Torta

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This article is about a term for a Mexican sandwich. For other uses of this word see Torta (disambiguation).

A torta is a Mexican sandwich, served on an oblong 6-8 inch firm, crusty white sandwich roll, called a bolillo or telera. The word means "cake" in Spanish as used in most other countries, but in Mexico it refers specifically to this type of sandwich. Tortas can be served hot or cold. Common ingredients include, but are not limited to:

• Al pastor: (marinated pork)
• Carne asada: (marinated steak)
• Carnitas: (fried tender pork)
• Choriqueso: (Chorizo with cheese)
• Cubana: Inspired by the popular Cuban sandwich. Typically a combination of at least three ingredients such as ham, cheese, pork, and sausage.
• Cochinita pibil: (pork loin in orange sauce)
• Milanesa: (breaded steak)
• Carne deshebrada: (shredded beef)
• Chile relleno: (cheese-stuffed Anaheim or poblano green pepper fried in egg batter)
• Alambre: (steak, bacon, onion, pepper and cheese)
• Lengua: beef tongue
• Gamba: shrimp
• Pescado: fried fish
• Jamón: Ham
• Huevo con salchicha: (sausage and scrambled egg)

Garnishes such as avocado, sour cream, lettuce, jalapeño, tomato, and cheese feature in various incarnations of the sandwich. The dish is available throughout Mexico, the American Southwest, and anywhere with a large number of Mexican immigrants. This dish should not to be confused with a Spanish egg torta, a popular omelette-like dish.

Torta Ahogada is another typical dish from Guadalajara in Mexico. The "birote" bread is stuffed with fried pork meat (Carnitas), fried beans, onion, and sometimes avocado, and it is doused in a tomato sauce ("ahogada" means "drowned" in Spanish). The original recipe, however, is limited to the bread with pork, completely drowned in very hot chile sauce made with "chile de árbol" chilies, vinegar, garlic and oregano.

When ordering we have to be aware that the term "ahogada" means that it will be entirely drowned in a hot chili sauce. When ordering a "media ahogada" (half drowned) one asks for a less hot torta , but with a moderate amount of chili sauce combined with a non-spicy tomato sauce. It can be ordered without the chili sauce so that only the tomato sauce will be served. The torta ahogada can be served with "tacos dorados" topped with carnitas and it is recommended to dress it with lime juice.

The television character El Chavo is frequently heard asking or begging for "tortas de jamón".