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Thursday, June 2, 2011

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!!

One Year Ago:  Asian Inspired Pork Chops

12 comments:

Big Dude said...

They look perfectly delicious Jenn. I think the occasional battery charging is a must for body and mind.

StephenC said...

Alright, you've made me hungry before 8 am, and I don't eat breakfast.

Yenta Mary said...

Oh, how I would love to have one or two (three???) of those for breakfast RIGHT NOW!!! Looks amazing ... :)

Ma What's 4 dinner said...

Those tortillas looks great and we loooooooove our tacos and tostadas around here!!! Yummy!

Ok, you're going to hate my post today...please don't be mad! I know how you adore tilapia, but I had to write about some stuff I've been made aware of. I adore you, so sorry!

Lots of yummy love,
Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
www.mawhats4dinner.com

Andrea the Kitchen Witch said...

Mmm tostadas! I love tostadas :) Open face tacos, hello delicious LOL!! Sounds like you had an awesome relaxing weekend, well deserved indeed! I've never tried to do them on the grill, what a fun idea!

Cranberry Morning said...

Looks SO good, Jenn. And by the way, I thought of you right away as I was reading Alex's post. Then I read your comment. Glad you can find domestic talapia. I don't think we can. I think all of ours comes from China. :-( Thanks for this delicious recipe. Sounds like a Friday night meal.

Unknown said...

Love tostadas but I haven't had them for a long time. The last time I was in the States I think... 6 years ago. One of these days, I'm gonna make it at home here.

Miss Meat and Potatoes said...

Oh my gosh Jenn I SO know how you feel. I call that 'holing up' and believe me I would do it once a month if I could! I literally turn my computer off, hide it away so I don't get any eBay/surf cravings and do just what you said - watch movies, read a book, clean the house, etc. Such a treat! Anyway I adore the sound and look of these tostadas. I have to admit I'm a sucker for anything with ground beef. Not sexy maybe, but true. Thanks for sharing another great one:)

Pam said...

That's my kind of weekend and my kind of dinner... I love any Mexican food, especially tostadas!

Mary Bergfeld said...

It sounds like a close to perfect weekend. Your tostadas were perfect for an easy going day and I really like your recipe. I hope you enjoy today as well. Blessings...Mary

Katie said...

These would be awesome on the grill! Yum.

Chris said...

Dude! (eggg Dudette!)

This is the perfect week night meal, quick and tasty.

Yes, I agree that sometimes we all need a weekend of "down time" to recharge. I'm glad you got to relax!