Tostadas are my guilty pleasure. When I'm having a bad day, I eat one to make myself feel better. And today, I'm sharing this tostada nachos with beef that you'll like for sure!
1tablespoonchili powder (chilli powder in British English)
2teaspoonsground cumin
1teaspoondried oregano
¼teaspooncayenne pepper
1mediumchipotle chili - in adobo sauce and minced
¾cupsalsa
1teaspoonmasa harina
1dashKosher salt - to taste
1dashground black pepper
1tablespoonlime juice
Guacamole Ingredients
1mediumavocado - peeled, pitted, and coarsely chopped
1mediumjalapeño - seeded if desired, and minced
2tablespoonscilantro (coriander) - chopped
1clovegarlic - minced
1pinchground cumin
1teaspoonlime juice
1pinchKosher salt - to taste
Nacho Ingredients
3tablespoonsvegetable oil - for frying
6mediumcorn tortillas
1pinchKosher salt
15ouncesrefried beans
8ouncescheddar cheese - shredded
½cupsour cream
1mediumjalapeño - pickled and sliced
1cupsalsa - if desired
Instructions
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil. Add the beef and cook, crumbling it as you go until no traces of pink remain.
Add the onion and cook until the onion has softened and is translucent, stirring often.
Add the garlic, chilli powder, cumin, oregano, cayenne, and chipotle. Stir to thoroughly coat the beef and onion with the spices and cook out the garlic for about 1 minute.
Reduce the heat to medium and add the salsa. Stir to combine and thicken a little. It will come together very quickly. Now quickly stir in the masa harina, salt and pepper to taste, and the lime juice. Shut off the heat.
Add the avocado to a mixing bowl, then add the jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, cumin, lime juice, and salt.
Using a fork, mash it all together to your desired consistency. I like mine to stay a little chunky.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. If not using right away, cover with plastic wrap and make sure the plastic wrap is directly touching the top of the guacamole.
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Heat up about an inch or so of canola oil in a large deep-sided skillet. Cut each tortilla in half, so you have a total of 12 half-moons.
When the oil is ready, fry the tortilla halves, in batches if necessary, until golden brown and crispy. You’ll know it’s about there when the bubbles start subsiding.
Remove the tortillas with a spider or slotted spoon to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with salt. Let them cool until you can handle them.
Transfer the refried beans to a small mixing bowl and thin with a bit of water, just enough so they can be stirred easily with a spoon. Get a mini offset spatula or butter knife to spread each tortilla half with a nice amount of refried beans.
Line them all up on a baking sheet. Carefully spoon the beef onto each nacho and lightly press it into the beans to ensure it doesn’t fall off when you transfer the baking sheet to the oven.
Feel free to mound up the beef here. Now evenly sprinkle the cheese over the nachos.
Carefully slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbling a little. Remove the nachos and dollop the top of each with guacamole, sour cream, and a few jalapeno slices.