Much like an open-faced sandwich or pizza, tostadas usually have a base of corn, sometimes flour tortillas that are toasted, usually by frying in oil, but can also be toasted on a grill or griddle, resulting in easier preparation and a much healthier version without sacrificing taste. What makes for great-tasting tostadas is the toppings with a variety of flavorful condiments such as beans, cheese, crema fresca (somewhat like crème fraîche), sour cream, chopped cabbage, or lettuce, sweet onions, jalapeños, guacamole, and salsa.

CHICKEN CHIPOTLE TOSTADA
From George Hirsch Living it UP!
chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

Makes 4
4 6-inch Flour tortillas or very fresh corn tortillas
2 Tablespoons olive oil for tortillas
2 Chicken breasts, marinated, grilled, and thinly sliced
1/4 cup monetary jack cheese, shredded

Optional toppings: Pureed pinto beans, chopped sweet onions, finely shredded cabbage or lettuce, sliced jalapeños, guacamole, tomatillo sauce, salsa, crema fresca or crème fraîche, or sour cream.

For The Chicken Marinade:
Juice of two limes
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 oz Tequila
2 Tablespoons cilantro
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 Tablespoon chipotle hot sauce
1 teaspoon cumin

Combine all marinade ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well. Pour over chicken, cover, and refrigerate for two hours.

Preheat the grill or griddle to medium-high.

Grill chicken 4-5 minutes each side or until done. Do not overcook. After grilling and cooling chicken breasts, slice them into small pieces.

For the Chipotle Sauce:
1/4 cup orange juice
2 Tablespoons barbeque sauce
1 Tablespoon chipotle hot sauce
1 Tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

Mix all ingredients in a small pot, simmer for 3 minutes, and cool.

To Assemble Tostadas:

Lay tortillas flat and brush with olive oil, top with pureed pinto beans, sliced grilled chicken, cheese, chipotle sauce, and cilantro.

Place the Tostada on the grill or griddle on medium/ low heat, or bake it in a preheated 375-degree F oven.

Bake for 2-3 minutes, remove when cheese melts and tortillas are light brown.

Serve with fresh cilantro, wedges of fresh limes, and your favorite toppings such as chopped sweet onions, finely shredded cabbage or lettuce, jalapeños, guacamole, tomatillo sauce, salsa, crema fresca, or sour cream.

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I’m getting into dangerous territory here, because I’m talking pork Q. There is nothing I like better than a slow cooked smoked pork shoulder or butt, served with a soft piece of bread and a vinegary sauce. Sounds good, doesn't it? However, you’ll have to wait five plus hours for the real deal or jump in the car and head to your favorite smokehouse. Here’s a solution. Whip-up my BBQ Pork Sandwich as a snack while you slowly cook-up a pork shoulder.

It’s a winner! The trick is in a little advanced planning by applying a dry rub on a tender pork tenderloin for 24 hours, then quickly grill for 15-25 minutes! A crowd pleaser, many times. Enjoy!

George Hirsch's Pork BBQ Sandwich

Makes six servings

chefgeorgehirsch.com | George Hirsch Lifestyle

1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds pork tenderloin

1/4 cup Pork Rub

2 Tablespoons olive oil

6 soft rolls or hamburger buns

1 1/2 cups shredded cabbage

1 cup Q Sauce

Dry rub the pork tenderloin. Rub pork spices over pork tenderloin and refrigerate until ready to cook*. (*If time permits, putting the rub on one day prior or two hours before cooking will really increase the flavor)

PORK RUB

2 Teaspoons each; powdered garlic, paprika

1 Tablespoon each; black pepper, rosemary, thyme, Chipotle rub

Q SAUCE

1/4 cup BBQ Sauce

1/4 cup Steak Sauce

1/4 cup Hoisen sauce (Chinese BBQ sauce)

2 Tablespoons ketchup

2 Tablespoons cider vinegar

Mix all ingredients. Serve sauce warm or at room temperature.

TIP: To cut cooking time in half, butterfly the meat. Use skewers to keep the meat from curling up.

To Cook Pork:

Pre Heat Grill to high heat.

Rub olive oil over pork tenderloin. Place pork tenderloins on high heat and grill to golden brown turning once on all sides. Lower heat to medium, cook until pork is fully cooked about 15-25 minutes* (see *Tip). Remove from grill and let meat rest 5 minutes before slicing.

Slice pork tenderloin very thin, pile high on soft buns. Drizzle Q Sauce over meat, top with finely shredded cabbage.

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13 EPISODES on 4 HD-DVD Disk Set, season one