Food Friday-Vegetarian Style!

I wanted to give some love to my vegetarian athletes and post a fun, simple recipe to offer up a creative way to add protein and vegetables while packing full flavor. 

Vegetarian Bean Tostadas

Ingredients: 

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 cup white onion chopped
• 2 tsp garlic, chopped
• 1/4 tsp ground cumin
• Pinto Beans or Black beans (I routinely make a batch every other week or so to have on hand but you can always use your favorite store brand, rinsed) 
• 2 Tbs Lemon Juice  

Heat the olive oil and saute the onion and garlic until soft.  Add in the cumin and the lemon juice along with the beans and stir and cook until warm.

I will take corn tortillas and steam them or warm them in the oven at 350 degrees while I am preparing the above.  Due to them being steamed the tostada will become more of a taco but I prefer them steamed than fried but you can use hard shells as well.

Once the corn tortillas are warmed topped with seasoned beans and you can top with just about anything. Here are some of my favorites:

• Romaine Lettuce
• Chopped Cucumbers, carrots, corn, peppers
• Shredded cabbage
• a light sprinkle of feta or cotija cheese
• diced mangoes, tomatoes, jicama, avocado, fresh lime, cilantro, mint, radishes
• mashed Butter nut squash can also serve as a base on the bottom

Really the sky is the limit with your flavors. If you have non-vegetarian friends or family you can also saute up some shrimp or grill some halibut in lime/lemon juice to make fish tacos.  This is a family favorite and is great for a hot summer night!

Happy Eating!