Torta Ahogada (Pork Carnitas Sandwich)

By stancec44

But let’s go to the recipe: “Tortas Ahogadas” (salsa-drowned sandwiches) are typical of Guadalajara city in the State of Jalisco. They are made with a roll called “salted Birote”, which is different from the traditional Mexican bread “bolillo”. Birote has a sour taste and a very hard crust slightly similar to a crusty baguette or a mild sourdough.

That’s why it’s so good for this smothered sandwich since it doesn’t get soft as easily as other pieces of bread. Of course, that it will soften, but not so fast, this sandwich is smeared with refried beans filled with pork carnitas and topped with a tasty tomato sauce and the brave ones also top it with a spicy Arbol sauce. Personally, I do not like to add the spicy sauce because I like to enjoy it, when it is too hot then you do not taste the food, add … your lemon, salt and very importantly, a cold Coke … wow!

Ingredients

• Hot sauce:
• 4 hard rolls halved horizontally
• 1 Lb Pork Carnitas
• 3/4 cup of Refried Beans
• 2 Lbs. ripe tomatoes
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 teaspoon of vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon of dry Mexican oregano
• Salt to taste
• 1 / 4 of a large thinly sliced onion and marinated in lemon juice
• 15 árbol peppers
• 1/2 garlic clove
• Salt to taste

Preparation

Step 1

Cook the tomatoes in a pot with water, drain and blend in blender with garlic, vinegar, oregano and salt.

In a large pot put the sauce to a boil 1 / 2 hour, adding water, depending on how liquid you would like it (in many places it is thick in others don’t, depending on your taste) taste the salt, if you feel that it needs more oregano, add more, or a little more vinegar, it should be a little acid, but rich … I know that this recipe is quite a personal taste, sorry, but it will depend a lot on your taste for spices and vinegar, this is the basis, ok?

For the Hot sauce, cook the 15 Arbol Chiles in water for about 15 minutes or until tender, place them in a blender or food processor with a little of the cooking water, 1/2 clove of garlic, salt and puree until smooth. Strain and it is ready …be careful with this sauce is very spicy!

Now to assembly the sandwich, spread some refried beans on each side of the rolls, top bottom half with a portion of the Pork Carnitas, served on a plate and top with the tomato salsa, serve with marinated onions alongside, a wedge of lemon and … dig in! If you like to spice your sandwich add the árbol sauce.