Zesty Homemade Tostadas de Tinga Recipe for Taco Night Magic

Those crispy tostadas de tinga have been my go-to comfort meal since I learned the recipe from my aunt in puebla.

Her secret blend of smoky chipotle and tender chicken creates magic on a plate.

Every bite tells a story of traditional mexican flavors dancing together.

Shredded chicken simmered in a rich tomato sauce brings depth and warmth to these crunchy corn tortillas.

Layers of texture and taste make this dish irresistible for weeknight dinners or casual gatherings.

Simple ingredients come together in a way that surprises and delights.

You’ll want to savor each bite and share this delectable dish with everyone around your table.

What Makes Tostadas De Tinga Recipe A Bold Bite

• Quick Weeknight Dinner Savior: Whip up these tostadas in under 30 minutes, making it a perfect solution for busy families craving a delicious Mexican-inspired meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Flavor Explosion in Every Bite: The combination of smoky chipotle peppers, aromatic spices, and tender shredded chicken creates a mouthwatering filling that transforms simple tostadas into an exciting culinary experience.
• Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe to suit different tastes by adding your favorite toppings like fresh avocado, crema, queso fresco, or a sprinkle of cilantro, making it a versatile dish that pleases everyone at the table.
• Meal Prep Champion: Prepare the chicken tinga ahead of time and store in the refrigerator, allowing for quick assembly of tostadas throughout the week or for impromptu gatherings with friends and family.

Ingredients Needed For Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

• Chicken: Shredded chicken as the primary protein for the tinga sauce, preferably using white meat for a lighter texture.
• Chicken Broth: Provides moisture and deepens the flavor profile of the sauce.

• Onions, Garlic: Foundational flavor builders that create a robust base for the tinga sauce, adding depth and complexity.

• Tomatoes: Fresh tomatoes create a rich, tangy sauce base with natural sweetness.
• Chipotle Peppers: Adds smoky heat and signature spiciness to the tinga sauce.
• Oregano: Provides an herbal, earthy note to complement the other spices.
• Cumin: Introduces a warm, slightly nutty flavor typical in Mexican cuisine.
• Salt: Enhances and balances all the other flavor elements in the dish.

• Oil: Helps sauté vegetables and prevent sticking, contributes to overall cooking process.

How To Build Tostadas De Tinga Recipe At Home

Step 1: Sauté Aromatic Base

• Warm a generous splash of oil in a spacious skillet over medium heat
• Gently cook chopped onions until they become translucent and soft
• Add minced garlic and let it release its fragrant aroma for about 30 seconds

Step 2: Create Vibrant Sauce

• Ripe tomatoes
• Smoky chipotle peppers
• Dried oregano
• Ground cumin
• Salt

Add these ingredients to the pan and let them simmer and meld together for approximately 5 minutes, allowing the tomatoes to soften and break down

Step 3: Blend Sauce to Perfection

Transfer the simmered mixture to a blender

Pour in chicken broth to help create a smooth consistency

Blend until the sauce reaches your desired texture – completely smooth or slightly chunky

Step 4: Incorporate Shredded Chicken

Return the blended sauce to the skillet

Fold in tender, shredded chicken

Let the chicken simmer in the sauce for 5-10 minutes, absorbing all the delicious flavors

Step 5: Assemble Tostadas

Spread the spicy chicken mixture onto crispy tostada shells

Top with your favorite garnishes like fresh cilantro, crumbled cheese, or sliced avocado.

Tips For Crispy Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

• Shred Chicken Like a Pro: Use two forks to pull apart cooked chicken into thin, even strands for the perfect tinga texture.
• Control Spice Level Wisely: Adjust chipotle peppers based on your heat tolerance; start with less and add gradually to find your ideal spiciness.
• Crisp Tostada Shells Perfectly: Brush corn tortillas with a thin layer of oil and bake at 375°F for 5-7 minutes until golden and crispy for a healthier alternative to deep-frying.
• Customize Toppings Creatively: Mix up traditional garnishes by adding sliced avocado, crumbled queso fresco, or pickled red onions for extra flavor and texture.
• Meal Prep Friendly: Cook chicken tinga in larger batches and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, making quick weeknight meals a breeze.

Storage Tips For Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

• Refrigerate leftover chicken tinga in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Keep the tostada shells separate to prevent soggy texture.
• Freeze the chicken mixture in sealed containers for convenient meal prep, lasting up to 3 months.
• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating gently in a skillet to maintain the rich, smoky flavor.

