How To Make An Authentic Torta Ahogada Recipe

The Torta Ahogada (or drowned sandwich) is a savory sandwich made famous in the Mexican State of Jalisco. Filled with pork carnitas, pickled red onions, and refried beans then smothered in a spicy sauce made from chiles de arbol.

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Calling all torta fans! We’ve been loving these Tortas Ahogadas aka drowned sandwiches lately.

At first glance they may seem like a lot of work—the carnitas, the refried beans, the tomato salsa, the pickled red onions. But I’ll let you in on a little secret. I buy the carnitas and beans at my local Latin market and make the rest at home. Is this cheating? Perhaps, but who can resist a quick, easy meal?

If you’ve never had a Torta Ahogada before here’s a warning: They are messy! But oh so worth it. So give it a try and make sure you serve with a knife and fork and lots of napkins.

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What Is A Torta Ahogada?

A Torta Ahogada is one of the most iconic dishes from Guadalajara, Mexico but enjoyed all over Mexico and the United States. The sandwich is filled with shredded pork and bathed in a spicy chile de arbol tomato sauce.

Because it is literally dunked in sauce it needs a sturdy bread. This particular torta is made on a special sourdough called Birote Salado. These very crunchy baguettes are hard to find outside of Mexico so I use a sourdough French baguette. Whatever you do, traditional Mexican bolillos won’t work so don’t substitute those, they will just fall apart.

Ingredients

The different elements to the sandwich can be all homemade or you can buy them at your local Latin market. If you want to make them all yourself, do it in batches and have it ready to go in the fridge when it’s time to make your tortas.

• White onion
• Garlic
• Roma tomatoes
• Chiles de árbol
• Guajillo chiles
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• Ground allspice
• Ground cumin
• Dried oregano. Ideally Mexican oregano if you have it.
• White vinegar
• Sourdough baguette
• Carnitas. Store-bought or use my favorite Instant Pot Carnitas recipe.
• Refried beans. These vegan refried beans are the bomb.com.
• Pickled Red Onions. These are so easy to make I usually make my own pickled onions.

How To Make A Torta Ahogada

step one

Make onions. Make the pickled red onions if you are using homemade.

step two

Make sauce. Combine onion, garlic cloves, tomatoes, and arbol and guajillo chiles in a medium saucepan. Fill with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Now place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer and cook until tomatoes start to split, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool about 20 minutes.

step three

Blend. Transfer onions, garlic, tomatoes, and chiles to a blender using a slotted spoon. Add 1 cup of the cooking liquid, a teaspoon of salt, the pepper, allspice, cumin, oregano, and vinegar. Blend on high until smooth. Be careful blending hot liquids. Taste and add more salt if needed.

Drain the rest of the cooking liquid from the pot then pour the blended sauce into the pot and keep warm while you prepare the tortas.

step four

Warm carnitas. If the carnitas are cold, reheat them in a microwave or in a skillet over medium heat. Cover and keep warm.

step five

Toast bread. Heat broiler to high. Cut baguette in half vertically. Spread 1 cup of refried beans evenly on one side of the baguette and lay on a baking sheet. Lay the other half, cut-side-up, next to it and heat under the broiler until the beans are warm and the bread is toasted, about 3-4 minutes.

step six

Assemble the sandwich. Lay carnitas and pickled onions over the refried beans and cover with the other half of bread. Set on a cutting board and cut baguette into 4 sandwiches. Set each sandwich in a shallow bowl and ladle sauce over each sandwich. Enjoy!

If You Are Making Torta Ahogada Remember These Things

1. You don’t have to make every element from scratch. Although it goes without saying it would be more delicious if you did.
2. If you do decide to make everything yourself (go you!) do it over a couple of days. All the separate recipes will keep perfectly well in the refrigerator for at least 3-4 days.
3. The final torta is up to you. Add avocado or sliced radishes or raw onion or even cheese if you want.
4. How much should you really drown your torta? When you order a Torta Ahogada you can get it bien ahogada, well drowned or medio ahogado, half-drowned which means only the top of the bread is soaked and the bottom stays dry. When you make it at home you get to be the boss so do what you like!
5. The real question: How do you eat a Torta Ahogada?! Well, if you don’t mind the mess you eat it with your hands. The bread should be sturdy enough to hold up. If that is too much, feel free to use a fork and knife, I won’t tell.

Other Recipes You’ll Love

• Chicharrones de Harina with Hot Sauce and Lime Juice
• Shredded Beef For Tacos {Carne Deshebrada}
• Vegan Ceviche with Avocado and Lime
• Caldo de Pollo {Mexican Soup with Rich Chicken Broth}
• Cheese Filled Chiles Rellenos
• Shrimp Aguachile Recipe
• Beer-Battered Fish Tacos with Radish Pico de Gallo

Ready To Add This Torta To Your Menu?

I hope so because I know you’ll enjoy every perfectly messy bite! Let me know when you make them by snapping a pic and tagging me on Instagram @holajalapeno and #holajalapeno so I can see or leave me a comment below (don’t forget to leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating) ! Also, sign up for my weekly newsletter, lots of good stuff there too!

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