Beef Tostadas

 

Due to some of the long hours I've been working, I decided that over Memorial day weekend, all I really wanted to do was stay at home and relax.  Although I would have loved to have invited friends/family over for a barbecue, I really just wanted to spend the long weekend relaxing and getting caught up on some things around the house.  I was so glad that Chris agreed to that.  We watched movies and lounged around and, well, it was the perfect weekend.

With that in mind, I kept our meals nice and simple.  This being one of them.  There is nothing to putting this meal together...and I did these on the grill (so there was even less mess), but you don't have to...  You can fry up or bake up your tortillas and melt the cheese under the broiler.  This does not have to be a big fuss meal.  This can seriously be ready in like 20 minutes.  I prepped everything before hand, so when I was ready to cook, things took about 10 minutes.  See?  Simple!!!

Beef Tostadas
Adapted from The Food Network Magazine, April 2011
Printable Recipe 
Ingredients:
2 teaspoons vegetable or olive oil
1/2 small sweet onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely minced
1 pound ground beef (I used 80/20)
Kosher salt
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 Tablespoon homemade taco seasoning
1/2 cup refried beans
8 white corn tortillas (if you aren't grilling, fry the tortillas, flat, in 1/2-inch vegetable oil over medium high heat for 1-2 minutes per side)
Shredded monterey jack cheese (about 1 - 1 1/2 cups)
Shredded lettuce
Chopped tomatoes
Sour cream

Directions:
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5-6 minutes.  Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.  Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 3 minutes.  Season with salt.  Add the tomato paste and taco seasoning and coo, stirring, about 3-5 more minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat your grill to 375 degrees F.  Brush both sides of the tortillas with oil.  Place the tortillas directly over the fire and let grill until crisp.  Remove from grill, flip over, and spread about a tablespoon (or more if desired) of refried beans on each tortilla (make sure you are spreading it on the already crisp, grilled side).  Top with ground beef mixture and shredded cheese.  Place tortillas back on the grill and allow to cook another 3-5 minutes or until the tortilla is crisp and the cheese has melted.  Top with lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream.  Serve with rice and Enjoy!!

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