What Works Well With Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

• Pair with Zesty Margarita: Blend the smoky, spicy chicken tinga with a classic margarita featuring fresh lime juice, tequila, and a salted rim. The citrusy cocktail cuts through the rich, bold flavors of the tostada.
• Complement with Mexican Lager: Crack open a crisp, light Mexican beer like Modelo Especial or Pacifico. Its clean, refreshing taste balances the intense, spicy chicken tinga and cleanses the palate between bites.
• Match with Tangy Slaw: Serve alongside a crunchy cabbage slaw dressed with lime juice, cilantro, and a touch of jalapeño. The bright, acidic side dish provides a cool contrast to the warm, spicy tostada toppings.
• Cool Down with Horchata: Sip on a creamy, sweet horchata made from rice, cinnamon, and vanilla. Its smooth, mild flavor helps temper the heat from the chipotle peppers in the chicken tinga.

Flavor Boosts For Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

• Smoky Pork Tostadas: Replace chicken with slow-cooked pulled pork, maintaining the chipotle and tomato base for a rich, deep flavor profile.
• Seafood Sensation: Swap chicken for tender shrimp or white fish, adjusting cooking time to prevent overcooking and preserving the signature spicy sauce.
• Vegetarian Verde: Use black beans or roasted jackfruit as a protein substitute, keeping the original spice blend and cooking method for a plant-based alternative.
• Spicy Green Option: Incorporate roasted poblano peppers and swap chipotle for green chilies, creating a lighter yet equally zesty tostada topping.

FAQ Roundup For Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

• What makes Chicken Tinga unique from other Mexican chicken dishes?

Chicken Tinga stands out because of its smoky chipotle peppers and rich tomato sauce, which give it a complex, spicy flavor that’s different from traditional chicken preparations.

• Can I use a different type of meat for this recipe?

While chicken is traditional, you can easily substitute shredded pork or beef for a similar taste and texture in tostadas de tinga.

• How spicy is Chicken Tinga?

The spice level depends on the number of chipotle peppers you use. Start with fewer peppers if you’re sensitive to heat, and you can always add more to increase the spiciness.

• Is Chicken Tinga a complicated dish to prepare?

Not at all! This recipe is actually quite simple, requiring basic cooking skills and just a few steps of sautéing, blending, and simmering the sauce with chicken.

Tostadas De Tinga Recipe

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4.8 from 13 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Spicy Mexican tostadas de tinga bring sizzling chicken flavor to your dinner table. Crisp tortillas topped with shredded chicken, zesty chipotle sauce, and fresh garnishes create a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 2 cups (473 ml) cooked, shredded chicken (rotisserie or boiled)

Main Sauce and Spices:

• 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) cumin
• ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) salt
• ½ cup (118 ml) chicken broth

Cooking and Preparation Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil
• ½ cup (118 ml) white onion, thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 8 tostada shells (store-bought or homemade)
• 1 cup (237 ml) refried beans (optional, for spreading)
• ½ cup (118 ml) shredded lettuce
• ½ cup (118 ml) crumbled queso fresco (or feta)
• ½ cup (118 ml) sour cream or Mexican crema
• 1 avocado, sliced
• ¼ cup (59 ml) chopped fresh cilantro
• Lime wedges for serving

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Instructions

1. Craft a vibrant base by sautéing finely chopped onions in a skillet until they turn translucent and release their aromatic sweetness.
2. Introduce minced garlic to the pan, stirring quickly to prevent burning and allowing its pungent essence to bloom.
3. Pour in ripe, crushed tomatoes and create a robust sauce by incorporating smoky chipotle peppers, fragrant oregano, earthy cumin, and a pinch of salt.
4. Simmer the mixture, allowing the ingredients to meld and develop a rich, complex flavor profile for approximately 5 minutes.
5. Transform the sauce by blending with chicken broth, creating a smooth consistency or maintaining a rustic, chunky texture as desired.
6. Return the sauce to the pan and gently fold in tender, shredded chicken, ensuring each strand is lovingly coated with the spicy, smoky sauce.
7. Let the chicken tinga simmer and absorb the vibrant flavors, allowing the sauce to thicken and intensify for 5-10 minutes.
8. The result should be a succulent, deeply flavored chicken mixture ready to crown your crispy tostada shells.

Notes

• Achieve the perfect sauce consistency by blending the tomato mixture to your preferred smoothness, ranging from slightly chunky to completely smooth.
• For a leaner version, swap chicken thighs with chicken breast, but be careful not to overcook to maintain moisture and tenderness.
• Enhance the smoky flavor by roasting the tomatoes and chipotle peppers briefly before creating the sauce, which deepens the overall taste profile.
• Prepare the chicken tinga ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify for even more delicious results.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
• Method: Simmering
• Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 310
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 480 mg
• Fat: 14 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 18 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg