Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas

With Lent quickly approaching, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about fresh starts. While my family does not necessarily participate in all aspects of Lent, it’s always been a time of year when I can re-evaluate my choices and make changes to ensure that I enter the Spring months where I want to be, both mentally and physically. For as long as I can remember, Lent has been a season not of deprivation to me but a time for new beginnings and better choices. It’s been a time to reset my life and my diet. One of the ways that I most often do this is through giving up meat during the Lent season. Now, before you start telling me that there is no way you can give up meat, let me assure you I’m not giving up meat permanently. However, there is something cleansing about taking a break from meat and the Lent season is the perfect time to do it. For that reason I’ve been fine tuning some of my favorite vegetarian recipes in the past weeks and getting them ready for my upcoming changes for Lent. As I made these preparations, I decided I’d share with all of you not only why I’m choosing to give up meat for Lent but how doing so has helped me discover some of my favorite recipes, like these Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas!

During the Lent season, giving up meat is a great way to reset my diet. However, just because I want to make this change doesn’t mean that I don’t want to have amazing meals that are packed full of flavor. While I have quite a few tricks in my bag when it comes to making really amazing vegetarian meals, one of my favorite ways to add flavor during the Lent season is by adding Clamato® Original Tomato Cocktail to my cooking. Now before you tell me that I’ve lost my mind, let me show you why Clamato is such an awesome addition to my Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas!

Just in case you haven’t already discovered Clamato Original and Limon yet, let me introduce you. Clamato is an authentic tomato cocktail that spices up parties, get-togethers and even vegetarian Lent recipes. It adds a bright and slightly spicy note to a variety of dishes and cocktails like shrimp ceviche, Micheladas, Bloody Cesar cocktails and of course my Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas! Even better, you can find Clamato in the juice aisle at your local Publix.

So how does Clamato help take my Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas to the next level? Let me show you!

These Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas are an easy, delicious, meat-free meal that are perfect for enjoying during the Lent season. I was able to find all of the ingredients needed for this recipe while doing my weekly shopping at my local Publix. Once I had stocked up on my ingredients and of course my Clamato tomato cocktail, putting this meat-free dish together was so easy. To start, I cup up my eggplant, onion and tomatoes. After adding my olive oil to a saute pan, I added my eggplant and onion and cooked them for 4-5 minutes, just long enough to start the process of softening them.

Once my eggplant and onion mixture was slightly cooked, I added in my tomatoes and continued to cook my mixture for two more minutes.

I wanted to make sure that my veggies were not overcooked and still had that crunchy texture so I quickly added in my evaporated milk, Clamato Tomato Cocktail and my spices.

After stirring it all together, I reduced the heat to low and simmered my mixture for about ten minutes, until my spicy sauce made with Clamato began to thicken.

While my sauce was thickening, I creamed together my avocado and and sour cream and set it aside for use later.

As soon as my Spicy Eggplant and Tomato mixture was cooked to perfection with a rich sauce that had just the right amount of spice to make this dish truly amazing, I removed it from the heat and laid out my tostada shells. Then I spooned my eggplant and tomato mixture onto my tostada shells.

Once my eggplant and tomato mixture was in place, I drizzled my avocado and sour cream mixture over the top and added some fresh cilantro.

With the just-spicy enough flavor from my Clamato Tomato Cocktail sauce, the meaty texture of the eggplant and the freshness of the avocado and sour cream mixture, these Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas are a perfect meat-free meal that fits in perfectly with my goals for the Lent season.

As you can see, giving up meat during Lent is no problem with you have the right substitutions to add tons of flavor to vegetarian dishes that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. With its versatile and authentic flavor, Clamato is the perfect way to spice up your Lent celebrations, meals and more.

Are you ready to try your own Lent-friendly recipe using Clamato tomato cocktail? From 3/01/19-4/7/19, you can save $1.00 on one 64 ounce Clamato Original or Clamato Limon at Publix. (Offer valid on Clamato 64oz Bottles, 3/1/19 – 4/7/19, or while supplies last. Limit one per customer.) Then whip up my Spicy Eggplant and Tomato Tostadas or come up with your own flavorful drink, seafood dish or meat-free creation to share during the Lent season and all year long.

Now tell me, what Lent-friendly recipe or drink will you be whipping up with help from Clamato?