Chipotle Fish Tostadas

Yield: Makes 6 servings

Ingredients

• 3  quarts water
• 2  teaspoons  kosher salt, divided
• 1  medium onion, quartered
• 3  garlic cloves, smashed
• 1/2  teaspoon  dried oregano
• 1  bay leaf
• 1/2  bunch fresh cilantro, tied with string
• 2  pounds  firm white fish fillets
• 2  tablespoons  olive oil
• 4  garlic cloves, pressed
• 1  (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
• 2  to 3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, seeded, finely chopped, and divided
• 1/4  teaspoon  ground cloves
• 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
• 1  tablespoon  fresh lime juice
• 2/3  cup  mayonnaise
• 2  teaspoons  adobo sauce from chipotle chiles in adobo
• 1  cup  vegetable oil
• 12  corn tortillas
• 6  cups  shredded iceberg lettuce
• 2  avocados, sliced
• Garnishes: fresh cilantro, lime wedges

Preparation

Bring first 7 ingredients to a boil in a 6-quart Dutch oven. Add fish, reduce heat, and simmer 3 minutes. Drain well, reserving fish but discarding onion, garlic, bay leaf, and cilantro. Flake fish, and set aside.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pressed garlic cloves, and sauté 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, 1 or 2 chopped chipotle chiles, cloves, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon lime juice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Process tomato mixture in a blender until smooth; return to skillet. Add fish to tomato mixture, and cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Remove from heat, cover, and keep warm.

Stir remaining chipotle chile into mayonnaise. Stir in 2 teaspoons adobo sauce until blended.

Heat vegetable oil in a 9-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Fry tortillas, one at a time, in hot oil 1 minute or until richly browned and crisp, turning once or twice. Drain on paper towels.

Spread chipotle mayonnaise evenly on tortillas. Top each tortilla with 1/3 cup fish mixture, 1/2 cup lettuce, and avocado slices. Garnish, if desired.

Note: Try this recipe with rotisserie chicken in place of the fish for a quick weeknight dinner.