tostada

noun

tos·​ta·​da tō-ˈstä-də 

variants or less commonly tostado

tō-ˈstä-(ˌ)dō 

plural tostadas also tostados

: a tortilla deep-fried in hot oil

also : a tostada that is topped with a mixture of ingredients (such as seasoned meat, cheese, and lettuce)

Examples of tostada in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here’s a recipe for Found Oyster’s scallop tostadas with yuzu-apple vinaigrette. —Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025

In this week’s Five Weeknight Dishes newsletter, Emily Weinstein suggests using them to make spicy tuna and avocado tostadas, a five-star recipe from Kristina Felix. —Adam B. Kushner, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

But don’t overlook more inventive plates like the crunchy yuca tostada layered with tuna carpaccio and spiced up with onion salsa. —Carolyn Heller, Forbes, 18 Mar. 2025

Tristen’s and César’s risks pay off, though, with Massimo and Paula’s tostadas joining them in the top four. —Caroline Framke, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tostada, from Spanish, feminine of tostado, past participle of tostar to toast, roast, from Late Latin tostare — more at toast entry 2

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tostada

• armada
• entrada
• espada
• hamada
• jornada
• kannada
• posada
• quebrada
• ramada
• sagrada
• arthropoda
• intifada

Kids Definition

tostada

noun

tos·​ta·​da tō-ˈstäd-ə 

: a fried tortilla

Etymology

Mexican Spanish tostada, a feminine form of tostado "fried," from Spanish tostado "toasted"