Crispy Chicken Tostada Food

CHICKEN TOSTADAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Place chicken into a frying pan over medium heat. Sprinkle with taco seasoning and cook until no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, 5 to 7 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• Spread a thin layer of refried beans onto each tostada shell; sprinkle each with Mexican cheese. Divide cooked chicken on top of cheese layer. Sprinkle tomato, red onion, and bell pepper evenly on top of each tostada. Place tostadas on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crispy, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove tostadas from the oven. Sprinkle with cilantro and spread salsa and sour cream on top.

SHREDDED CHICKEN TOSTADAS

Steps:

• Place chicken in a 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker. Sprinkle with taco seasoning; top with diced tomatoes and green chiles. Cook, covered, on low until a thermometer inserted into chicken reads 165°, 3-4 hours., Shred meat with 2 forks. Return to slow cooker and add salt; heat through. Serve on tostada shells with cheese and optional ingredients as desired., Pressure cooker option: Place 1/2 cup water in a 6-qt. electric pressure cooker. Add chicken and sprinkle with taco seasoning. Top with diced tomatoes and green chiles. Lock lid; close pressure-release valve. Adjust to pressure cook on high for 8 minutes. Let pressure release naturally for 10 minutes; quick-release any remaining pressure. A thermometer inserted into chicken should read at least 165°., Shred meat with 2 forks. Return to pressure cooker and add salt; heat through. Serve on tostada shells with cheese and optional toppings as desired., Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture and juices in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little water if necessary.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow dish and stir in the garlic. Slice the chicken into chunky slices, about 9.5cm long x 3-4cm wide. Lay the chicken in the dish and turn it over in the buttermilk so it is well coated. Leave in the fridge for 1-2 hrs, or preferably overnight.
• Meanwhile, heat a large, non-stick frying pan and tip in the panko crumbs and flour. Toast them in the pan for 2-3 mins, stirring regularly so they brown evenly and don't burn. Tip the crumb mix into a bowl and stir in the paprika, mustard, thyme, chilli powder, pepper and a pinch of fine sea salt. Set aside.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Line a baking tin with foil and sit a wire rack (preferably non-stick) on top. Transfer half the crumb mix to a medium-large plastic bag. Lift half the chicken from the buttermilk, leaving the marinade clinging to it. Transfer it to the bag of seasoned crumbs. Seal the end of the bag and give it a good shake so the chicken gets well covered (you could do all the crumbs and chicken together if you prefer, but it's easier to coat evenly in 2 batches).
• Remove the chicken from the bag. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then add the chicken pieces and fry for 1½ mins without moving them. Turn the chicken over, pour in another ½ tbsp of the oil to cover the base of the pan and fry for 1 min more, so both sides are becoming golden. Using tongs, transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining seasoned crumbs, oil and chicken.
• Bake all the chicken on the rack for 15 mins until cooked and crisp, then serve with the Crunchy coleslaw (see 'Goes well with', below right).