Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (2024)

Mains, Mexican

Posted on June 8, 2021January 28, 2024 by Anna Rios

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

This authentic Mexican Torta recipe takes me back to summers in Michoacan Mexico. It is hearty, flavorful, and delicious! The combination of jackfruit carnitas, refried beans, avocado, jalapenos, and crunchy lettuce will leave you wanting more. Make sure to give this Mexican Sandwich a try!

Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (1)

What is a Mexican Torta?

A torta is basically a hearty Mexican sandwich that is filled with mouthwatering ingredients such as refried beans, meat, veggies, pickled jalapeño and sometimes cheese.

Torta is the Spanish word for cake. But a Mexican Torta is usually made with a crusty roll stuffed with meat and bold sauce.

Mexican tortas will always remind me of my annual trips to Mexico when I was younger. It was tradition to go out to the “La Plaza” and get a torta filled with carnitas, grilled cheese, beans, avocado and Jalapeños. It continues to be my favorite authentic Mexican dish because there is nothing quite like it.

I am beyond thrilled to be able to recreate a vegan version of this torta and I hope you love it as much as I do!

Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (2)

Torta Tips

My torta recipe is made with spicy carnitas that are flavored with maple syrup, soy sauce, and jack fruit (among a few other ingredients).

When you make carnita with jackfruit, always rinse the jackfruit. This will remove the brine and make it taste the best.

Then, pat the jackfruit dry. If you leave too much moisture, it will prevent the pork from crisping up.

Finally, always taste as you go. Make adjustments as you cook. Do you want it spicier? Add more chili powder. Is it too spicy? Add more maple syrup.

Ingredient Substitutes

Here are a few different ingredient swaps you can make in these easy tortas.

Bread

The original type of bread used for tortas is called a Bolillo roll. You can actually find these at your local Safeway or Lucky grocery stores. You will also find these in Mexican grocery stores. If you want to make them at home, I highly recommend Dora’s Bolillo recipe! Alternatives includes burger buns and French bread rolls.

Carnitas

I highly recommend getting canned jackfruit if possible. It can be very time consuming to get it fresh. My favorite canned jackfruit is from Trader Joe’s:

Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (4)

Do I have to use Jackfruit/Carnitas for my Mexican Torta?

Nope! Mexican tortas come in all types of ways. One of my favorites is torta de panella (a type of cheese). I plan to make a recipe for this one too, so stay tuned! If you’re not a fan of jackfruit, here are some alternatives you can use for the “meat” of your torta:

  • Soyrizo – vegan chorizo. Trader Joe’s carries a delicious one for $1.99.

  • Extra refried beans – This will also make it a super easy recipe!

  • Thick slice of tofu – Cut a thick slice of extra firm tofu and fry with a little oil, soy sauce, garlic powder, salt and nutritional yeast.

  • King oyster or portobello mushrooms – Shred using a fork if using king oyster mushrooms. Use same seasonings/sauces as you would with jackfruit.

  • Seitan – you can either choose to make your own or buy store bought.

Beans

I love using both pinto or black beans for this recipe, it just depends on my mood! You can choose to buy canned refried beans or make them. I feel like I sounds like a broken record but I highly recommend getting canned refried beans from Trader Joe’s. They don’t add too much seasonings and spices like ones I’ve tried from other grocery stores.

Veggies

I highly recommend adding lettuce, tomato and jalapeños to get an authentic torta. Avocado is optional but I love adding it! You can also choose to add red sliced onions as well.

**Best when fresh but they will keep for 24-48 hours if wrapped well and refrigerated.

Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (5)

More Authentic Mexican Recipes:

Vegan “Chicken” Tinga

Authentic Tostadas

The Best Tamales

Portobello Carne Asada

Print

Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (6)

Mexican Torta

★★★★★5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Anna Rios
  • Total Time: 40
  • Yield: 4
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This authentic Mexican Torta recipe takes me back to summers in Michoacan Mexico. It is hearty, flavorful, and delicious! The combination of jackfruit carnitas, refried beans, avocado, jalapenos, and crunchy lettuce will leave you wanting more. Make sure to give this Mexican Sandwich a try!

Ingredients

Carnitas:

  • 1 can of Jackfruit

  • 1/2 large onion, diced

  • 1 tbsp neutral oil

  • 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari

  • 1/2 tbsp maple syrup

  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp chili powder

Torta ingredients:

  • 4 bolillos, burger buns or bread of choice

  • 1-1 1/2 cup refried beans

  • 1-2 avocados

  • 4 pickled jalapeños

  • 1/2 head of lettuce

  • 2 tomatoes

  • 1 tbsp vegan mayo (optional)

Instructions

Carnitas Instructions:

  1. Drain and rinse jackfruit well to get rid of the brine flavor. Pat dry with a paper towel.

  2. Heat a pan on medium heat and add neutral oil. Add diced onions and cooked for 2-3 minutes.

  3. Add jackfruit, garlic powder, chili powder and cook for 5-6 minutes.

  4. Add soy sauce/tamari and maple syrup, mix well and cook for another 7-8 minutes until golden brown and slightly crispy.

