Tostadas Recipe

Crisp tortillas

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Place tortillas in a single layer on two rimmed baking sheets (3 per sheet) or stack with parchment between if space limited. Lightly brush both sides of each tortilla with neutral oil. Bake 8–12 minutes, flipping once halfway, until golden and crisp. Remove and let cool; they will harden as they rest.

When tortillas are crisp and slightly cooled, sprinkle about 2 tablespoons of vegan shredded cheese onto each tortilla. Return to the oven for 2–3 minutes just to gently melt the cheese (watch carefully so tortillas do not burn).

Finish each tostada by spooning charred corn and veggies on top, add a drizzle of vegan ancho crema, a generous spoonful of pico de gallo, extra cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.

Char and sauté vegetables

Heat a large cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan over high heat until very hot (2–3 minutes). Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and swirl. Add corn kernels in a single layer — let them sit without stirring for 2–3 minutes to develop char, then stir and allow additional 2–3 minutes until corn has several dark brown/black bits. Add diced red bell pepper, red onion, and minced jalapeño, stirring to combine. Cook 3–4 minutes more until vegetables are softened and slightly charred.

Reduce heat to medium, sprinkle in smoked paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir to coat and cook 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove from heat and set aside until assembly.

In a small bowl, whisk together vegan sour cream (or cashew yogurt), ancho chile powder, lime juice, maple syrup, garlic powder, and salt. If the crema is too thick for drizzling, whisk in 1 tablespoon water at a time until you reach a loose, pourable consistency. Refrigerate until ready to use. Taste and adjust lime or salt as needed.

Combine diced tomatoes, diced onion, chopped jalapeño, chopped cilantro, lime juice, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine and let rest 10–15 minutes at room temperature to allow flavors to meld. Taste and adjust lime or salt if needed.