Cemita Poblana de Carnitas (Puebla Style Pork Sandwich)
A sesame seeded roll piled with crisp pork, avocado, melting cheese and smoky chipotle, the signature sandwich of Puebla.
Made with Chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade) and Carnitas (slow cooked pork). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time25 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.92 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Crisp the carnitas (see the base recipe) in a hot dry frying pan for 3 to 4 minutes, until golden and steaming hot all the way through.
3 min 30 s - 2
Split the rolls and toast the cut sides in a dry pan for 2 minutes until golden.
2 min - 3
Spread the base of each roll with chipotle sauce (see the base recipe). It is hot, so spread thinly.
- 4
Layer carnitas, cheese, avocado, tomato, onion and coriander.
- 5
Close and press firmly. For a melted cheese finish, heat under a grill for 2 minutes before closing.
2 min
Tips
- The chipotle adobo is strong. Start with a thin smear and add more to taste.
- Authentic cemitas use papalo, a pungent leaf. Coriander is the UK stand-in.
- Press the sandwich down with a plate for a minute so it holds together.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Keep the pork and chipotle sauce in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Questions
What is a cemita?
A cemita is a Puebla sandwich on a sesame seeded roll of the same name, filled with meat, avocado, cheese, chipotle and herbs.
Is it very spicy?
It can be. Chipotle adobo is smoky and hot, so spread it thinly or serve it on the side.
What bread should I use?
Any soft sesame roll. Brioche burger buns are the closest.
More made with chipotle in adobo sauce (homemade)
Hamburguesas de Frijol con Chipotle y Guacamole (Mexican Bean Burgers)
DFEFNFTostadas de Marlín Ahumado (Smoked Fish Tostadas with Chipotle)
DFEFNFTostadas de Jamaica (Hibiscus Flower Tostadas with Chipotle)
GFDFEFEsquites Cremosos con Chipotle (Creamy Chipotle Corn Cups)
GFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.