I do find it a little bit (or a lotta bit) hilarious that if you had asked me a couple of years ago what a chickpea was…I wouldn’t have had any idea (conversely, if you’d asked me what a garbanzo bean was, I would have had no trouble with that, so…yeah, there’s really no excuse). Of course, they’re the same thing. Chickpea is the English name for this nifty little legume, while “garbanzo”, the name I grew up with, is actually the Spanish name! Learn something new everyday, don’t you?
The great thing about chickpeas, though, isn’t just that they make great hummus. They can be found in a ton of other amazing dishes, and the majority of the time, they’re standing in for the protein, typically resulting in a healthier, lighter dish that’s also vegetarian.
Anyway…in this recipe, the chickpeas are standing in for your tostada protein of choice, be that chicken, beef, etc. Not only are they making the whole recipe a bit healthier, but they’re tasty as all get out. Essentially, you end up creating a chickpea-chipotle-spice mash that you can spread on the tostada, and then top as you like (salsa, avocado, cheese, tomatoes, and even sour cream, if that’s your jam). The chickpea chipotle mash, frankly, could probably go on a lot of things – in a taco in place of meat, or even on a tortilla with eggs for a little huevos rancheros mix-up (okay, I need to try that). 
To make a long story short, if you’re looking for a southwest-style meal heavy on flavor but light on your diet, this is a great place to start. Every member of our family gobbled these things up, and as with so many Mexican food recipes, one of the big benefits for a family is customization. Each person can top their tostada according to their personal preference, which typically results in happy campers all around. Enjoy!
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Vegetarian Chickpea Tostadas
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: Serves 6
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Ready in 30 minutes, these vibrant chickpea tostadas are a flavor-packed vegetarian meal.
Hearty and satisfying, theyre perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 12 six-inch corn tortillas
- 1 cups (237 ml) red bell pepper
- 1 cups (237 ml) onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 cans (15 oz) chickpeas
- 2 chipotle peppers in adobo
- 1 cups (237 ml) vegetable broth
- 0.5 cups (118 ml) cilantro
- 2 tbsp lime juice
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin
- lettuce
- 1/2 avocado
- 1 tomato
- Your favorite salsa
- shreeded cheese to taste
Instructions
- Coat a large skillet with cooking spray, heat to medium, and add bell pepper and onion.
- When tender (about 6 minutes), add garlic and cook for another minute, then add broth, cumin, salt, chipotle, and chickpeas.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 5 minutes.
- Mash mixture coarsely with a potato masher; you may wish to remove to a bowl for this step.
- Mix in cilantro and lime juice.
- Mix together sour cream and salsa in a small bowl.
- Lightly grill tortillas over open flame on gas stovetop, or spray with cooking spray and broil in the oven until lightly browned on each side (about 1 minute).
- Spread chickpea mixture on tortillas, spoon on salsa, and top as desired.
Notes
- For crispier tortillas, warm them on a dry skillet over medium heat for 1-2 minutes per side before adding the chickpea mixture.
- If you don’t have chipotle peppers, add a pinch of smoked paprika for a similar smoky flavor.
- Leftover chickpea mixture can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tostada
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 400
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 10
- Protein: 15
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I use instead of chickpeas if I want a different protein?
You can substitute chickpeas with black beans or lentils for a different flavor profile while keeping the dish vegetarian.
How do I make the chipotle spice mash for the tostadas?
To make the chipotle spice mash, mash the cooked chickpeas and mix in your preferred amount of chipotle seasoning until well combined.
What toppings work well with the chickpea tostadas?
You can top the tostadas with salsa, sliced avocado, shredded cheese, diced tomatoes, or even sour cream based on your taste preferences.
So good, turned out perfect!