Joses Torta Ahogada Spicy Pork Sandwich Food

SAUCY CARNITAS SANDWICH (TORTA AHOGADA)

Steps:

• Carnitas: Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add pork cubes in an even layer, fat-side down, followed by onion, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves, and ½ tablespoon salt. Add lard. Squeeze juice from orange wedges into the pot, then add the squeezed orange wedges. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered, for 1½ hours, stirring occasionally to make sure the pork cooks evenly.
• Remove and discard the orange peels, big pieces of onion, and bay leaves. Increase heat to medium-high and continue cooking for 1 more hour, stirring more regularly as the fat renders out and the pork begins to look shredded and browned. When pork is fully cooked, taste for seasoning and add more salt as needed. Meanwhile, make the Salsa Ahogada.
• Salsa Ahogada: In a large pot over medium heat, heat the olive oil until hot but not smoking. Add onion, garlic clove, and chiles; cook until onions are translucent, 8-10 minutes. Then add tomatoes, tomato paste, and water (omit if using canned tomatoes). Stir, then simmer until the tomatoes are cooked, 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat a comal or skillet over medium heat. When comal is hot, add peppercorns, cloves, allspice, and chile flakes to the hot comal. Toast for 30 seconds, stirring constantly to distribute the heat and prevent burning. After 30 seconds, remove from heat and add cumin, oregano, and bay leaves to the hot pan; keep stirring. (The residual heat will toast the additional spices.) Set aside to cool for 8-10 minutes. Then finely grind the spices and set aside.
• Ladle the cooked onion-tomato mixture into a blender, along with the ground spices, vinegar, and salt. Blend on medium speed to purée, 10-15 seconds. Place Salsa Ahogada back into the Dutch oven and simmer over low-medium heat for 10 minutes, or until salsa has thickened and reduced by about one-third. Remove and discard any tomato peels that have floated to the top. Taste for seasoning and add more salt as needed. Keep the Salsa Ahogada warm until ready to assemble and serve tortas. Makes about 4 cups. (Note: Salsa Ahogada can be made 1-2 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator in a lidded container.)
• Assemble Torta Ahogada: Preheat broiler. Slice baguette/rolls lengthwise and broil, cut-side up, until toasted, 3-5 minutes. Meanwhile, chop or shred Carnitas into small pieces. Spread about ¼ cup of the refried beans on one half of the toasted baguette, then top with about ⅓ of the Carnitas. Add sliced avocado in an even layer. Spread a lighter coat of beans on the other baguette half and place on top to make a sandwich. Slice into thirds and arrange on a rimmed serving plate or flat-bottomed bowl, cut-sides down. "Drown" the sandwich in Salsa Ahogada by ladling it all around and on top; garnish with pickled red onions. Assemble the other sandwiches and serve immediately (with lots of napkins!).

TORTA AHOGADA

Steps:

• Cut the baguette open (not all the way), then spread the Puerco Beans inside, and stuff it with the Smoked Carnitas. Cut it in half for better handling purposes, place it in a bowl, and top it with the Tomato Salsa. Garnish with the Pickled Red Onions. Serve with the Spicy Salsa and lime wedge.
• Cook the pinto beans in a pot with 1 gallon of water and the salt until tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat another pot for about 2 minutes and add the lard. Let it heat for another minute, then add the chorizo and bacon. Let cook 5 minutes, then add the onion and serrano pepper and let it cook for another 3 minutes, stirring the mixture occasionally. Add the beer to deglaze, then let it reduce for 5 minutes.
• Grab the cooked beans and add them to the mixture. Let it boil, then add the pickled jalapeños and vinegar and bring it to boil, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and check the seasoning.
• Dice the pork butt into 2-inch pieces. In a pot, heat up the lard to around 350 degrees F (about 5 minutes). Add the pork butt pieces and sear them for about 7 minutes. Squeeze the juice of the orange into the pot, then drop the orange into the pot. Add the garlic, bay leaves, oregano, cola and salt, then turn it down to medium-low heat. Cook until the meat is tender, about 40 minutes, then add the liquid smoke and let cook for 5 more minutes. Strain the carnitas and enjoy.
• Remove the seeds and veins from the guajillo peppers. Put the peppers in a small pot together with the tomatoes, garlic and 3 quarts water. Place the pot on the stove and boil them until the tomatoes are fully cooked, about 10 minutes.
• Strain the vegetables, retaining their water, then put them in a blender. Add some of the vegetable water, covering the vegetables halfway, then add the salt, oregano, cumin, pepper and vinegar. Blend together and check the seasoning.
• Cut the onions in juliennes, then put them in a mixing bowl. Cut the beet into chunks and add them to the bowl. Add the vinegar, oregano, salt, cumin, pepper and 3 ounces water. Cover and let them sit overnight; check the seasoning.
• Put the chile pods, garlic and 1 quart water in a pot and boil for 10 minutes. Strain the chile pods and garlic, reserving the water. Blend them with the vinegar, salt, cumin, oregano, pepper and 8 ounces of the cooking water. Pass the mixture through a strainer. It is ready to spice up your life.

