Wait, what? It's true, it'll be tough to get these Avocado Hummus and Cucumber Pico de Gallo Tostadas delivered to your cabana on the Mayan Riviera.
Combining avocado with chickpeas might be a misdemeanor offense in certain parts of Mexico, but this combo is becoming more common when North of the Border and you can consider me a convert.
How To Make Vegan Avocado Hummus Tostadas
Avocado Hummus is so addictive it's hard to believe it's good for you, but it is. Because, well, avocados!
You may have to take a leap of faith because the ingredient list will probably look wonky to you at first, but trust me it's worth trying.
Keep in mind that a traditional hummus is made with chickpeas and tahini. Tahini is a ground sesame paste and I experimented with it in this recipe but was underwhelmed. The tahini seemed to dull the flavor so I usually omit it in favor of a lighter, more vibrant hummus. Also note that chickpeas are frequently referred to as garbanzo beans.
So here's the ingredient list:
2 avocados
1 can chickpeas
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons lime juice (approx. 1 lime)
15-20 sprigs cilantro
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Add a splash of water to get it started and then blend until creamy.
You'll end up with a bowl full of creamy avo goodness. Agree?
Be sure to give a final taste for seasoning. I added another squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt to this batch.
The Avocado Hummus is incredibly versatile, so feel free to get creative with it.
I'm topping it with a zippy Cucumber Pico de Gallo that you can chop up in a couple minutes. Here's a quick look at the ingredients:
So in the above pic you've got:
1/2 cucumber
1 plum tomato
1/4 onion
1/2 jalapeno
8-10 sprigs cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
This is a riff on our authentic Pico de Gallo and it's super easy to make.
I'll put full instructions for it in the recipe box below, but you're just giving all the ingredients a chop and seasoning with salt.
I also added another squeeze of lime to this batch (notice a trend?) so I always slice up more lime than I need and keep it at arm's length. And if you want more heat simply add in a bit more diced jalapeno.
Then it's just a matter of warming up the tostadas and layering them with the Avocado Hummus, Cucumber Pico, and a drizzle of your favorite hot sauce. (I'm using Valentina but this Chipotle Hot Sauce would be a good option too.)
The crunch of the tostada is the ideal vehicle for the creamy avocado hummus. So good!
Of course, additional cilantro and Cotija cheese are worthy toppings but these are optional.
I'm using store-bought tostada shells for this version, but you can always create some on-the-fly tostadas if you have corn tortillas laying around. What's a Tostada?
Simply add a splash of oil to a skillet on medium heat. Add a corn tortilla and cook for a few minutes until it turns golden brown on the underside. For tacos I will usually add the toppings while the tortilla is in the skillet as the extra weight will help it crisp up, but if you want to keep the Avo Hummus cool then add the toppings just before serving.
You'll end up with a "half tostada/half tortilla" -- a warm, semi-crispy tostada that is a great alternative to store-bought tostada shells. Yes, you could always give the tortillas a full fry in 1/4 inch of oil but lately I just make "half tostadas".
You could even use some toasted Pita bread and get equally stellar results.
If, like me, you lean towards MEAT for dinner, then please give these Avocado Hummus and Cucumber Pico de Gallo Tostadas a try -- you might be surprised how full they keep you!
And if you're still putting up resistance to combining avocado with chickpeas, well, you're in for a tasty surprise. Add in the light, crunchy Cucumber Pico and you’ve got a vegetarian delight that will make even the crankiest of the carnivorous old schoolers take a second bite.
Buen Provecho.
Avocado Hummus and Cucumber Pico Tostadas
Ingredients
Avocado Hummus:
- 2 avocados
- 1 can chickpeas (drained and rinsed)
- 2 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (approx. 1 lime)
- 15-20 sprigs cilantro
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- splash of water
Cucumber Pico de Gallo:
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1 tomato
- 1/4 onion
- 1/2 jalapeno
- 8-10 sprigs cilantro
- 1 tablespoon lime juice (juice of 1/2 lime)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Additional ingredients:
- 8-10 tostadas
- hot sauce
- cilantro (for garnish)
- Cotija cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Drain and rinse a can of chickpeas. Add chickpeas to a blender or food processor along with the flesh of 2 avocados, 2 peeled garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 15-20 sprigs cilantro (rinsed and bottoms twisted off), 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, freshly ground pepper, and 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Add a splash of water to the blender and combine well. Taste for seasoning, adding more salt and lime juice if necessary.
