Tortas de Milanesa con Frijoles y Escabeche (Crispy Chicken Sandwiches)
Thin, crisp breaded chicken piled into soft rolls with refried beans, avocado and tangy pickled jalapeños.
Made with Escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time40 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £2.45 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
Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to make 8 thin pieces. Put each between sheets of baking paper and bash to about 5 mm thick with a rolling pin. Season with the salt and pepper.
- 2
Put the flour, beaten egg and breadcrumbs in three shallow dishes. Coat each piece of chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, pressing the crumbs on firmly.
- 3
Heat the oil in a wide frying pan over a medium-high heat. Fry the chicken in batches for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until deep golden and cooked through. Drain on kitchen paper.
6 min - 4
Warm your ready made refried beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of water until steaming hot all the way through.
3 min - 5
Split the rolls and toast them cut side down in a dry pan for 1 minute. Mash the avocados with a pinch of salt.
- 6
Spread the mayonnaise on the top halves and the warm beans on the bottoms. Add the avocado, tomato slices and two pieces of chicken to each.
- 7
Top with a generous spoonful of your ready made escabeche (see the base recipe), with a little of its liquid. Close and eat straight away.
Tips
- Pound the chicken to an even 5 mm so it cooks in minutes and stays juicy inside the crisp coating.
- Let the breaded chicken sit for 5 minutes before frying so the crumbs stick.
- Spread the beans and avocado on the bread first so the hot chicken does not make the roll soggy.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. The cooked chicken keeps in the fridge for 2 days and can be reheated in a hot oven until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Can I use pork or beef instead of chicken?
Yes. Thin pork loin steaks or beef rump steaks bashed to 5 mm work well and are common in Mexico. Cook until no pink remains in the middle.
What rolls are best for a torta?
A bolillo or telera is traditional. In the UK a soft white bap or ciabatta roll is the closest. Toast the cut sides so the roll holds its shape.
More made with escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots)
Nachos de Queso con Frijoles y Escabeche (Cheese Nachos)
GFEFNFTacos de Hongos al Ajillo con Escabeche (Garlic Mushroom Tacos)
DFEFNFChuletas de Cerdo en Mole con Escabeche (Pork Chops in Red Mole)
GFDFEFTacos de Papa con Chorizo y Escabeche (Potato and Chorizo Tacos)
EFNFSee every dish made with escabeche (pickled jalapenos and carrots)
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.