The Torta Sandwich
Americans are intensely familiar, even in love with, tacos. Ask any American what their favorite Mexican dish is and 9 times out of 10, the response is tacos. While tacos are indeed a tasty part of Mexican cuisine, another popular Mexican street food is finally making its way to the states and most people are completely stunned that they didn’t know it existed.
Why it took so long, no one knows, but the Mexican torta seems to be sweeping the nation with a sea of adoring fans. This highly portable Mexican lunchtime staple comes in a variety of forms from smothered to seared with an endless array of fillings. Basically, if you like sandwiches, you’re going to love the Mexican torta.
The Torta History: Where did it come from?
So in a country full of tortillas, how did a Mexican sandwich come to be? The answer to that lies in the time period of the French occupation of Mexico. While it’s a bit hazy, the general consensus seems to be that Mexican bakers used the hard and crusty French baguette as their inspiration. They used a dough that was similar and fashioned it into smaller loaves. They made two kinds of breads from this dough. The bolillo is the most common, shaped in an oval with a soft inside and crusty outside. The telera is a little bit larger and rounder, with a couple creases in the center.
Whichever bread is selected to craft a proper Mexican torta, most Mexicans can agree that the bread should have a good and solid texture to support the ingredients. It also should be soft enough to bite into without chipping a tooth. Plus, it must be large enough to be an accommodating host to all of those ingredients.
Speaking of ingredients, the Mexican torta comes in just an many different varieties as sandwiches do in America. There are some truly mouth-watering options, mostly drawing from the influences of each reason. For example, in Guadalajara, the tortas are often filled with steak Milanesa or even roast beef and ham, then they are dipped into a jar of spicy and thick salsa. Mexicans from Monterrey will dazzle you with a carne asada torta.
However they’re prepared from cold to grilled to smothered and whatever meats are inside, Mexican tortas are often garnished with avocado, poblano peppers, tomatoes, and onions. The good news is that with so many spectacular choices for Mexican tortas, visiting Mexico is even more fun as you get a chance to taste them all. You’ll find them just about everywhere though they are most commonly served for lunch. Look for street vendors or pop into a restaurant and you’ll find a delicious selection of Mexican tortas.
They’re designed to take on the go so you’ll likely find no place to sit down and eat them. They make a great lunch or even a snack while sightseeing. They’re also great for events like parades, concerts, and soccer matches too.
The Phoenix AZ Torta
If you can’t get to Mexico, not to worry. In Phoenix, Arizona, Teg Torta Shop serves up the tastiest Mexican tortas on this side of the border. Since 2002, this family-owned establishment has been serving up tortas and everyone’s old standby favorite, tacos, with rave results. Using only the freshest ingredients, they hand-craft every torta to order. No matter which torta you choose, you can order it in Mini, Regular, or Super depending on your appetite. Mini is also great for when you just can’t decide so you can pick two of your favorites.
The tortas here come in a wonderful selection of flavors. The Carne Asada features grilled steak, while the Torta Ahogada is a pork leg with beans, smothered in a delightful chili sauce. Alambre has carne asada, bacon, onion, green bell peppers, and melted cheese.
Vegetarian options like the Calabacita Torta come with zucchini, spinach, red bell pepper, and cheese. There’s also the Torta Poblano with poblano peppers, mushrooms, and spinach. All tortas come with avocado and mayonnaise and are served with fries.
And of course, if you’re feeling like tacos, you can get those too. Why not get a torta and a taco? Tacos have a choice of savory meats like marinated pork, chicken, and carne asada to name a few. While the tacos at Teg Torta Shop are indeed perfection, the tortas are absolutely the star of the show at this sweet Mexican sandwich shop.
Drinks and milkshakes are available too, making for a great complement to your torta. Try the mango milkshake for a sweet treat, while the cantaloupe milkshake is full of melon flavor. There are also strawberry milkshakes and banana milkshakes to choose from.
Hungry for a taste of the Mexican torta? Then head over to Teg Torta Shop in Phoenix for authentic Mexican torta flavors without having to grab your passport. Once you try a torta, you might find every other sandwich you try to be boring and bland. Mexican tortas definitely know how to maximize flavor, freshness and texture for a truly satisfying sandwich!
