Tacos, Tostadas, Tlayudas & Real tacos Vs Taco like identity thieves and the nature of black holes.

Nasa defines a blak hole as " a place in space where gravity pulls so strongly that even light can not get out. The gravity is so strong because matter has been squeezed into a tiny space. This can happen when a star is dying." I find this to be a perfect metaphor for the "North American Taco-Like food"

As has been established in my previous post Tacos = The light (delight) and today we will talk about  their worst enemy - culinary black holes. 

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A real taco is comprised of a warm corn tortilla and whatever concoction you want to add.  Though you can add cold or not-warm ingredients  to a taco, such as guacamole or chicharron & Salsa.  Mexican people ussually see tacos as a warm meal.

Tostadas on the other hand are hardened tortillas that are ussually cold (or not warmed) and are depending on the region used to build a fresh food assembly.  Most recipes for tostadas use a soft base like guacamole, frijoles refritos, crema fresca or salsa and then have a second layer of "Guisado" and are then topped with cabbage, lettuce cheese, cream radishes and or many other garnishes.
Tostadas are really popular in coastal towns where one can have a fresh cool meal most times involving some sort of fresh seafood, like Ceviche, Camarones and even cangrejo.

These two dishes are radically different and have completely different languages, flavour landscapes and cooking techniques. In some places Tostadas are more important than tacos. They can be fried, baked, dried, small, big depending on where you are.
There is even a Super-tostada from the Oaxaca region called Tlayudas . with an even more nuanced culinary technique and grilled meats to boot.

There is a confusion that Taco -like-foods have profited from for decades. Corporate Taco like foods Exercise a thin veiled cultural vagueness that takes elements of the tostada and elements of the taco in the same mashup meal.

From the Tostada it takes the hardened tortilla-like "hard shell" and the fresher elements like lettuce or cabbage, ETC.  And from the taco it takes the name and the warm ingredients. 
However there is SO MUCH that this mashup meal leaves to be desired. It does not have the satisfying bite qualities of a tortilla ( which we will never again call a "Shell") +cilantro$onion nor does it deliver the delicious crisp and fresh bite of the Tostada and it's soft saucy company. This nuance-less meal also forgets the hundreds, NO, thousands of kinds of tacos there are in Mexico and it renders three thousand years of tradition into a processed-food- nightmare.  NO we shall never bow to it's imperial oppressive ways.


I urge every single one of you to get tortillas from the market. Follow a Mexican recipe  and fill your belly with reality.

Here is a quick recipe that my mom was fond of for a quick Tostada even your kids will like

Ingredients:

-1 can of tuna in water (not in oil) 
-2 tablespoons of Mayonaise  ( use the real shit)
-1/2 an onion minced
-1/2 a tomato minced
- pack of Tostadas ( easy to get a most supermarkets)  
- Salsa Valentina (careful with the kids) 


1- Mix Tuna, mayo, onion and tomato in a bowl until they are one with the force. 
2.- Spread mix on tostada. 
3.- Add Salsa Valentina
4.- eat. 

Notice how it DID NOT SAY HOT SAUCE! I SAID! salsa valentina. 

For children, make sure they can handle the spice they add but don't let them be afraid of it.



Eat these basic Tostadas and rejoice as you step away from the dark side and closer into the light of Tacoism.