Some days, lunch needs to involve more assembling than cooking. A crisp tostada topped with creamy hummus and colourful vegetables is a lovely answer, especially when you have a few odds and ends in the fridge that need using.
These Mediterranean-inspired hummus tostadas combine a crunchy tortilla base with the flavours of a fresh salad. They are easy to customise, practical for a casual lunch and fun to serve as a help-yourself spread when friends come over.
The only real challenge is resisting the urge to pile everything too high. A tostada has its limits, even if your enthusiasm for feta does not.
What Is a Tostada?
A tostada is a flat, crisp tortilla served with toppings. For this Mediterranean-inspired version, hummus forms the creamy base, with chopped vegetables, olives and optional feta layered over it.
Ready-made tostada shells make this a particularly simple lunch. Follow the packet instructions if they need warming before serving.
Topping Ideas
Choose a handful of ingredients rather than adding everything at once:
- Hummus
- Diced cucumber
- Chopped tomatoes
- Thinly sliced red onion
- Chopped capsicum or bell pepper
- Sliced olives
- Crumbled feta
- Fresh parsley
- A squeeze of lemon
Plain hummus is a useful starting point, while roasted garlic or roasted red pepper hummus gives you another flavour option.
For a homemade spread, Maebells has an easy feta hummus recipe that would suit this style of lunch.
How to Assemble Hummus Tostadas
Prepare your vegetables first, chopping them into small pieces that are easy to eat.
Spread hummus over each crisp shell, leaving a little space around the edge. Add a modest layer of vegetables, followed by olives, herbs and feta if using.
Finish with a little lemon juice and serve immediately.
Keep watery toppings well drained. Excess tomato juice or wet cucumber can soften the shell before you have taken your first bite.
Make a Help-Yourself Tostada Bar
For a casual gathering, arrange the shells on a platter and put the hummus and toppings in separate bowls.
Guests can build their own combinations, and the shells stay crisp until they are needed. Keep chilled ingredients refrigerated until serving, then bring out small amounts and replenish as needed.
If you are planning a larger shared table, our brunch potluck ideas offer dishes to serve alongside them.
Prepare Ahead Without Losing the Crunch
Chop and refrigerate the vegetables separately, following appropriate storage guidance. Keep the hummus covered in the fridge and the tostada shells sealed according to their packaging.
Assemble just before eating. This is a lunch that benefits from a little preparation, but not from sitting fully dressed in the fridge overnight.
For a dairy-free version, omit the feta and check the hummus label. If serving someone who avoids gluten, check the shells and all toppings rather than assuming they are suitable.
What I like about this idea is how easily it adapts to the ingredients you already have. A little hummus, a crisp base and a few fresh toppings can turn the lunchtime fridge rummage into something worth sitting down for.
