Tequila-Flamed Shrimp Tostadas

Recipe by Sue Torres from "A Denim & Cockatil Guru's Mexican Fiesta," Food & Wine Magazine, 01/2008 edition. "I created this dish late one night when I was hungry and tired of my menu," Sue Torres says. "The tequila adds a little smokiness to the shrimp, and I liked the great textural difference between the creamy avocado and the crispy tostada." At Los Dados, Torres fries homemade tortilla rounds to make the base for this crunchy appetizer; here, we’ve substituted store-bought chips. Fast & healthy.

• Ready In: 30 mins
• Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 1  Hass avocado, mashed
• 1⁄4 cup  finely diced fresh pineapple
• 1⁄2 cup  drained canned black beans
• 2  scallions, finely chopped
• 3  tablespoons fresh lime juice
•  salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 2  tablespoons  vegetable oil
• 3⁄4 lb medium shrimp, shelled, deveined and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 2  large garlic cloves, minced
• 2  tablespoons  silver  tequila
• 3 1⁄2 ounces chipotle chiles in adobo, seeded and minced
• 1  tablespoon unsalted butter, cubed
• 24  large  round tortilla chips

Directions

1. In a bowl, mash the avocado, pineapple, beans, scallions and 1 tablespoon of the lime juice; season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a large skillet until very hot.
3. Add the oil and heat until shimmering.
4. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper; add to the skillet along with the garlic and cook, shaking the pan frequently, until the shrimp are almost cooked through, about 2 minutes.
5. Remove the skillet from the heat and add the tequila.
6. Tilt the pan slightly over the burner to ignite the tequila and cook until the flames subside. (Alternatively, remove the pan from the heat and ignite with a match, then return to the heat.)
7. Stir in the chipotle, butter and the remaining 2 tablespoons of lime juice, swirling until the butter is melted and the liquid is slightly reduced, about 2 minutes longer; season with salt and pepper.
8. Spoon the avocado mixture onto the tortilla chips and top with the shrimp.
9. Drizzle some of the tequila sauce on top and serve right away.