Tostadas and Guacamole

Cooking the Red Beans

I started a quick soak of the beans right away, as soon as I got up in the morning.  I used red beans and followed the package instructions.

Ingredients for Tostadas and Guacamole:

Washing the Tomatoes

• 1 Small Package Red Beans - Soaked and Cooked until Tender
• 1 Head Romaine Lettuce - Torn into bite-size pieces
• 6 Beef Steak Tomatoes - Chopped
• 1 Bulk Package Ground Beef - Browned
• 4 Avocados - Mashed
• 1 Red Onion - Chopped
• 3 Cloves Garlic - Chopped fine
• 1 lb. Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese - Grated
• 3 dozen Corn Tortillas
• 2 Cups Manteca Lard
• Cayenne Pepper

Browning the Ground Beef

While the ground beef is getting browned and the beans are cooking, but almost done, wash and cut the tomatoes, onions, avocados and garlic.  Clean the lettuce and tear into bite-size pieces.  Grate the cheese.  Chill lettuce, tomato (minus one) and cheese in fridge.

Stirring the Guacamole

Tostada Shells and Tortilla Chips

Yummy Tostada

Add avocado, 1 tomato, onion and garlic to a bowl and stir well.  Add salt, pepper and cayenne pepper if desired.  Chill in fridge.










Cut 2 dozen tortillas into triangles.
Fry chip size corn tortillas, and tostada shells in the Manteca.  Be sure to salt them as you bring them out of the oil and put them on a paper towel to drain.  Most people don't dare brown their tortillas, but browned corn tortillas have the BEST flavor for tostadas!




Everyone will be smelling the good stuff cooking, so be nice and give everyone an appetizer of guacamole dip and freshly fried chips while you finish up the beans, meat and tortillas.
When the beans are done, remove the lid and boil on high until the liquid is reduced.  Pour the meat into the beans or vice-versa.  My bean pot was bigger so I added the meat to the beans and stirred well.  The beans should be very soft and will mash easily, but leave some of the beans whole.

Put the hot meat/bean mixture on top of your tostada shell, add lettuce, cheese and tomato.  I sprinkle Cayenne Pepper all over mine and start munching away.  Whew, it's been a long while since we have had homemade tostadas.  My husband said he couldn't shovel his in fast enough!  Ha ha ha.