The Mexican pizza has become a popular menu item at many American fast food chains, most notably Taco Bell. With its crispy tortilla base topped with beans, salsa, cheese, and other taco fillings, it certainly bears a resemblance to the traditional Mexican tostada. But are these two dishes really the same thing? Let’s take a closer look at the origins and ingredients of each to find out.
What is a Tostada?
A tostada is a traditional Mexican appetizer or entree consisting of a flat, crispy corn tortilla that is topped with various ingredients. The key characteristics of a tostada are:
- A flat, crispy fried tortilla as the base
- Often topped with refried beans, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes
- May include meat, such as shredded chicken, beef, or chorizo
- Topped with Mexican crema, queso fresco, salsa
- Sometimes served open-faced, sometimes stacked two tortillas high
The crispy tortilla base gives the tostada a nice crunch, which contrasts well with the creamy beans, tangy salsa, and rich cheese toppings. Tostadas can be served as an appetizer, usually bite-sized, or as a full meal.
Origins of the Tostada
The tostada has its origins in Mexican street food. It was created as a way to use up stale tortillas by frying them until they were crispy. The practice of topping old tortillas with various ingredients dates back to pre-Hispanic times in Mexico.
The name comes from the Spanish word “tostar” meaning to toast, which refers to the crispiness of the tortilla. Tostadas became popular snack items sold by street food vendors in Mexican cities in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Traditional Tostada Ingredients
There are many variations of tostadas across different regions of Mexico. But most traditional tostadas contain some combination of these basic ingredients:
| Component | Common Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Base | Corn tortilla, fried until crispy |
| Bean layer | Refried beans, black beans, pinto beans |
| Meat | Shredded chicken, beef, chorizo, pork |
| Toppings | Lettuce, tomato, onion, avocado, queso fresco |
| Sauce/Salsa | Salsa verde, salsa roja, crema, queso dip |
In addition to these core ingredients, some other common tostada add-ons include shredded cabbage, radishes, cotija cheese, cilantro, and lime wedges for squeezing over top.
What is a Mexican Pizza?
The Mexican pizza is a Tex-Mex/American creation that borrows its setup from the traditional tostada. The key characteristics of a Mexican pizza are:
- A flat crispy fried flour tortilla or shaped fried dough as the base
- Topped with beans, ground beef, tomatoes, cheese
- Uses Americanized Tex-Mex ingredients and flavors
- Popularized by American fast food chains like Taco Bell
- Customizable with various toppings
So while it mimics the layered tostada format, the Mexican pizza veers away from authentic Mexican flavors and ingredients. But it provides a crispy, savory, and satisfying Tex-Mex experience.
Origins of the Mexican Pizza
The origins of the Mexican pizza are obscure, but it first started appearing on American restaurant menus in the 1970s. Two Houston restaurants have both claimed to have invented the dish: Matt’s Rancho Martinez and Acapulco Mexican Restaurant y Cantina. The earliest known menu listing was at Matt’s in 1974.
However, it was Taco Bell that really popularized the Mexican pizza when they introduced it nationwide in 1985. Their version replaced the fried tortilla with two crunchy corn tortillas sandwiching beans, beef, tomatoes, and a cheese sauce. It became one of their most successful menu items.
Typical Mexican Pizza Ingredients
There are some variations in Mexican pizza recipes, but most versions contain ingredients like:
| Component | Common Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Base | Fried flour tortilla or fried dough |
| Beans | Refried beans, pinto beans |
| Meat | Ground beef, shredded chicken |
| Cheese | Cheddar, Monterrey Jack |
| Sauce | Enchilada sauce, taco sauce |
| Veggies | Tomatoes, onions, olives, lettuce |
The ingredients tend to be more Tex-Mex than authentically Mexican. The flour tortilla base contrasts with the traditional corn tortilla tostada. Refried beans are more common than whole pinto or black beans. And the cheeses tend to be American favorites like cheddar and pepperjack.
Similarities and Differences
When you compare the Mexican pizza and tostada side-by-side, there are definitely some strong similarities but also some key differences:
Similarities
- Layered design with a crispy fried base
- Often contain beans, ground beef, tomato, cheese, lettuce
- Savory, crunchy, hearty, and satisfying
- Can function as appetizer or entree
- Highly customizable with additions and toppings
So they share the same basic arrangement of ingredients and provide a similar crispy Tex-Mex/Mexican flavor experience.
Differences
| Tostada | Mexican Pizza |
|---|---|
| Corn tortilla base | Flour tortilla or fried dough base |
| Authentic Mexican ingredients | Tex-Mex ingredients |
| Usually open-faced | Closed with top tortilla |
| Bite-sized portions | Large entree-sized |
| Eaten by hand | Eaten with a fork |
The main differences come down to the base ingredients, component flavors, size, and how they are eaten. Tostadas adhere to traditional Mexican flavors and street food style presentation while Mexican pizzas have a distinctly Tex-Mex flair.
Conclusion
While Mexican pizzas and tostadas share basic components and a layered arrangement, they diverge when it comes to authenticity. Tostadas have a more traditional Mexican street food lineage while Mexican pizzas evolved as an Americanized Tex-Mex diner and fast food interpretation of the classic tostada.
The Mexican pizza takes the crisp, open-faced tostada concept and makes it bigger, saucier, and more decadent. Traditionally, tostadas are petite, hand-held street foods eaten with your fingers, while Mexican pizzas are a knife-and-fork, entree-sized indulgence.
So in summary:
- A Mexican pizza is inspired by and modeled after a tostada
- They share basic components like beans, beef, cheese, crispy tortilla base
- But Mexican pizzas diverge with Tex-Mex flavors and American diner-style presentation
- Mexican pizzas could be considered an Americanized, indulgent adaptation of the traditional Mexican tostada
While not exactly the same as an authentic tostada, the Mexican pizza has become a beloved menu item for many Americans craving a satisfying, crispy Tex-Mex meal. Itssimilarity to a tostada is what gives it its name and appeal.