Tostada
A tostada is a dish in Mexican and other Latin American cuisines built on a fried or toasted tortilla, usually corn.
A tostada is a crispy tortilla base topped with savory ingredients like beans, meat, and salsa. The name means 'toasted' in Spanish.
What it is
A tostada is a flat, crisp tortilla—usually corn—that serves as a base for various toppings. The word comes from Spanish and literally means 'toasted.' In Mexican and Latin American cuisines, it is a distinct dish, though in some Spanish-speaking regions the term can also refer to other toasted breads or tortilla dishes.
How it's made
The tortilla is fried or toasted until rigid and crunchy. It may be left flat or shaped slightly like a bowl after frying. This crisp base is then loaded with toppings such as refried beans, shredded meat or seafood, cheese, lettuce, tomato, salsa, and sour cream.
Toppings and variations
Common toppings include refried beans, shredded chicken or other meats, lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, avocado, and sour cream. Seafood versions are popular in some regions. Tostadas are especially associated with Mexican cuisine, but similar dishes and different uses of the word exist across Latin America and in Hispanic American communities.
In short
- A tostada is a flat, crisp tortilla used as a base for toppings.
- Corn tortillas are the most common base.
- Typical toppings include beans, meat, cheese, vegetables, and sauces.
- The term means 'toasted' in Spanish.
Tostadas are widely available in Canadian Mexican restaurants and grocery stores, and they are part of the broader familiarity of Mexican cuisine in Canada.
Quick questions
What is a tostada?
What does 'tostada' mean?
How is a tostada different from a taco?
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/tostadoSupports: Definition of tostada as a crispy fried tortilla, common toppings, origin as a use for stale tortillas, and meaning of the word.
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tostadaSupports: Definition of tostada as a deep-fried tortilla and as a topped dish.
- Food Network — https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/what-is-a-tostadaSupports: Description of tostada as a flat crispy corn tortilla with common toppings and distinction from chalupas.
- Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/tostadaSupports: Definition, common toppings, and etymology from Spanish tostar.
- Wikimedia Foundation — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TostadaSupports: Latin American usage, common Mexican toppings, and seafood variations.