Tortas Ahogadas (Drowned Pork Sandwiches)
Crusty rolls filled with tender carnitas, drowned in a mild tomato sauce and a fiery chilli salsa, topped with pickled onion.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Carnitas (slow cooked pork) and Salsa a la diabla. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £3.01 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
Warm your ready made carnitas (see the base recipe) in a pan or oven until steaming hot all the way through and crisp at the edges.
5 min - 2
Heat the oil in a pan and cook the garlic for 30 seconds. Add the passata, oregano and a pinch of salt and simmer for 8 minutes into a mild tomato sauce.
8 min - 3
Warm your ready made salsa a la diabla (see the base recipe) in a separate pan and thin with 3 tbsp warm water. This is the hot salsa.
- 4
Split the rolls and fill with the hot carnitas.
- 5
Set each roll in a deep bowl. Ladle over the tomato sauce until the roll is well soaked, then spoon the hot salsa on top to taste.
- 6
Top with your ready made pickled red onions (see the base recipe). Eat straight away with a knife and fork and plenty of napkins.
Tips
- A sturdy crusty roll is essential. A soft bun disintegrates under the sauces.
- Serve the hot salsa on the side so each person can control the heat.
- Warm the roll through first so the tomato sauce soaks in rather than sitting on top.
- Use ciabatta or sourdough rolls if you cannot find a firm crusty roll.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep the carnitas and sauces separately in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Where does torta ahogada come from?
It is a street food from Guadalajara in Jalisco, famous for the rolls that are drowned in sauce.
Can I use pulled pork instead of carnitas?
Yes. Any tender, shredded pork works. Warm it until crisp edges form.
Is it very hot?
The tomato sauce is mild and the diabla salsa is hot, so it is flexible. Use 100 ml of the salsa for a gentler sandwich.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Arroz con Camarones al Guajillo (Guajillo Prawn Rice)
DFEFNFLamb Shawarma Wraps with Tahini Sauce and Pickled Red Onions
DFEFNFEnchiladas Verdes de Res (Green Beef Enchiladas)
EFNFCostillas al Pastor (Sticky Pastor Pork Ribs)
DFEFNFSee 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.