Tortas Ahogadas Mexican Sandwiches With Tomato Sauce Recipes

TORTAS AHOGADAS

Steps:

• Place all the tomatoes, garlic, onion, marjoram, oregano, cloves, salt, and pepper into the jar of a blender and puree until completely smooth.
• Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Once very hot, but not smoking, pour in the tomato sauce. Cover partially with a lid and cook for 5 minutes, until the sauce thickens and seasons. Add the chicken broth, stir, and cook a couple minutes more. Turn off the heat and set aside.
• Heat a comal or skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the chiles de arbol, and toast for about 1 minute, flipping them around as they do. Remove and set aside.
• Place the tomatoes and garlic in a saucepan, cover with water, and place over medium-high heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until the tomatoes are cooked and mushy. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the tomatoes and garlic to the jar of a blender, along with a cup of their cooking liquid, the toasted chiles de arbol (you can add gradually if you choose), onion, vinegar, cumin and salt. Puree until completely smooth. Taste for vinegar, salt and heat, and adjust accordingly.
• Heat the oil in saucepan over medium heat. Once hot, add the pureed sauce, partially cover, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until thickened, darkened and seasoned.
• Have the warm carnitas shredded, the bread lightly toasted and the salsas heated.Slice the birotes to create a pocket for the filling, without cutting all the way through. One at a time, with the opening towards the ceiling, tuck in copious amounts of carnitas. Cut in half, place in a soup bowl or deep plate that can withhold sauces. Pour the tomato sauce on top first, and then ladle on as much spicy sauce as each guest desires.

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.

TORTA AHOGADA (MEXICAN "DROWNED" SANDWICH)

Steps:

• 1. Combine roma tomatoes, chiles, vinegar, pumpkin and sesame seeds, oregano, salt, cumin, allspice, cloves, and garlic in a blender, and purée until very smooth. Pour through a medium strainer into a bowl, discard solids, and stir in ¾ cup water.
• 2. Heat oven to 350°. Split roll and fill bottom half with pork. Place on baking sheet and bake until warmed through and bread is toasted, about 6 minutes. Add onion, radish, and top bun; pour chile de arbol sauce over sandwich, and let sit, so that the sauce soaks in.

TORTAS AHOGADAS - MEXICAN SANDWICHES WITH TOMATO SAUCE

Steps:

• Place all tomato sauce ingredients in a saucepan and cook until the tomatoes and onions are soft.
• Allow to cool, place in blender and puree.
• Strain the puree and set aside.
• Lightly roast the arbol chiles on a dry griddle, just to the point of fragrance. (Do not allow them to char, as this results in a bitter flavor).
• Remove the stem and seeds from the chilies.
• Place the chiles and remaining chili sauce ingredients in a saucepan; cook until the chilies have softened, remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Transfer sauce ingredients to a blender, puree and strain; set aside.
• Cook the meat in water to cover with the onion, garlic, bay leaf, oregano and salt to taste.
• When cooked through, remove from cooking liquid and allow to cool.
• Shred the meat with two forks, or slice thinly if preferred.
• Remove the soft center from the rolls, place on plates, and divide the meat among the rolls.
• Bathe each one with tomato sauce (the tortas are easier to eat if the top half is left "dry")
• Serve torta on a plate with a lip to prevent messy dripping.

DROWNED BEEF SANDWICH WITH CHIPOTLE SAUCE (TORTA AHOGADA)

Steps:

• Combine chipotle cooking sauce, beef broth, and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes.
• Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; saute onion until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic into onion and cook for 1 minute. Add roast beef and 1/4 cup chipotle sauce mixture and cook, stirring constantly, until heated through, about 2 minutes.
• Ladle remaining chipotle sauce mixture into 4 bowls for dipping. Spoon roast beef mixture onto the bottom half of each bun, top with a cilantro sprig, and place the top on each bun. Dip sandwiches into sauce.

TORTAS AHOGADAS

Steps:

• For the tomato salsa, boil tomatoes. In a blender, puree with the garlic and water. Add the oregano and salt to taste.
• For the spicy sauce, boil the arbol chiles. In a blender, puree with the garlic, crackers, hot sauce and water. Strain.
• For the onions, add the vinegar, lime juice, and water. Let it marinade for 15 minutes. Season with salt.
• To assemble, cut the bolillos in half. Spread the refried beans on both sides. Add the meat. Pour the tomato sauce over it. Add the desired amount of spicy sauce. Top off with the marinated onions.

TORTA AHOGADA (DROWNED BEEF SANDWICH)

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the chopped tomatoes with chiles, tomato sauce, cilantro, chipotles, adobo sauce, lime juice, and salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to gently cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• To prepare the meat filling:
• Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Cook and stir until the onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno, stirring to incorporate. Cook and stir for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until the onions are well browned and the garlic and jalapenos soften. Add the meat and toss until heated through and well combined, about 2 minutes. Add 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce to the roast beef mixture, tossing to coat.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and add the broth. Using an immersion or standard blender, puree the sauce until smooth, it should be thin. Ladle the sauce into 4 bowls for dipping. Be sure the bowls are large enough so the sauce doesn't slop out when the sandwich is dipped.
• To serve:
• Spread the smashed avocado on the both side of the roll. Pile the meat filling on the bottom halves of the sandwich buns, close, and cut each sandwich in half. Arrange each sandwich on a plate with the dipping sauce on the side. Dip and eat!