Everything about Mexican torta sandwhiches aka Tortas Mexicanas. Plus an easy torta recipe where you can vary the protein.
A torta is a Mexican sandwich served on a soft roll and filled with meat, sauce, and various toppings such as crema, avocado, salsa, and iceberg lettuce.
Carne Asada Torta
Grilled steak torta is very popular and requires no explanation. The flavors applied to the meat via the marinade work perfectly with the traditional torta toppings.
The one shown here is breaded and fried thinly sliced beef. The Milanesa is a style of preparing a cutlet, a variation of the Winer schnitzel. Veal, pork or chicken Milanesa tortas are also very popular.
A chicken torta can be prepared in many ways. Besides the best known breaded and fried thinly sliced chicken breast Milanesa the torta de pollo below is a frequently sold one. Here thigh meat is chopped and cooked in an array of flavors to finish juicy and tender.
Tasty pork shoulder bits slow cooked in their own fat and lard until tender and crispy around the edges. A classic torta Mexicana!
What is a Mexican Torta Sandwich?
A Mexican torta is a sandwhich made with freshly baked, soft bread roll, a meat and a number of toppings including avocado, refried beans, mayonnaise, cheese, onions, tomatoes, pickled jalapeños, shredded lettuce and more. A torta is gloriously messy, ridiculously large and very exciting to eat. It is primarily lunch food and is meant to be eaten on the go.
In Mexico tortas are sold at various outlets, mainly by food stands and establishments known as a tortería. In the US you can find authentic tortas at various taquerias, Mexican restaurants big and small and food trucks.
The tortas photographed here were made by Las 4 Americas in our town. It is a local small business that combines a Mexican bakery (panaderia) with a ‘humble counter-serve taqueria turning out burritos, tortas, quesadillas & other Mexican basics“.
Even the most reluctant sandwich eater can find himself impatient to bite into these large, appetizing food wonders!
Mexican torta bread is always fresh baked and can come in the form of traditional telera or bolillo bread rolls.
- Mexican telera rolls (teleras, pictured above) are by far the predominant choice of bread for tortas Mexicanas. They are incredibly soft and airy, large, round French style bread buns.
- Mexican bolillo rolls (bollilos) are oblong shaped, crusty with a soft interior and are also known as pan francés (essentially a variation of French baguette).
Cold tortas are typically made with a telera, while a hot torta sandwich can be on a telera or a bolillo.
Some people call torta a Mexican hamburger just because the round shape of the telera rolls is similar to those of hamburger buns. This is, of course, incorrect.
Even though many variations of the story exist, it is generally thought that Mexican bakers took inspiration for the telera torta bread from the French during the French occupation of Mexico in the 1860s. They then started using the classic Mexican meat dishes like carnitas and barbacoa to make sandwiches with the flat round bread and the Mexican torta was born.
TEX MEX TORTA Recipe | The Most Delicious Mexican Sandwich You’ll Ever Eat
FAQ
What is the difference between a torta and a Mexican sandwich?
What are the different meats in tortas?
What is the most popular torta?
What is usually on a torta?
What are tortas made of?
They usually contain seasoned steak, mayonnaise, cheese, refried beans, and fresh veggies piled on a crunchy bread roll. When we have all the ingredients, you better believe we make tortas on repeat.
What is a traditional Mexican torta?
Tortas, also known as ‘torta ahogada’ or ‘torta Mexicana, ‘ are essentially Mexican sandwiches. Sometimes open-faced, they’re a popular Mexican street food designed to be eaten on the go. They usually contain seasoned steak, mayonnaise, cheese, refried beans, and fresh veggies piled on a crunchy bread roll.
What can I put on a torta?
Add your favorite torta filling on top of the beans, you can make it with barbacoa, ham and cheese, milanesa! I give you a list later on this post.
What to eat in a torta?
Refined beans. The signature ingredient of any good torta. It adds protein, fiber, and a spicy kick. Salad vegetables. A mix of tomatoes, onion, and bell peppers. You are welcome to use pico de gallo inste ad.