BRAISED PORK SANDWICH WITH SPICY TOMATO BROTH (TORTAS AHOGADAS)

Steps:

• In a large, heavy skillet, heat the vegetable shortening over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the pork all over with salt and pepper. Sear the meat on all sides until golden brown, about 5 minutes per side.
• Carefully add 3 cups water, the garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf and onion. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the meat is tender, about 25 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until the liquid completely evaporates and the pork meat is browned, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, warm the refried beans in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat.
• Transfer the meat to a cutting board. Discard the garlic, peppercorns, bay leaf and onion. Thinly slice the pieces of pork.
• Cut each bolillo in half lengthwise, spread 2 tablespoons of refried beans on each bottom half and top with 1/4 cup pork. Put the other bolillo half on top. Serve in shallow bowls and drench each torta with the warm Spicy Tomato Broth.
• Combine the tomatoes, garlic, onions, oregano and chile in a blender and process until smooth.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat. Transfer the tomato mixture to medium, heavy saucepan and add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer until bright red, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

JOSE'S TORTA AHOGADA (SPICY PORK SANDWICH)

Steps:

• For the spicy sauce: Cook the chiles in boiling water until tender, about 20 minutes. Put in the blender with a little of the cooking water and the vinegar and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Blend until smooth. Set aside.
• For the sweet sauce: Using a blender, blend the vinegar, sugar, tomatoes and garlic. Pour into a saucepan and cook until thick, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• For the pork tenderloin: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F/180 degrees C. Place the pork in a bowl, add the paprikas and cayenne and mix well.
• Heat the oil in a pan over high heat. Add the pork and fry until golden brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Put the pan in the oven until a meat thermometer inserted in the center of the tenderloin reads 122 degrees F/50 degrees C for medium, about 15 minutes. Place the pork on a plate and cover with aluminum foil. Let rest for 10 minutes and slice.
• Place the meat and onions on the rolls. Dip the sandwiches in the spicy sauce and add a ladle of the sweet sauce. Squeeze some lime juice over top.

TORTA AHOGADA (DROWNED BEEF SANDWICH)

Steps:

• To prepare the sauce: In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the chopped tomatoes with chiles, tomato sauce, cilantro, chipotles, adobo sauce, lime juice, and salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to gently cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• To prepare the meat filling: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the onions. Cook and stir until the onions begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno, stirring to incorporate. Cook and stir for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until the onions are well browned and the garlic and jalapenos soften. Add the meat and toss until heated through and well combined, about 2 minutes. Add 3/4 cup of the tomato sauce to the roast beef mixture, tossing to coat.
• Remove the sauce from the heat and add the broth. Using an immersion or standard blender, puree the sauce until smooth, it should be thin. Ladle the sauce into 4 bowls for dipping. Be sure the bowls are large enough so the sauce doesn't slop out when the sandwich is dipped.
• To serve: Spread the smashed avocado on the both side of the roll. Pile the meat filling on the bottom halves of the sandwich buns, close, and cut each sandwich in half. Arrange each sandwich on a plate with the dipping sauce on the side. Dip and eat!