  5. Taste and add seasonings as desired. Set aside.

Torta assembly instructions:

  1. Turn a griddle on medium heat. Spread a small amount of vegan mayo on the bread and grill for 2 minutes on each side.

  2. Start by spreading about 1/4 cup refried beans to the bottom half of the roll/bread.

  3. Next, add jackfruit carnitas, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeños and the top half of the bun.

  4. Enjoy as is or add Tapatio like a true Mexican 🙂

  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 25
  • Category: Mexican
  • Method: Stove
  • Cuisine: Mexican

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 torta

Keywords: mexican torta, mexican sandwich, vegan torta, vegan mexican torta, vegan mexican food, mexican torta recipe

Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (7)

Anna Rios
Mexican Torta (Authentic Taste and Easy Recipe!) (2024)

FAQs

What is an authentic torta? ›

on a soft roll and filled with meat, cheese, and various. toppings such as crema, avocado, salsa, and iceberg. lettuce 😉

What is a Mexican torta in English? ›

What is a torta in Mexico? A torta is a sandwich served on a roll or bun. Torta's can come in many varieties and can be served both hot or cold. Your torta mexicana can be filled with a wide variety of ingredients including different types of meats and cheeses with beans, avocado, peppers, etc.

What is the difference between a torta and a Mexican sandwich? ›

A Mexican torta resembles a sandwich in almost every way: a crusty roll is sliced in half and filled with a variety of meats and other ingredients. However, what goes inside a torta is uniquely Mexican and includes a variety of bold and spicy sauces and garnishes that are found in many other types of Mexican dishes.

Does a torta have mayo or sour cream? ›

As Mexican food migrated to the United States, one of its fundamental dishes was largely left behind. South of the border, the torta, a sandwich of meat, beans, avocado, tomatoes, onions, cheese, and mayo on a crusty, white roll, is as common as the taco.

What is a torta girl? ›

noun. Mexican Cooking. a hot or cold sandwich made on a crusty bread roll such as a bolillo, filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, sauces, and other toppings. Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive. an overweight or heavyset woman.

Does torta mean slap? ›

Idioms. dar una torta [v] slap someone.

What does torta mean in spanish to a girl? ›

Tortas can be double meaning in spanish slang; chubby/thick girl or the sandwhich/dish!!!! #tortas #spanishslang #ohok #trending #fyp.

What is the best bread for tortas? ›

Traditionally, the bread used for tortas is called telera or bolilos. I used telera bread, it is more round shaped. Bolilo bread is football-shaped, it just depends on what you prefer. You can find telera rolls at most grocery stores.

Are tortas real Mexican food? ›

They were first introduced in Puebla with the development of the telera, a type of bread. However it was Mexico City that really gave life to the meal. It was there that Mexican tortas became Mexican. They infused their culture into the food and created something truly unique, even if it had several variations.

What does torta mean in spanish? ›

borrowed from Mexican Spanish, from Spanish, "cake, pastry," going back to Late Latin tōrta "round loaf" — more at tart entry 2. 1952, in the meaning defined above. The first known use of torta was in 1952.

What is a Guadalajara torta? ›

The Torta Ahogada is a salsa drowned sandwich that originated in the Mexican city of Guadalajara, where my family is from. Tortas Ahogadas are Mexican sandwiches that are different from other tortas because they require the use of birotes salados instead of the classic bolillo.

What is a good substitute for torta bread? ›

French bread rolls are a good substitute, as are sourdough rolls. The idea is to use a crusty roll with a soft interior. In making the torta, one starts by cutting the roll horizontally, then removing some of the crumb to create a hollow for the filling.

Who invented the torta? ›

It is said that tortas were created by the end of the XIX century, specifically in 1892, by an eleven-year-old boy named Armando Martínez Centurión. He later opened the first tortería in Mexico, established in the Callejón del Espíritu Santo (today Calle Motolinía) number 35.

Does authentic Mexican food have sour cream? ›

Sour cream is not a traditional Mexican ingredient. Traditional Mexican dishes are made with crema, a milder and thinner option than sour cream.

What does a torta consist of? ›

In Mexico, a torta is a sandwich made with soft bread and filled with ingredients that may include ham, grilled chicken, breaded chicken, lettuce, wieners, avocado, salsa, tomato, carnitas, or beans. Tortas are extremely popular in Mexico because they are convenient, easy to make, and usually inexpensive.

What makes a torta a torta? ›

A Mexican torta is a type of sandwich made with either a bolillo or telera roll. These rolls are key to the torta's structure; bolillos are crusty and similar to a baguette, while teleras are softer and rounder with a distinctive top. The fillings for a torta vary widely.

What are two types of torta? ›

The torta ahogada (meaning "drowned" torta) of Guadalajara is smothered in a red sauce. Different fillings are available and they may be mixed to create an original torta. Meanwhile, the torta cubana ("Cuban torta") is stuffed with a variety of meats, the identity of which varies across Mexico.

What is the difference between a gordita and a torta? ›

There is a slight difference between ingredients in a gordita versus a torta. Whereas gorditas primarily include meat, cheese, and beans, a torta is more likely to have vegetables as well as meat.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5901

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (48 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Francesca Jacobs Ret

Birthday: 1996-12-09

Address: Apt. 141 1406 Mitch Summit, New Teganshire, UT 82655-0699

Phone: +2296092334654

Job: Technology Architect

Hobby: Snowboarding, Scouting, Foreign language learning, Dowsing, Baton twirling, Sculpting, Cabaret

Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.