Tortas Recipes

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN TORTA - TORTAS AHOGADAS

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
• Mix the 16 cloves of minced garlic, 2 tablespoons of minced oregano, 2 teaspoons of salt, and pepper in a bowl. Rub garlic mixture over the pork butt, and place pork in a shallow roasting pan.
• Roast in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Continue roasting until pork is tender and no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours and 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C). Cover the meat with two layers of aluminum foil, and allow to rest in a warm area for 20 minutes before rough chopping or shredding it. Reserve pan drippings.
• Place the chipotle peppers in a bowl, and cover with hot water. Allow peppers to soak until softened, about 3 minutes; drain. Set aside. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in 8 cloves of minced garlic and the chopped onions; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the Roma tomatoes, 1 cup of water, chipotle chili peppers, 5 teaspoons of oregano, sugar, and salt to taste. Add the reserved pan drippings. Simmer, uncovered, over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Pour the chipotle sauce into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the sauce moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the sauce right in the skillet. Strain the sauce through a sieve.
• To serve: Hollow out the bottom half of each bolillo to make a shallow bowl for the chopped pork. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the chipotle sauce over the bottom of each roll, then arrange the chopped pork over the sauce. Top each sandwich with a couple slices of pickled jalapeno, followed by the top half of the roll. Pour about 1/4 cup of additional chipotle sauce over the entire sandwich.

TORTAS AHOGADAS

Steps:

• For the braised pork butt: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, garlic, paprika, mustard, coriander, salt and pepper. Pat the pork dry, then coat it with the rub.
• In a large cast-iron pan, heat the canola oil over medium-high heat. Sear the pork until browned on all sides, 8 to 10 minutes. Pour in the beer, cover the pan tightly with foil and transfer it to the oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Let the pork cool a bit before shredding.
• For the tomato sauce: Soak the chile de arbol for 20 minutes in warm water. Once rehydrated, remove the stems and seeds and roughly chop. Heat the canola in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the chile de arbol, jalapeno, garlic, cumin and oregano and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, until fragrant. Add the vinegar, tomatoes and 1 cup water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 45 to 50 minutes, stirring often. When done, puree the sauce until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• To assemble the sandwich: Slice the bolillos in half, leaving them hinged at one end. Brush the insides with olive oil. Place the bolillos cut-side up on a baking sheet; transfer to the oven and toast until crispy, about 5 minutes. Fill each bolillo with some shredded pork, topped with some tomato sauce, shredded cabbage, cilantro, pico de gallo and pickled red onions. Serve.
• In a bowl, combine the tomatoes, jalapeno, lime juice, red onion, cilantro and garlic. Mix to combine. Season with salt and pepper, and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to meld.
• Heat a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the olive oil, the onions and some sea salt, and saute until the onions are just softened, about 5 minutes. Add the bay leaf, cayenne, cinnamon, start anise, honey, red wine vinegar and just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Set aside to cool to room temperature. Remove the whole spices and refrigerate until ready to serve.

TORTAS

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and pan-fry the round steaks 5 minutes on each side, or to desired doneness.
• Slice the rolls lengthwise. Spread about 1 tablespoon of sour cream onto one side of each roll, and top with about 1/3 cup of mashed pinto beans per sandwich. Place a cooked round steak per sandwich on top of the pinto beans, and then layer each sandwich with one-fourth of the avocado slices, tomato slices, and sliced pickled jalapenos, about 1/2 cup of shredded lettuce, 1/4 cup of cilantro, and 1/4 cup of crumbled queso fresco cheese. Squeeze a lime wedge over each sandwich, close, and serve.

CARNITAS TORTA

Steps:

• For the carnitas: Preheat the oven to 225 degrees F.
• Place pork butt in a 4-inch-deep roasting pan and coat both sides generously with salt and oregano. Roast fat-side-up 8 hours or up to overnight.
• Chop meat and crispy fat or pull meat with tongs while hot. Pour juices (if you have any!) over pork and reserve for tortas, tacos, burritos or whatever you can imagine.
• For the torta: Lightly spread all four surfaces of torta roll with butter-olive oil spread. Toast all sides on the griddle or in a pan.
• Spread Baja sauce on both halves of the torta. Top with carnitas, queso fresco, jalapeños, avocado, pico de gallo and mixed greens. Cut in half and serve with cabbage and lime salad.
• Combine butter and olive oil until blended.
• Combine mayonnaise, lime juice and salt.
• Mix the onions, tomatoes, cilantro, lime juice and salt well in a bowl and chill.
• Mix cabbage, carrots, cilantro and jalapeños in a bowl. Squeeze key lime over salad and add salt, then toss.

