Tostadas de Barbacoa con Salsa Taquera (Beef Barbacoa Tostadas)
Rich shredded barbacoa beef on crisp tostadas with cool avocado and lettuce, finished with a fiery roasted chile de arbol salsa.
Made with Salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa) and Tostadas and totopos (tortilla chips) and Barbacoa beef. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.29 a head
- Oven160°C (140°C fan)
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Put your ready made barbacoa (see the base recipe) in a pan with the water. Cover and warm over a medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring once, until steaming hot all the way through.
5 min 30 s - 2
Mash the avocado with the lime juice and salt to a rough spread.
- 3
Warm the tostadas (see the tostadas and totopos base recipe) in a 160°C (140°C fan) oven for 3 minutes if they have lost their snap.
3 min - 4
Spread a spoonful of avocado on each tostada and cover with barbacoa.
- 5
Top with lettuce, onion and coriander. Spoon over the salsa taquera (see the base recipe) a little at a time, because it is hot. Serve straight away.
Tips
- Salsa taquera is very hot. Start with a teaspoon on each tostada and let people add more at the table.
- The avocado spread acts as a barrier that keeps the beef juices away from the tostada for longer.
- Add a splash of the barbacoa cooking juices if the beef looks dry when you reheat it.
- For a cooler option, swap the salsa taquera for salsa verde.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Keep the reheated beef covered in the fridge for up to 3 days (cool within 1 to 2 hours first) and reheat until steaming hot all the way through. Do not store assembled tostadas.
Questions
How hot is salsa taquera?
It is one of the hotter Mexican table salsas, made with dried chile de arbol. Use it sparingly at first. Salsa verde or salsa roja gives a milder finish if you prefer.
Can I use this with other meats?
Yes. Carnitas or shredded chicken work on the same plan. Barbacoa gives a deep, chilli-rich flavour that stands up well to the hot salsa.
Is this safe for a dairy free and gluten free diet?
Yes, as long as the tostadas are made from corn tortillas labelled gluten free. The beef, salsa and toppings contain no dairy, gluten, egg or nuts.
More made with salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa)
Empanadas de Frijol y Queso (Fried Masa Turnovers)
GFEFNFPepinos y Jícama con Limón y Chile (Mexican Cucumber and Jicama Snack)
GFDFEFCostillitas Asadas con Recado Rojo (Achiote Pork Ribs)
GFDFEFTacos al Pastor (Marinated Pork and Pineapple Tacos)
GFDFEFSee every dish made with salsa taquera (roasted chile de arbol salsa)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.