Tostadas with Shredded Pork (Tostadas de Tinga)

NOTES: You can fry the tortillas (step 1) up to 2 hours ahead; store airtight. Or use purchased fried corn tortillas (tostadas) from a Mexican market. Use a mild, moist, slightly salty cheese such as Mexican queso fresco or farmer's cheese, or ricotta salata, from a supermarket.

Yield: MAKES: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil for frying
• 2  dozen corn tortillas (5 to 6 in. wide; see notes)
• 2  quarts finely shredded cabbage (1 1/4 lb.)
• 1/2  cup  thinly sliced radishes
• 1/3  cup  lime juice
• Salt and pepper
• 6  cups  hot refried black or pinto beans (purchased or homemade)
• Shredded pork
• About 1 1/2 cups chipotle salsa
• About 1 1/2 cups sour cream, Mexican crema, or crème fraîche
• 8  ounces  queso fresco or farmer's cheese, crumbled (see notes)
• 2  avocados (8 oz. each), peeled, pitted, and thinly sliced, or 2 to 3 cups guacamole

Preparation

1. Pour 1/2 inch oil into an 8- to 10-inch frying pan over medium-high heat. When the edge of a tortilla bubbles vigorously when dipped in the oil, slip tortilla into pan. Cook tortilla, pushing down into oil occasionally and turning over once, until lightly browned, about 1 minute total. Lift out with tongs and transfer to paper towel-lined baking sheets to drain. Repeat to cook remaining tortillas; set in a single layer. As they cool, stack.

2. In a bowl, mix cabbage, radishes, and lime juice. Add salt and pepper to taste.

3. Spoon cabbage mixture, refried beans, shredded pork, chipotle salsa, sour cream, cheese, and avocados into separate bowls. Serve with crisp-fried tortillas for guests to assemble their own tostadas: Spread beans on a tortilla, then add pork, cabbage, salsa, sour cream, cheese, and avocado to taste.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

238 (56% from fat)

Protein:

27g

Fat:

33g (sat 11)

Carbohydrate:

33g

Fiber:

3.5g

Sodium:

886mg

Cholesterol:

76mg