MEXICAN MILANESE STYLE SANDWICHES ("TORTAS")

Steps:

• Season the cutlets with salt and pepper, to taste. Put the flour in a dinner plate and season with salt and pepper. Put the bread crumbs in a second plate and the beaten eggs in a shallow bowl. Dip the cutlets into the flour, then the eggs and finally into the bread crumbs, pressing down on both sides so that the bread crumbs adhere to the meat.
• Heat 1/2-inch oil in a large skillet to 350 degrees F. Pan-fry the cutlets in batches until golden, about 2 to 3 minutes per side depending on the thickness. Set aside to drain on paper towels.
• To assemble the sandwiches, halve the rolls horizontally. Pull out the soft center of the slices and discard. Spread each roll evenly with the Chipotle Mayonnaise. Put the cutlets on the bottom halves of the rolls and top with lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion and jalapeno. Arrange the sandwiches on serving plates and garnish with lime wedges.
• In a small bowl mash together the chipotle chile, lime juice and mayonnaise. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

TORTAS CLASICAS: CLASSIC TORTAS

Steps:

• Cook the black beans in boiling salted water for 1 1/2 hours. Drain, reserving the water and season with salt. Smash the beans with some of the reserved cooking water. Heat a saute pan. Add canola oil and heat. Fry the smashed beans in the oil for 6 to 7 minutes.
• Spread the bread with beans, top each with 4 slices of ham and 1 of cheese. Divide lettuce, avocado, crema, tomato, and strips of jalapeno. Add salt, to taste. Place bread tops on and press down.

TORTA - A SPANISH INFLUENCED BREAKFAST

Steps:

• Slice potatoes thinly.
• Add olive oil to a deep 10" frying pan, add potatoes, chopped garlic, and red or white chopped onions.
• Make sure there is enough oil to cover potatoes.
• Saute uncovered until the potatoes are soft, but not brown.
• Drain oil.
• Save a couple tablespoons, discard the rest.
• A little before the potatoes are cooked, mix the eggs and milk.
• When potatoes are cooked and drained, add them to the eggs and milk mixture.
• Let sit for 10-15 minutes.
• Season mixture with a bit of salt and lots of black pepper.
• Heat a 10" non-stick frying and add the two tablespoons of olive oil.
• Add the potato and egg mixture and cook on low heat until the egg is set (fork will come out clean if inserted).
• Flip the tortilla using the lid of a large pan: Place lid over the frying pan; turn pan over; slide the tortilla cooked side up back onto the frying pan to finish cooking, just a couple of minutes longer.
• Remove from heat and let tortilla rest for 15 minutes before serving.
• May be served warm or at room temperature.
• Serve in pie like slices or cut into cubes if serving it to a larger crowd.
• Note: rather than flipping the tortilla you can cook on top of the stove until the egg is set on the bottom and then transfer the pan to a 400 degree oven to finish.

TORTAS DE CAMARON

Steps:

• Soak ancho chilies in a bowl of warm water until tender, about 20 minutes. Drain.
• Whisk eggs and shrimp powder together in a bowl.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat; pour egg mixture into small 2-inch circles in the hot oil. Fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining egg mixture.
• Blend ancho chilies, onion, garlic, and water in a blender until smooth. Add more water if needed to make a soup consistency. Pour chile mixture into a pot over medium heat; add chicken bouillon and egg patties. Cook and stir until bouillon is dissolved, about 5 minutes. Add nopales, reduce heat to low, and cook until soup is heated through, about 5 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

MEXICAN STEAK TORTA

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat, and lightly oil the grate. Season steak with garlic salt, black pepper, cumin, and cayenne pepper.
• Grill steak on the preheated grill until medium-rare, about 5 minutes per side. Remove from heat to a cutting board and cover with foil.
• Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spread both halves of each roll with mayonnaise. Brown the rolls, mayonnaise-side down until golden, about 3 minutes. Warm the refried bean in a bowl in the microwave, about 1 minute on High, and slice the sirloin steak into thin strips.
• Spread a thin layer of beans on the bottom half of each roll, layer with steak, avocado, tomato, and lettuce. Top with cheese, if desired, and close the sandwich with the top of the roll.

BREAKFAST TORTAS

Steps:

• Cut the top third off each roll; hollow out bottom, leaving a 1/2-in. shell (discard removed bread or save for another use). Place roll bottoms on an ungreased baking sheet., In a small bowl, combine the beans, sour cream, cilantro, lime juice, chipotle pepper sauce and salt. Spread 1/4 cup inside each roll. Break an egg into each roll. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes., Sprinkle cheese over eggs. Brush roll tops with olive oil; place on the baking sheet. Bake until egg whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not firm, 5-8 minutes longer. Top each with bacon, avocado, salsa and onions. Replace roll tops.

MEXICAN TORTA (SANDWICH)

Steps:

• Combine marinade ingredients add chicken breasts 2 to 24 hours.
• Grill chicken breasts.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the mayonnaise and chipotle chiles in a food processor and blend until smooth. Generously spread the cut sides of the rolls with the chipotle mayonnaise. Cover the bottom half of each roll with 1 thinly sliced chicken breast, overlapping the slices. Top each portion of chicken with 5 slices of tomato and 4 slices of avocado. Cover with 2 slices of cheese.
• Place assembled sandwiches open faced on a sheet pan and bake until cheese is melted, about 8 minutes. Cover the sandwiches, slice in half and serve immediately.