Smoky Black Bean Tostadas

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! 

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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!