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Smoked Swordfish Tostaditas

These smoked swordfish tostaditas offer a sophisticated twist on classic Mexican street food, blending deep, smoky flavours with a satisfying crunch. This dairy-free seafood dish makes an exceptional starter or party snack, featuring tender shredded fish simmered in a rich tomato and morita chilli base. The use of blue corn tortillas provides a striking visual contrast to the vibrant avocado cream, making it a standout choice for an elegant evening gathering.

Preparing the swordfish mixture in advance allows the complex flavours of the hoja santa and sherry vinegar to develop fully, while also making hosting effortless. Whether you are serving these as part of a larger tapas-style spread or as a light summer lunch, the combination of textures—from the crisp fried leeks to the smooth avocado—is sure to impress. These homemade tostaditas are both wholesome and naturally packed with savoury depth.

Continue reading below

Ingredients for Smoked Swordfish Tostaditas

  • 1 morita chilli, seeds removed

  • 2 plum tomatoes, divided

  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped hoja santa or 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil with 1 tablespoon finely chopped fennel fronds

  • 1 leek, white and pale-green parts only, halved lengthwise, divided

  • 80ml olive oil

  • 1 small onion, finely chopped

  • 1 large carrot, finely chopped

  • Kosher salt

  • 1 garlic clove, finely chopped

  • 230g smoked swordfish, shredded

  • 2 teaspoons Sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar

  • 8 corn tortillas, preferably blue

  • 240ml vegetable oil

  • Avocado Cream

  • A 2 1/2" biscuit cutter

Place chilli and 1 tomato in a small saucepan and add water to cover. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until tomato is burst and chilli is soft, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add hoja santa. Let cool slightly, then blend tomato, chilli, and hoja santa with 240ml cooking liquid until smooth.

Halve remaining tomato, squeeze or scoop out seeds, and chop flesh. Finely chop half of leek and add to tomato; slice other half lengthwise into thin strips about 1 1/2" long.

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low and cook onion, carrot, and chopped leek and tomato. Cook, stirring often and reducing heat if vegetables start to take on any colour, until tomato is falling apart and vegetables cook down, 25-30 minutes.

Season vegetable mixture with salt and increase heat to medium-high; add garlic. Cook, stirring, until garlic is golden brown, about 2 minutes.

Add swordfish and tomato puree. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook, stirring often, until liquid is almost completely absorbed, 8-12 minutes. Stir in vinegar; taste and adjust with salt and more vinegar if needed. Let cool.

Meanwhile, use cutter to punch out circles from tortillas (you should have about 24). Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Working in batches, fry tortilla rounds until puffed and crisp, about 30 seconds per side. Transfer to paper towels to drain; season with salt.

Working in batches, cook leek strips in same oil until golden brown and crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to paper towels; season with salt.

To serve, top each tostadita with a dollop of avocado cream and a small spoonful of swordfish mixture. Garnish with fried leeks.

Do Ahead: Swordfish mixture can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 28 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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