How To Eat Tostada

Are you starting on a tostada trip? Buckle up for a ride full of flavors that will reset the bar for your taste receptor cells! Eating a tostada is not only about food but a journey. It's a voyage through Mexican delicacies with crispy layers. It is a Mexican-native dish that's both yummy and strong nutritionally. Featuring bursts of flavor, each tostada becomes a colorful corn canvas. You can decorate a tostada and fried tortilla with seasoned black beans, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, zesty salsa, and cool and creamy guacamole. At the cost of just 148 calories per serving (100 grams), this lip-smacking dish demonstrates that healthy meals can be tasty. However, the question is, “How to eat tostada.”

We are entering the world of tostada supremacy without a hand brake. Open your mouth, pour on your appetite, free your inner foodie, and let's travel to the delightful globe through a tasty tostada!

Eating A Tostada Properly

To eat this Mexican cuisine, first spread your favorite toppings all over the tostada, not just in the middle. Make a mouth-sized circle of your favorite taco toppings on it. Then, grab it with both hands. Hold it carefully between your thumbs and fingers, using your pinkies for support. Just keep it straight.

Next, take a bite from the center, and don’t worry if some toppings or tortilla bits fall to the plate. Alternatively, you can place the tostada on your plate and check the ingredients are spread evenly before taking the next bite. Repeat for each tostada.

So, what are tostadas made of? A tostada is a crispy, flat corn tortilla fried, fried corn tortillas, or even baked. It’s like a blank canvas where you can load up all your favorite taco fixings and meats. On the other hand, tacos usually come in soft, folded form with either corn or flour tortillas.

Here, I must tell you that while being similar to a taco, a tostada requires a different eating technique to prevent a mess. Other than eating tostadas by hand from the center, you can try two more methods, whichever prevents more mess. So, here’s how to eat tostada shells.

Eat Tostada With A Knife & Fork

If you want to go the fork route for your tostada, here’s the deal: Load it up with all the good stuff, making sure it’s fully covered. Then, use your fork’s edge to snap off a small piece. Next, load up that piece with the help of a knife onto your fork and dig in.

Eat Tostada From Center To Side

Another option is to begin at the center and move outward, but remember always to go center to side and not center, center, and out. That way, you minimize the risk of breaking your tostada.

And don’t forget to use pinky fingers for support as long as you can, then switch to your thumb and fingers as needed. Also, it’s a good move to set down the tostada after bites to get a grip on the tortilla and enjoy all those fallen toppings.

Eat Tostada From Outside In

You can also eat the tostada by munching at the sides first, where you have the most risk of toppings falling out. But it's not a big deal if toppings fall off. Nibble from the right side of this Mexican food, switch to the left, and then eat from the middle. Keep doing this until your tostada is finished.

Best Way To Eat Tostada Without Making A Mess On Your Face

First, hold the tostada in a horizontal and straight position between two hands; this way, they won’t bend or shake. Next, grasp it evenly and take a chunk from its wide side. Put it over the plate you are using so if there should be any crumbs or tiny bits, they will fall onto the plate.

Your very first bite might be mostly harsh, crunchy tostada shells, but you don't have to be patient to be able to grab the toppings.

Repeat this method by taking some bites of the tostada on this side in the way that you did first until you are all done with it. As the taco gets smaller, you should be surprised how easy it is to eat it with one hand.

Let the remaining tortilla chisels (tostada pieces) gulp anything that fell off the plate. This is the second choice: Use the utensil to eat it.

If it's too hard for you to swallow the tostada as a whole or such a method is not feasible, then try the most satisfactory ways; nevertheless, some may argue that they are less authentic. But We all couldn't be the same. It is fine if we eat differently.

1- Cut The Tostada In Half

Crack the tostada down the middle, so you end up with two half-moon pieces of tostada to eat. This is more helpful than keeping it all together.

2- Break It Into “Chips”

Take it a step further by breaking the tostada into smaller pieces like tortilla chips. Eat the tostada with your hands like you do nachos.

3- Disassemble It Using A Spoon Or Fork

You may not like to get your hands dirty while eating, so you can also break the tostada apart using a spoon or a fork to eat it that way. This approach is very rare.

4- Fold It In Half

Love tacos? Ditch all rules, have your tostada folded over, and eat it as a tostada sandwich or a crunchy taco. This is something unusual that can even make a mess than the whole meal since the topping might fall out.

Methods To Eat A Tostada Properly

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Pack Of 10 Old El Paso Gluten-Free Tostada Shells - 12 Shells per Pack, 4.5 oz

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1. Pure Ingredients - A dozen tostada shells crafted with just three simple ingredients.
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3. Effortless Preparation - Heat in the oven at 325 degrees F for six to seven minutes, making meal prep a breeze.
4. Customizable Delight - Pile your tostada high with your preferred taco fillings and savor the satisfying crunch.
5. Generous Supply - Each pack contains 4.5 oz with a total of 10 packs, ensuring you have plenty for multiple meals.

