Meet Alex Caspero
Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Plant-Based Chef and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.
Smoky Black Bean Tostadas! Black bean and spinach filling topped with a smoky paprika sauce. Vegan and gluten-free.
Living in California for the past 7 years, I’ve come to know a thing or two about Mexican food:
1. I could eat it just about every single day and not get tired of it.
2. Pass the guac.
I’ve also learned that Mexican food tends to get a bad rap for being unhealthy, which is understandable considering that most restaurants serve everything covered in cheese, loaded with sour cream, and all-you-can-eat tortilla chips. Delicious? You bet (and essential after one too many cocktails the night before). Healthy? Not even a little.
Lightened up Mexican fare, here we go.
These tostadas are crazy good! A faux-fried corn tortilla piled high with smoky black bean & spinach filling and topped with a smoked paprika-lime sauce. You know I am a sucker for sauce, and this one does not disappoint. Smoky, citrusy and creamy. Forget the cheese and sour cream, this sauce is all you need.
The real star of this dish is the generous use of smoked paprika. I love the lightly spiced flavor of smoked spanish paprika and have been known to add it to just about every dish I make (ah-mazing on scrambled eggs). There are a few spices that I think are worth spending a little extra dough on, and smoked spanish paprika is definitely one of them. I picked up a few of these containers when we were in Barcelona last year and have been savoring every shake. It’s also a night and day difference compared to the regular paprika I was using. Convert! Your taste buds will thank you.
To keep these on the way healthy side, let’s faux fry the tortillas instead of deep frying them. Same awesome flavor, none of the fat! Aha! Trickery. If you aren’t in a faux fry kinda mood, then just bake your corn tortillas like you normally would or wrap things up in a flour tortilla or lettuce wrap! You can get as healthy as your heart desires.
To keep the fresh flavor explosion going, make sure to add fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice! Healthy Mexican food! You are the best.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and tag your Instagram photos with #delishknowledge . I absolutely love seeing your creations. Happy cooking!
Print
Smoky Black Bean Tostadas
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 tostadas 1x
- Category: entree, dinner, healthy,
- Cuisine: Mexican
Description
Weeknight comfort food! Cheesy polenta bowl topped with roasted tomatoes and mushrooms. Vegan and Gluten-Free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 tostadas 1x
- Category: entree, dinner, healthy,
- Cuisine: Mexican
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 tostadas 1x
- Category: entree, dinner, healthy,
- Cuisine: Mexican
Scale
Ingredients
- 5 cloves garlic, divided
- 1 lime
- 2 tbsp. mayo ( I like Veganaise for a dairy-free version)
- 2 tsp. smoked paprika, divided
- 2 tsp. olive oil, divided
- 4 corn tortillas
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 3 cups spinach leaves
- 1 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
- 2 roasted red peppers (or piquillo peppers), diced
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Finely mince (I use a microplane) 1 clove garlic. Place the garlic in a small bowl and whisk in the mayo, 1 tsp. smoked paprika, and juice of 1 lime. Season to taste with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
- Lightly grease a sheet pan with 1/2 tsp. olive oil. Place the tortillas on the sheet pan and drizzle with the other 1/2 tsp. olive oil, coating both sides. Bake for 5-6 minutes until golden, flipping halfway through. Remove from oven when done and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. oil and the finely diced onion. Cook for 5 minutes until soft and translucent.
- Finely mince the remaining 4 garlic cloves and add to the skillet, cook for 30 seconds and add the spinach leaves.
- Add the black beans, chopped roasted red pepper and 1 tsp. smoked paprika to the skillet, stirring occasionally until the beans are heated through. Using a wooden spoon, potato masher, or fork, lightly mash 1/2 of the beans and stir into the spinach.
- Assemble! Divide the spinach-bean mixture on the tortillas and top with the paprika sauce and chopped cilantro.
did you make this?
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Ready for more smoke and spice? Enjoy the roundup below from healthy living bloggers for this month’s Recipe Redux link-up!
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(20 comments) leave a comment
Yummmmm…..looks so good! We eat a lot of Mexican food in our house–very healthy and usually quick to whip up. (pics are beautiful, too :))
Oh man, these look amazing!! The sauce sounds crazy good and I can never get enough cilantro!
Me either! I used to hate it as a kid but now I pile it on everything!
Mexican.. yes please! I’ve never met a Mexican dish I didn’t like, these sound great! Margaritas and Mexican, #winwin!
This is why we are friends. I can’t imagine mexican food without margs or tequila. Seriously.
Yes! Rule #2 is essential! I love making healthier homemade Mexican food at home. Smoked paprika is one of my new favorite spices. It really takes a recipe up a notch.
This recipe looks utterly delicious! I agree with you, you can’t go wrong with Mexican food.
These sound and look great!
so. goooooooooooooooooooooooooood.
Gorgeous photos! The tostadas look so vibrant, and sound oh so delicious. Pass the guac, please 😉
Yummm! Looks delish. Love all the cilantro on top too!
I’m with you and could eat Mexican food all day. Love the combo of ingredients in your gorgeous recipe!