Tortas Ahogadas

Ingredients

• 3 pieces Tomatoes (ripe, diced)
• 0.5 piece Onion (white or yellow, finely chopped)
• 1 leaf Bay Leaf (whole)
• 5 cloves Garlic (peeled)
• 8 pieces Dried Chilies (e.g., guajillo or ancho, stems removed)
• 1 pinch Cumin Seeds (whole seeds)
• to taste Salt (kosher salt)
• 1 pinch Dry Oregano (Mexican oregano preferred)
• 1 cup Water (for boiling the salsa)
• 4 pieces French Dinner Rolls (4‑day‑old, crusty, toasted until hard)
• 1 cup Refried Beans (canned or homemade, warmed)
• 1 pound Shredded Beef (cooked and seasoned (see José's shredded beef video))
• 0.25 cup Pickled Red Onions (thinly sliced, pickled in lime juice)
• 0.5 cup Queso Fresco (crumbled)
• 2 tablespoons Cilantro (chopped)

Instructions

1. Prep Salsa Vegetables

   Dice the tomatoes, finely chop the half onion, peel the garlic cloves, and roughly chop the dried chilies. Remove seeds from chilies if you prefer less heat.

   Time: PT5M

2. Boil Salsa Base

   Add the diced tomatoes, chopped onion, garlic, chilies, bay leaf, cumin seeds, and 1 cup water to a saucepan. Bring to a rolling boil over medium‑high heat.

   Time: PT10M

3. Cool and Blend

   Remove the pot from heat and let the mixture cool for a few minutes. Transfer to a blender, discard the bay leaf, and blend until smooth.

   Time: PT5M

4. Simmer Salsa

   Return the blended salsa to the saucepan and bring it back to a high boil, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

   Time: PT5M

5. Season Salsa

   Season the hot salsa with salt and a pinch of dry oregano. Stir well and keep warm.

   Time: PT2M

6. Toast the Rolls

   Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the French dinner rolls on a baking sheet and toast for about 5 minutes, flipping halfway, until the crust is hard and golden.

   Time: PT5M

   Temperature: 350°F

7. Spread Refried Beans

   Warm the refried beans briefly in the microwave or a skillet, then spread an even layer on each toasted roll.

   Time: PT3M

8. Add Shredded Beef

   Place a generous scoop of shredded beef on top of the beans for each sandwich.

   Time: PT2M

9. Garnish and Serve

   Top the beef with a spoonful of hot salsa, then add pickled red onions, crumbled queso fresco, and chopped cilantro. Serve immediately.

   Time: PT3M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

550

Protein

30g

Carbohydrates

55g

Fat

20g

Fiber

6g