Beef and Bean Tostados

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
• 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 350 g of ground beef
• Coarse salt
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp chili powder (See the recipe for the chili pepper spice mix here)
• 450 g canned baked beans in tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup sour cream
• 8 corn taco tortillas (flat, hard tortillas made from coarsely ground cornmeal)
• 1.5 tbsp. coarsely grated Monterey Jack cheese or any semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk
• Julienned lettuce leaves, hot sauce, cilantro or parsley, for sprinkling

Preparation:

1. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the ground beef and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and cook, breaking up the meat with a spatula, for about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and chili powder and continue cooking, stirring, for another 2 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, reheat the beans in the microwave. Dilute the sour cream with 2 tablespoons of water.
3. Layer beans, ground beef, and cheese on corn tortillas. Top the tostados with sour cream, lettuce, hot sauce, and parsley.