Torta ahogada facts for kids
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| Type | Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Mexico |
| Region or state | Guadalajara |
| Main ingredients | Birote salado bread (or bolillo depending on availability), sauce (dried chili peppers), fried pork or chicken or beans |
A torta ahogada is a super popular sandwich from Guadalajara, a big city in the Mexican state of Jalisco. Its name means "drowned sandwich" because it's completely or partly covered in a special sauce.
This tasty dish is famous in Guadalajara. It's called "drowned" because the sandwich is dipped into a sauce. The main sauce is made from a dried chili pepper called chile de árbol. You can also find less spicy versions. These are made with a milder tomato-based sauce.
Contents
What is a Torta Ahogada?
Tortas ahogadas are made with a special bread called birote. This bread is unique to the Guadalajara area. It's called birote salado, which means "salty birote".
This bread has a thick, crunchy outside and a soft inside. It's also more salty than sweet. The special texture of the bread is important. It lets the sandwich soak up the sauce without falling apart. Other breads, like bolillo, might get too soggy.
The bread is cut open on one side. Then, it's filled with chopped, fried pork. Sometimes, you can also find tortas ahogadas filled with chicken, beans, or cheese.
The sandwiches are often served with extra toppings. These include onion rings, radishes, avocados, and more chili peppers.
The Sauces
The sauce for a torta ahogada can be either very spicy or mild.
- The spicy sauce is made from ground chile de árbol peppers. It also has vinegar, garlic, oregano, and other spices.
- The sweet sauce is much less spicy. It's made from red tomatoes and chili peppers.
You can choose how "drowned" your sandwich is:
- If you order "media ahogada" (half drowned), only part of the sandwich is dipped in the sauce.
- If you order "bien ahogada" (well drowned), the whole sandwich is completely covered in sauce. It stays in the sauce until no more bubbles appear!
Where to Find Them
It's a tradition to eat tortas ahogadas at Estadio Jalisco. This is the big football (soccer) stadium in Guadalajara. Even though they can be messy, people love to eat them there.
People usually eat tortas ahogadas with their bare hands. This can be tricky because of all the sauce! You can often buy this delicious food from street vendors. You can also find them in restaurants.
How the Torta Ahogada Started
Local stories say the torta ahogada started by accident. A street vendor named De La Torre supposedly dropped a sandwich into some salsa. This happy accident led to the creation of this famous dish! The original stand, Tortas Ahogadas El Güero, is still around today as Tortas Ahogadas El Güerito.
Why People Love Them
The torta ahogada is very special to many people from Guadalajara. It holds a special place in their hearts. People who grew up there, or who have spent time in the city, often miss this sandwich when they are away.
Some people even travel far just to find a good torta ahogada outside of Guadalajara. People from Guadalajara often say that you haven't truly visited their city until you've tried a torta ahogada!
See also
In Spanish: Torta ahogada para niños
