Tostada (tortilla)

Tostada

Shrimp tostadas (Mexican style)
Course	Appetizer or snack
Place of origin	Mexico
Main ingredients	Tortillas

Tostada (/tɒˈstɑːdə/ or /toʊˈstɑːdə/; Spanish: [tosˈtaða]) is a Spanish word meaning "toasted". In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, it is the name of various local dishes which are toasted or use a toasted ingredient as the main base of their preparation.

In Mexican usage, tostada usually refers to a flat or bowl-shaped (like a bread bowl) tortilla that is deep fried or toasted. It may also refer to any dish using a tostada as a base. It can be consumed alone, or used a base for other foods. Corn tortillas are usually used for tostadas, although tostadas made of wheat flour may occasionally be found.

The tostada avoids waste when tortillas are not fresh enough to be made into tacos, but fresh enough to be eaten, just like stale bread can be eaten as toast. The tortilla can be eaten fried or raw, even in dough form. The tortilla is fried in boiling oil until it becomes golden, rigid and crunchy, rather like a slice of toasted bread. Commercial tostadas—similar in taste and consistency to tortilla chips—are also widely available nowadays.