Torta Ahogada de Carnitas (Drowned Pork Sandwich)
Crusty rolls stuffed with carnitas and beans, then drenched in a hot red chilli sauce, a messy Guadalajara classic.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Chile colorado sauce and Carnitas (slow cooked pork). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time30 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.33 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
Tip the chopped tomatoes, garlic and water into a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a pan with your ready made chile colorado sauce (see the base recipe) and warm over a low heat for 10 minutes.
10 min - 2
Warm your carnitas (see the base recipe) in a hot frying pan for 6 minutes, stirring, until the edges crisp.
6 min - 3
Split the rolls lengthways, leaving a hinge, and tear out a little of the soft crumb to make a channel.
- 4
Fill each roll with a generous pile of carnitas and a spoonful of your pickled red onions (see the base recipe).
- 5
Set the rolls in shallow bowls. Ladle the hot red sauce over until they are well drenched. Serve at once with lime wedges and a knife and fork.
Tips
- The roll must have a firm crust so it survives the sauce. Soft rolls turn to mush.
- Keep the sauce hot but not boiling. A rolling boil makes it thicken and splatter.
- Serve with extra sauce on the side, as traditional vendors do.
Storing and freezing
Eat straight away. Keep leftover carnitas and sauce separately in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Where does the torta ahogada come from?
It is a speciality of Guadalajara, Jalisco, and is made with birote salado rolls. Our crusty rolls are the closest UK swap.
Can I use another meat?
Yes. Shredded chicken, barbacoa beef or fried tofu all work well.
How spicy is it?
Medium. Dilute the sauce with extra tomato and water to turn the heat down, or add a few more chiles de arbol for the real thing.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Salbutes de Pollo (Puffy Yucatecan Fried Masa Tortillas)
DFEFNFGreek Loaded Chips with Feta, Pickled Red Onions and Tzatziki
EFNFCerdo al Pastor al Horno con Piña y Frijoles (Oven Pastor Pork with Pineapple and Beans)
DFEFNFBBQ Chicken Burgers with Pickled Onions and Mayo
NFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double 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.