- For the Cucumber Pico be sure to give all the ingredients a good rinse. Then chop 1/2 cucumber, 1 tomato, 1/4 onion, 1/2 jalapeno, 8-10 sprigs cilantro and combine with 1/4 teaspoon salt and the juice of half a lime. Taste for seasoning.
- If using storebought tostadas, warm them up in the oven for 2-3 minutes or until golden brown.
- Add a layer of Avocado Hummus and Cucumber Pico de Gallo to each tostada. Garnish with your choice of hot sauce, cilantro, or Cotija cheese.
- Store leftover Avocado Hummus and Cucumber Pico separately in airtight containers in the fridge.
Notes
Like this dish? Then check out the Vegetarian recipes category in the pulldown menu at the top of this page.
Keep an eye out for our Quinoa Avocado Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressing.
You could also make some Jalapeno Hummus using a similar set of ingredients:
And here is a link to our Chipotle Hot Sauce that's mentioned in this post.
Still hungry?!
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Brian
This was amazing! I’ve been trying to eat more plant based and have been looking for interesting recipes. This one is a keeper!
Patrick
Thanks Brian!
Susan Ryerson
Thank you! This recipe was delicious.
Patrick
Thanks Susan!
Jacqueline
Wow!! These vegetarian options are wonderful! It’s my first day on here and cannot wait to try this one along with many other mouth-watering recipes I’ve seen so far. Me encanto tu website! Felicidades! 🙂
Patrick
Thanks much Jacqueline, this is one of my favorite recipes on the site so I hope it treats you well! Cheers.
Gealdine
So you must have been thinking of me when sending this recipe. Awakened in the middle of the night, decided to look at my mail. VOILA, This recipe looks FANTASTIC. Tomorrow I will make some tortillas, and then whip into action on your recipe, can't wait. Thanks to amazon I get masa flour to make my wn tortillas, the ones from the store are horrendous.
Patrick
Ha awesome, I think you'll like this one Geraldine -- will be awesome with homemade corn tortillas but definitely crisp them up a bit. Cheers.
Joycelyn
Hi Patrick
Wondering what size can chick peas you used? Where I am, ( in Canada ) chick peas are available in 19oz. cans with 14oz size being harder to find as well as more expensive if they are found.
Thank you.
Patrick
Hey Joycelyn! I used the smaller can, somewhere around 14-15 oz., so if you are starting with a 19 oz. can I would probably just add 3/4 of it to the blender and take a taste after combining. Most likely it will be good but if you want to lean more towards hummus you can always add the rest of it. Cheers.
Joycelyn
Thank you, Patrick!
Sharyl
These are fantastic! So fresh tasting on a cold January day!
Patrick
Ha awesome Sharyl, so glad they are working out for you. Such a light and delicious meal eh? Putting these on the menu for the week. Cheers.
Philippa
Why haven't I discovered your blog before??? I can't wait to try everything here! These tacos are top of the list 🙂
Patrick
Hola Philippa! Thanks for your note. Feel free to send along any questions you have along the way. Cheers 🙂
Philippa
Finally got around to making these. That hummus is next level! My Mexican boyfriend was in love with them too!
Patrick
Cheers Philippa 🙂 Thanks for the reminder on how good the hummus can be. It's been a month now since I've had it and probably not going to be much longer 🙂
Natasha
This looks seriously delicious... all my favorite flavors 🙂
Patrick
Thanks Natasha! Hope it treats you well 🙂
Slaveya @Tasty Food for Busy Mums
Looks amazing!
Patrick
Thanks Slaveya!