Tostadas De Cueritos

Tostadas de cueritos are a delicious Mexican appetizer perfect to enjoy any day of the week. This recipe features a crispy tortilla topped with pickled pork skins, refried beans and vegetables.

this recipe

What are tostadas?

Tostada (single) is a simple corn tortilla with a crispy texture. Think of a taco shell but in a flat format. To get the crunchy texture for tostadas, tortillas can be fried or baked.

If you live in Mexico or some parts of the US, you probably have seen tostadas at many Latino American supermarkets sold in packs and ready to pile your favourite ingredients. But, if you don’t have access to those store-bought tostadas, you can make them at home using regular corn tortillas.

If you haven’t tried Mexican pickled pork skins (cueritos) you don’t know what are you missing! And let me tell you that tostadas de cueritos is for sure the perfect dish to try them.

This dish is often served as a botana (Mexican snacks) alongside with cocktails or beer. It usually prepared only with a tostada and the cueritos mixed with tomatoes, onions and chilies. A simple and delicious snack that go perfect with micheladas or margaritas.

The ingredients needed

• TOSTADA SHELLS: You can make your own tostada shells following the instructions below, or you can buy tostada shells at any Latin American grocery store or Amazon. It doesn’t matter what type of tostada you choose, such as unsalted, low carb, baked (low calories), etc. 
• CUERITOS: My option here was the homemade cueritos (pickled pork skin) I made some days ago, but you can also buy a medium jar from the store. Again, you can find those at many Latin American or Mexican stores.
• BEANS: Refried beans is what I used for this recipe. You can also use a can of refried beans from your favorite brand or just leave them out.
• VEGGIES: To make tostadas de cueritos you will need fresh, firm tomatoes, onions, shredded lettuce, and some avocado slices.
• SALSA: Mexican bottled hot salsa is my first option, if I don’t have store-bought salsa I always make a quick Valentina. Below I’ll leave you a couple options for salsa too.
• FLAVORS: Lime juice, chopped cilantro and hot chili peppers. You can use jalapeños, serranos, or also pickled chilies.

Making the tostadas

Start by dicing cueritos, you’ll need about 2 cups for this recipe. Dicing the pickled pork skins is optional, I like to do it because they’re more easy to eat on a tostada.

Now, place cueritos on a bowl and add diced tomatoes, diced onions and chopped serrano peppers (you can also use jalapeños). Add a bunch of chopped cilantro and the juice of one lime. Season with salt and mix to combine.

PRO TIP: If you using homemade cueritos, add a splash of the brine to the mixture!

Assemble tostadas

• Spread a layer of refried beans over the tostada shell.
• Top with some shredded lettuce.
• Spoonful some cueritos mixture.
• Finish with sliced avocado on top and hot sauce.

BONUS: How To Make Homemade Tostadas

Craving tostadas de cueritos but you don’t have any tostada shells at home? Make your own using corn tortillas (homemade or store-bought). Here’s how you can do them.

Fried Tostada Shells:

1. Heat 1/3 cup of vegetable oil (such as canola, corn, sunflower) in a small pan.
2. Place one corn tortilla at time and fry both sides until golden and crispy.
3. Place the fried tortilla on a plate lined with paper towels to absorb the excess of oil.
4. Allow to cool before making your tostadas de cueritos.

Baked Tostada Shells:

1. Brush both sides of corn tortillas with a little bit of vegetable oil.
2. Place tortillas in one single layer on a baking sheet pan.
3. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and bake tortillas for about 5 minutes.
4. Flip tortillas and keep baking until golden and crispy (from 5 to 8 minutes).

Did you like this tostadas de cueritos recipe? Try our tostadas de pollo made with a delicious spiced chicken and topped with Mexican red pickled onions. Or you can also take a look to our chorizo tostada recipe with guacamole salsa.

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