Thai Shrimp Tostadas Recipe — Salt & Wind Travel (2024)

For The Tostadas:

• 8 (5-inch) corn tortillas
• 1 tablespoon canola, grapeseed, or coconut oil

For The Seared Shrimp:

• 1 tablespoon canola, grapeseed, or coconut oil
• 1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp about 30
• 3 teaspoons packed light brown sugar divided
• 3/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• kosher salt

For The Cilantro Dressing:

• 1/4 cup canola, grapeseed, or coconut oil
• 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
• 1 medium shallot trimmed and peeled (can substitute red onion)
• 1/2 medium serrano or Thai chile
• 2 medium garlic cloves
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 2 medium firm-ripe avocado mashed
• 2 medium Persian cucumbers thinly sliced into half moon shapes
• 1 pint sweet 100 tomatoes halved
• 1/4 cup roasted salted almonds or cashews roughly chopped

• For The Tostadas: Heat oven to 450°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Brush both sides of tortillas with 1 tablespoon of the oil and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake until golden and crisp, about 5 to 8 minutes. Cool slightly before serving.

• For The Seared Shrimp: Toss shrimp with 1 tablespoon of the oil, 1 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, 3/4 teaspoon cayenne, and a pinch of salt and toss to coat. Heat a large cast iron or heavy-bottomed over medium high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer (you may need to do this in batches) and cook until pink about 2 minutes per side. Flip and cook. Repeat with remaining shrimp.

• For The Cilantro Dressing: Combine 1/2 cup of the cilantro, the remaining 1/4 cup of the oil, 1/2 of the chile (remove seeds if you don't like spicy), lime juice, shallot or red onion, garlic, fish sauce, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar in a blender and process until smooth, at least 30 seconds. Taste and, if you like it spicier, add remaining chile and blend.

• For The Assembly: Mash up avocados, divide, and spread among tostadas. Toss cucumber and tomatoes with 1/2 cup of the dressing then divide among tostadas. Top with shrimp, nuts, and additional herbs and serve drizzled with additional dressing, as desired.

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