Zucchini Tostadas with Chorizo

As I write this, four giant zucchini are mocking me from my refrigerator. It is imperative that something be done about them so that I can clear the way for the apple and pumpkin season. As I am not one to waste food, it is time to get creative.

A simple search for zucchini on Pinterest brings up hundreds of interesting ideas. Stuffed, fried, baked, sweet, savory and just plain weird...you can find it all. One idea that caught my eye was for a zucchini pizza casserole that used a combination of zucchini and cheese for the crust. Baked cheese? This had possibilities.

Of course I had to come up with something a little different and, since the hubby was in the mood for Mexican food, I decided to transform the idea into...wait for it....as if you couldn't guess from the picture....Tostadas!

I swear it's starting to multiply in my fridge.

Zucchini Tostadas with Chorizo

Printable Recipe

Tostadas:
4 cups shredded zucchini

½ teaspoon salt

2 eggs, slightly beaten

2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese

½ cup grated Parmesan Cheese

2 teaspoons Mexican seasoning

Toppings:

3-4 chorizo sausages, casings removed

2 cups shredded lettuce

1 avocado, diced

2 medium tomatoes, diced

½ cup sour cream

½ cup sliced black olives

1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

¼ cup chopped cilantro

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F; line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Place the zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with ½ teaspoon salt. Let the zucchini stand for 10 minutes. Squeeze as much liquid from the zucchini as possible and place in a large bowl.  Add the eggs, cheeses, and Mexican seasoning. Stir together until well-blended.

Make sure to squeeze out all of the excess moisture...there's a lot of water in there!

Divide the zucchini mixture into 6 portions onto the parchment paper (a scant ½ cup each). Use a spatula to spread each portion into a 5-inch circle. Bake the zucchini for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and gently turn each portion over. Continue to bake for another 15 to 20 minutes or until firm and golden

.

While the zucchini is baking, break the sausage up into a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes. Drain and set aside.

To assemble, place the zucchini tostadas on individual serving plates. Layer each tostada with an equal portion of lettuce, sausage, avocado, diced tomato, sour cream, olives, and cheese. Garnish with cilantro and serve.

Aren't these fun? Of course, you can add or subtract any toppings you want...my daughter had the tostada with just salsa.

The "tostadas" were not crisp, but they weren't rubbery either. I was surprised at how good they tasted...must be all of the cheese. My husband and my daughter both gobbled them up and put in a request for more, so I guess this recipe is a keeper!

What do you make with your zucchini?