Tostadas de pata de res (as in, Cow’s Feet!)

Tostadas de pata de res

A popular dish of the many so-called “Antojitos” in Mexico City, these tostadas de pata are not for everyone, but if you are of the adventurous kind, then they might be for you. It is truly a delicacy that can be found in specialty restaurants in central Mexico. Cow’s feet are cooked first then pickled with vinegar and Mexican oregano.

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Here I explain the process to prepare them at home, for those people that live outside Mexico, like me, and that has a craving for this type of tostada, can prepare at home. In Central Mexico, people just go to the
store and buy the cow’s feet already pickled ready to eat.

How to make Tostadas de pata de res

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DIRECTIONS:

• Place the cow feet, previously rinse, in a large pot, add the Knorr Beef bouillon, bay leaf, garlic, onion, and cover with water. Turn the heat to medium high, once it starts boiling, turns down to simmer. Cook until the meat is tender and easy to remove from the bones. If using a regular pot, it will take about 50 minutes until they are cooked and tender. If using a pressure cooker 25 minutes. (Please check the ingredients list below)
• Once the meat is cooked, wait for it to cool down a little and you are able to remove all the meaty parts of the bones. Place in a colander and rinse with cold water since it is kind of slippery to handle if you don’t rinse them.
• Drain any excess water and cut into cubes or bite-size pieces. Set aside in a medium-size bowl.

• Now, in a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over a medium heat, add the sliced onion and cook for about one minute. Add the vinegar to simmer for a couple of minutes and turn off the heat. Add the bay leaf, crushed Mexican oregano, and thyme. Let it cool for about 5 minutes.
• After the 5 minutes pour the vinegar mixture over the meat, stir well. Season with salt and pepper, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using. If you have the time, let it marinate for at least 4 hours. If not, 30 minutes is fine.
• To assemble the tostadas, first spread the beans and then add some lettuce, top with the meat. Add any additional topping of the ones mentioned above and enjoy with a hot salsa or pickled jalapeños and carrots. Enjoy!

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Tostadas de pata res

Cuisine: Mexican

Servings: 6

Author: Mely Martinez - México in my kitchen

Ingredients

• 4 lbs Cows feet
• 1 cube beef Knorr bouillon
• 1 bay leaf
• 4 large garlic cloves cut in half
• ½ medium size white onion
• 6 cups of water

FOR PICKLING

• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• ½ white medium size onion sliced
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• salt and pepper to taste

FOR THE TOSTADAS

• 6 Corn tostadas
• ½ cup refried beans
• 1 ½ cup shredded lettuce
• 1 small tomato sliced
• ½ avocado slices
• ¼ cup crumbled queso fresco

OPTIONAL

• Pickled jalapeños and carrots
• Mexican cream

Instructions

1. Place the cow feet, previously rinse, in a large pot, add the Knorr Beef bouillon, bay leaf, garlic, onion, and cover with water. Turn the heat to medium high, once it starts boiling, turns down to simmer. Cook until the meat is tender and easy to remove from the bones. If
2. using a regular pot, it will take about 50 minutes until they are cooked and tender. If using a pressure cooker 25 minutes.
3. Once the meat is cooked, wait for it to cool down a little and you are able to remove all the meaty parts of the bones. Place in a colander and rinse with cold water since it is kind of slippery to handle if you don’t rinse them.
4. Drain any excess water and cut into cubes or bite-size pieces. Set aside in a medium-size bowl.
5. Now, in a small saucepan, heat the olive oil over a medium heat, add the sliced onion and cook for about one minute. Add the vinegar to simmer for a couple of minutes and turn off the heat. Add the bay leaf, crushed Mexican oregano, and thyme. Let it cool for about 5 minutes.
6. After the 5 minutes pour the vinegar mixture over the meat, stir well. Season with salt and pepper, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using. If you have the time, let it marinate for at least 4 hours. If not, 30 minutes is fine.
7. To assemble, the tostadas first spread the beans and then add some lettuce, top with the meat. Add any additional topping of the ones mentioned above and enjoy with a hot salsa or pickled jalapeños and carrots. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

The toppings for these tostadas could be as simple as just lettuce, crumbled queso fresco, and cream. I like to add the avocado and tomato slices, and some people even add radish slices and cabbage instead of lettuce.

Provecho!
Mely,

If you like another idea to make Tostadas, check this delicious recipe for Tostadas Guatemaltecas.

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Tostadas de la Siberia
Pickled Beef Tongue

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Red Mexican Beef Barbacoa!