Vegetable Tostadas With Dark Chili Garlic Sauce Food

VEGETABLE TOSTADAS WITH DARK CHILI-GARLIC SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the salsa. Place the ancho chilies in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Place a plate on top so that chilies stay submerged. Soak for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast the garlic cloves in their skins in a dry skillet, stirring, until there are black spots here and there on the skin, the flesh has softened somewhat, and your kitchen smells like toasted garlic. Remove from the heat, allow to cool and remove the skins. Cut away the root end of each clove.
• Drain the soaked chili. Transfer to a blender and add the garlic and chipotle, along with .5 cup of the water. Blend until smooth. Place a strainer over a bowl and strain the sauce.
• Heat a heavy medium saucepan or skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Add a spoonful of the purée to see if the pan is hot enough. If it sizzles loudly on contact, pour all of the purée into the pan; if it doesn't, wait a couple of minutes and try again. Cook, stirring, until the sauce thickens and begins to stick to the pan. Add the remaining water, the vinegar, sugar, and salt to taste, and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring, until the sauce has the consistency of ketchup. Add more water if necessary. Taste, adjust salt, and remove from the heat.
• Steam the carrots, turnips and green beans until tender, about 5 minutes. Add to the sauce along with the sweet potatoes and corn, and stir gently until the vegetables are coated. Heat through in the saucepan and spoon onto the toasted tortillas. Sprinkle with the cheese, cabbage or lettuce, and optional onions, and serve.

GRILLED VEGETABLE TOSTADAS WITH TWO SALSAS

Steps:

• To make the tomatillo salsa:
• Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté 5 minutes. Add tomatillos; sauté 3 minutes. Add broth. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until tomatillos are soft, about 8 minutes.
• Blend tomatillo mixture and cilantro in food processor until almost smooth. Transfer to bowl. Mix in chili powder. Season with hot pepper sauce and salt. Cover; chill up to 2 days.
• To make the tomato-chili salsa:
• Place chilies in bowl. Cover with hot water. Soak until soft, about 20 minutes. Drain. Cut open; scrape out seeds. Cut off stems and coarsely chop chilies.
• Blanch tomatoes in boiling water for 20 seconds. Drain and peel. Cut in half; squeeze out seeds. Chop tomatoes.
• Combine chilies and 3/4 cup tomatoes in processor; puree until smooth. Transfer to bowl. Mix in remaining tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, garlic, sugar and cumin. Season with salt. Cover; chill up to 1 day.
• To make the tortillas:
• Line baking sheet with paper towels. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tortilla; fry until crisp and golden, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer tortilla to paper towels and drain. Repeat frying and draining with remaining tortillas.
• To make the grilled vegetables:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Mix olive oil, garlic, chili powder and salt in large bowl. Pour 1/4 cup oil mixture into small bowl and reserve. Add zucchini, bell peppers and eggplant to oil mixture in large bowl; toss to coat.
• Grill zucchini, bell peppers and eggplant in batches until light brown, about 3 minutes per side. Place on baking sheet. Cover with foil. Brush mushrooms and onion rounds with reserved 1/4 cup oil mixture. Grill until light brown, about 3 minutes per side. Place on baking sheet with other vegetables.
• Meanwhile, transfer tortillas to clean baking sheet and rewarm in oven until hot, about 5 minutes.
• Place 1 tortilla on each plate. Top with vegetables. Serve with salsas.

GRILLED-VEGETABLE TOSTADAS

Steps:

• Heat grill to high; lightly oil grates. In separate piles, arrange zucchini, mushrooms, and scallions on a baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Working in batches if necessary, remove each pile of vegetables from baking sheet. Grill, turning once, until lightly browned and tender, 2 minutes for scallions, 6 minutes for mushrooms, and 8 minutes for zucchini. Return all vegetables to baking sheet. Slice mushrooms into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Set aside.
• Brush tortillas with remaining tablespoon oil; grill, turning frequently, until browned and very crispy, about 2 minutes. Place 1 tortilla on each serving plate; cover evenly with mushrooms and zucchini. Using kitchen shears, snip scallions over vegetables. Top with salsa, and sprinkle with feta; serve with lime wedges, if desired.