Vegetarian Tostadas

5 from 3 votes

These vegetarian tostadas are an easy, healthy, and flavor-packed recipe you can make for dinner in less than 30 minutes.

Servings tostadas

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Ingredients

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1½ teaspoons minced garlic
½ head cauliflower chopped finely
2 medium green bell peppers sliced into 1-inch long strips
2 large jalapeno peppers sliced into 1-inch long strips
1 medium yellow onion sliced
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons chili powder
1½ teaspoons ground red cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon cumin
2 pinches salt
1 medium lime juiced

Toppings

2 to 3 medium avocados
1 to 2 medium limes juiced
1 to 2 pinches salt
15 ounces canned refried black beans warmed
16 corn tostadas
shredded Mexican blend cheese optional topping, sub cotija or queso fresco

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Heat vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat, then stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the cauliflower, bell pepper, jalapeno, and onion, then season with paprika, chili powder, cayenne, cumin, and salt. Stir to combine and sauté until vegetables are slightly softened, about 10 to 15 minutes, then stir in the lime juice and remove from heat.
In the meantime, prepare the toppings. In a small bowl, combine the avocado, lime juice, and salt and mash until smooth. Adjust lime juice and salt to taste.
Warm the refried beans.
Finally, assemble the tostadas. We recommend spreading a layer of refried beans on each tostada, then adding 2 to 3 spoonfuls of the veggie mixture. Top with mashed avocado. Optionally add shredded Mexican cheese or other Mexican cheeses like cotija or queso fresco. Serve immediately

Notes

Veggies: Keep a close eye on the veggies as you sauté them. If the heat is too high, you'll run the risk of overcooking them and they'll be limp and soft. You want them to be slightly soft but still have a bit of texture.

Spices: The seasonings make the veggies quite spicy, so if you prefer a more mild flavor we recommend reducing the seasonings by half.

Avocado: Mashed avocado with lime and salt is our go-to for an easy topping, but you can also use your favorite guacamole recipe (or store-bought) if you prefer. Tostadas are wonderful because you can customize the toppings to your liking!

Cheese: When we serve these with shredded Mexican blend cheese, we often put the cheese right on top of the beans, underneath the veggies. The warm beans make the cheese a little melty which is so delicious.

Author: Nicole Langdon

Calories: 251kcal

Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: Avocado, bell pepper, cauliflower, cayenne, chili powder, cinco de mayo, cumin, garlic, jalapeno, lime juice, paprika, queso fresco, refried black beans, tostadas, vegetable oil, vegetarian, yellow onion

Nutrition