Cooking With Me: Easy and Delicious Tortas Ahogadas

Ingredients

• 15 pieces Chile de árbol (dried, adjust heat to taste)
• 2 cloves Garlic (peeled)
• 0.25 piece Onion (peeled, small)
• 1 piece Tomato (boiled and peeled)
• 1 cup Water (room temperature)
• 0.33 cup White Vinegar (distilled)
• 0.25 tsp Black Pepper (ground)
• 0.25 tsp Ground Cloves (ground)
• 0.5 tsp Cumin (ground)
• 1 tsp Oregano (dried)
• 1 tsp Salt (to taste)
• 1 can Canned Diced Tomatoes (14.5 oz, drained)
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil (for cooking tomato salsa)
• 2 pieces Bolillo Rolls (Mexican crusty rolls)
• 1 cup Precooked Carnitas (shredded pork, from Walmart)
• 1 cup Refried Beans (canned or homemade)
• 1 piece Avocado (ripe, sliced)
• 0.25 cup Pickled Onions (store‑bought or homemade)

Instructions

1. Gather Spicy Salsa Ingredients

   Measure out 15 chile de árbol, 2 garlic cloves, 1/4 onion, 1 boiled tomato, 1 cup water, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 1/4 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp oregano, and 1/2 tsp salt.

   Time: PT5M

2. Blend Spicy Salsa

   Place all spicy salsa ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth.

   Time: PT5M

3. Simmer and Strain Spicy Salsa

   Pour the blended mixture into a saucepan, bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then strain through a fine mesh strainer back into the pot. Add the remaining 1/2 tsp oregano, adjust salt if needed, and simmer for another 10 minutes.

   Time: PT15M

4. Gather Tomato Salsa Ingredients

   Measure 1 can diced tomatoes, 1/4 onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 cup water, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, 1/2 tsp oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tbsp olive oil.

   Time: PT5M

5. Blend Tomato Salsa

   Add the tomato salsa ingredients (except oil) to the blender and pulse until slightly chunky.

   Time: PT5M

6. Cook Tomato Salsa

   Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat, pour in the blended mixture, add the remaining 1/2 tsp oregano, and simmer gently for 10 minutes. No straining needed.

   Time: PT12M

7. Toast Bolillo Rolls

   Slice the bolillo rolls lengthwise and toast them in a skillet or toaster until lightly crisp on the cut sides.

   Time: PT5M

8. Assemble the Torta

   On the bottom half of each roll spread a generous layer of the tomato salsa, then add refried beans, warmed carnitas, avocado slices, and pickled onions. Close the sandwich and drizzle the spicy salsa on top.

   Time: PT5M

Nutrition Facts

Calories

650

Protein

30g

Carbohydrates

70g

Fat

25g

Fiber

8g