Walnut Topped Tostadas: 25-Min Recipe

Crispy corn tortillas don't have to always be matched with guacamole or salsa.
How about a walnut and bean topping, with mango salsa?

Ingredients

For the mango salsa:

• 2 tbsp minced red onion
• 2 tbsp fresh lime zest or grated lemon rind, optional

Ingredients, continued

For the mango salsa, continued:

• 3 tbsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh green dhania or coriander or cilantro

Ingredients, continued

For the mango salsa, continued:

• 1 firm but ripe fresh mango, peeled, pitted, and finely diced, about ¼ cup
• ½ small jalapeno pepper, stemmed, de-seeded, minced

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For the walnut topping:

• 2 cups walnuts
• 1 cup chopped cauliflower
• 1½ tsp red chilly powder

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For the walnut topping, continued:

• 1 to 1½ tsp chipotle chilly powder, optional
• 1 tsp jeera or cumin powder
• ½ tsp onion or garlic powder

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For the walnut topping, continued:

• Juice of 1 lime
• ½ cup refried beans
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil + 2 tbsp
• Salt to taste; about ½ tsp

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For the tostadas:

• 6 corn tortillas
• Cooking spray
• Salt to season the tortillas

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For the tostadas, continued:

• 1½ cups chopped romaine lettuce
• Sour cream or plain Greek yoghurt
• Lime wedges, for serving

Method

• Preheat an oven to 200°C.
• In a bowl, mix the the diced mango, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro and toss with the lime juice, salt.
  Keep aside.

Method, continued

• Grind the walnuts, cauliflower, chipotle powder, chilly powder, cumin, refried beans, salt, garlic powder, lime juice, ¼ cup olive oil in a mixer till coarse crumbs.
• Heat the the remaining 2 tbsp olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat and fry the ground walnut mixture for 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is lightly browned.

Method, continued

• Spray two large baking sheets with the cooking spray.
  Lightly spray both sides of the tortillas with cooking spray and place in a single layer on prepared baking sheets.
  Lightly season with salt.
  Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, flip and bake for another 5 or until the tortillas are crispy, like chips.

Method, continued

• To assemble the tostadas, spoon the walnut mixture over the baked tortiillas.
• Top with the romaine lettuce, mango salsa.
  Serve with the sour cream or Greek yoghurt and the lime wedges; Serves 4-5.

Tips
Short of time? Skip making the tostada base from scratch by crisping the tortillas in the oven and instead replace the tortillas with store-bought corn nachos chips.
Recipe: Kind courtesy California Walnuts