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Best Tostada Recipes

Now that you know how to eat tostada to avoid mess, let’s discuss a delicious Tostada recipe or two you can make:

Chicken Tostadas

To make this recipe, you just need the following:

Ingredients

• 8 corn tortillas
• 1 can (15 ounces) refried beans
• 1 cup shredded cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack)
• 1/2 cup chopped lettuce
• 1/4 cup diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 1 lime, cut into wedges
• Sour cream and hot sauce for serving (if you want)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and give your baking sheet a light grease.
2. Lay the tortillas on the baking sheet and bake them for about 5-7 minutes until they turn crispy and golden. Store-bought tostada shells are also okay, but if you’re feeling fancy, you can make your own by crisping corn tortillas in a dry skillet.
3. While the tortillas are baking, warm up the refried beans in the microwave or stove.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onion, and cilantro.
5. Grab a rotisserie chicken or some cooked chicken breast and chop or shred it up if you don’t have shredded chicken handy. To jazz up the flavor, toss some taco seasoning into the chicken mix.
6. Spread a layer of refried beans on each crispy tortilla to build your tostadas.
7. Pile on the chicken mixture and give it a squeeze of lime juice.
8. Serve them up pronto with some sour cream and hot sauce if that’s your jam. If you're in the mood, get creative with toppings like avocado, salsa, or more sour cream.

Avocado Shrimp Tostadas

Ingredients

• 12 corn tortillas
• 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 ripe avocado (mashed)
• Sour cream (for serving)
• Diced tomato (for serving)

Instructions

1. Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Give those corn tortillas a light brush with olive oil. Lay them on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes until they turn crispy.
2. While the tortillas are getting toasty, heat the olive oil in a big skillet over medium heat. Toss in the shrimp, sprinkle on the salt and pepper, and cook them until they turn pink and fully cooked, which should take about 2-3 minutes.
3. If you want your shrimp to be even more flavorful, you can mix lime juice, olive oil, garlic, and spices before cooking. Take the skillet off the heat and mix the red onion, cilantro, and lime juice.
4. Now, to build your tostadas spread mashed avocado on each tortilla. Pile on the shrimp mixture, and don’t forget the sour cream and diced tomato.

So, when’s a good time to eat tostadas?

When Are Tosatadas Eaten?

You can chow down on tostadas any time you like, but they’re usually a go-to for appetizers, light meals, or snacks. Over in Mexico, they often appear in bigger feasts like buffets or family get-togethers. Here’s when people like to munch on tostadas:

• Breakfast - Load them with eggs, beans, cheese, and other breakfast foods.
• Lunch - Top them with chicken, beef, fish, or veggies, cheese, and salsa.
• Dinner - Make it hearty with fillings like mole or carnitas.
• Snack - Keep it light with toppings like guacamole, salsa, or sour cream.

And when you’re throwing a party or potluck, tostadas are the ultimate crowd-pleaser. They’re versatile and loved by people of all ages. Now, let’s talk about what kind of toppings you can use:

• Meat - Pick from chicken, beef, pork, fish, shrimp, or chorizo.
• Beans - Refried, black, pinto, kidney – you name it.
• Cheese - Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or queso fresco for that cheesy goodness.
• Veggies - Load them up with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, peppers, avocados, or some creamy guacamole.
• Salsa - Spice things up with pico de gallo, salsa verde, or salsa roja.
• Extras - Don’t forget the sour cream, crema, cilantro, lime juice, or a dash of hot sauce to complete the tostada experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Eat A Tostada Without Making A Mess?

To eat a tostada without making a mess, load it up with toppings evenly, hold it between your thumbs and fingers, and go for a bite from the center. Also, use your pinky fingers for support and set the tostada down between bites to regroup the toppings.

What's The Point Of Tostadas?

Tostadas are all about that crispy, crunchy tortilla loaded with tasty toppings. Think of them as a Mexican-style open-faced sandwich – a delightful twist on a classic.

You can customize tostadas with various toppings, making them perfect for snacks or full-on meals. Besides, tostadas are your go-to for reviving stale tortillas. Fry them up, and you have a delicious snack while cutting down on food waste.

Is A Tostada Just A Flat Taco?

Kind of. Tostadas and tacos are like cousins. Tacos are folded and filled, while tostadas are flat and loaded up. But both offer delicious ways to enjoy Mexican flavors.

How Can I Eat Beef Tostadas?

You can top them with seasoned ground beef or shredded beef, then pile on your choice of veggies, cheese, and salsa. Place all the toppings evenly. Then, hold a tostada between your thumbs and fingers and support it with your pinky fingers. Eat it from the center, outside in, or from center to side to avoid mess.

What Can I Eat On A Tostada?

You can eat almost anything on a tostada. Start with beans and meat (like chicken, beef, or seafood). Add veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, avocados), sprinkle cheese, and finish with salsa and sour cream.

What Do People Eat With Tostadas?

Tostadas are versatile so that you can serve them with sides like rice, beans, or a fresh salad. Guacamole, chips, and a frosty beverage with tostadas also make for a delicious meal.

Conclusion

Though a popular and versatile food item, This Mexican street food can be challenging to eat without creating a mess. However, mastering how to eat tostada not only elevates your dining experience but also ensures you savor every bite without the mess.

Tostadas offers a world of flavors and possibilities, from crispy shells to delectable toppings. Also, the recipes mentioned above will bring you a delicious eating experience, whether whipping up a quick snack or hosting a fiesta.