Vegetable Tostadas

Remove the butter from the refrigerator to soften. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Wash and dry the fresh produce. Zest the lime to get 1 teaspoon (if you don’t have a zester, use a peeler to remove the green rind, avoiding the white pith; mince the rind). Quarter the lime. Remove and discard the husks and silks of the corn. Medium dice the zucchini. Peel and medium dice the onion. If necessary, peel the garlic, then roughly chop. Cut off and discard the stem of the pepper; remove and discard the core, then medium dice. Thoroughly wash your hands immediately after handling the pepper.

In a small pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook, without stirring, 12 to 14 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff with a fork. Stir in the juice of 2 lime wedges. Cover to keep warm.

While the rice cooks, in a bowl, combine the softened butter and lime zest; season with salt and pepper. Using a fork, mash to combine. Place each corn cob on a large piece of aluminum foil. Drizzle with olive oil and 1 tablespoon of water; season with salt and pepper. Tightly wrap the foil around each cob to completely seal. Place directly onto an oven rack. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, or until tender. Remove from the oven and carefully unwrap; coat on all sides with the lime butter.

While the corn bakes, in a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the diced zucchini in an even layer. Cook, without stirring, 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Add the diced onion and pepper; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and softened. Add the chopped garlic and as much of the red pepper flakes as you’d like, depending on how spicy you’d like the dish to be. Cook, stirring constantly, 1 to 2 minutes, or until softened. Transfer to a large bowl.

While the vegetables cook, place the tortillas on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper; turn to coat. Arrange in an even layer. Toast in the oven 5 to 6 minutes, or until lightly browned and crispy. Remove from the oven.

To the bowl of cooked vegetables, add the mayonnaise and the juice of the remaining lime wedges. Stir to thoroughly combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Assemble the tostadas using the toasted tortillas, lime rice, and finished vegetables. Serve with the dressed corn on the side. Garnish with the cheese. Enjoy!