan heat oil and saute onions

* Seasoned it with chili powere and cumin

*Add beans and saute them all together

*In a bowl, mix together tomatoes, olives, cilantro and cheese.

*Heat tostada shells

* Spread bean mixture and cheese mixture on the tostada shell

* Sprinkle more cheese if desired