Tortas de Pollo y Jamón con Frijoles (Chicken and Ham Mexican Sandwiches)
Crusty rolls spread with refried beans and stacked with shredded chicken, ham, avocado and pickled red onions.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Refried beans (frijoles refritos) and Shredded chicken (pollo deshebrado). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time20 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £2.64 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 the refried beans (see the base recipe) in a small pan with a splash of water for 3 minutes, until loose and hot.
3 min - 2
In a frying pan heat the oil and warm the pollo deshebrado (see the base recipe) with 2 tablespoons of water for 3 minutes until steaming hot all the way through.
3 min - 3
Mash the avocados with the lime juice and a pinch of salt.
- 4
Split the rolls, remove a little of the soft crumb and toast them cut side down in a dry pan for 1 to 2 minutes.
- 5
Spread the bottom of each roll with refried beans and the top with avocado. Layer on the ham, cheese, tomato and chicken and finish with the pickled red onions (see the base recipe).
- 6
Close the tortas and press down. Toast in the pan for 1 minute each side if you like them hot and pressed. Cut in half to serve.
2 min
Tips
- Tear a little of the soft crumb out of each roll so the filling is not lost in the bread.
- Spread a layer of beans on both sides to stop the juicy filling making the bread soggy.
- Add sliced pickled jalapenos for heat. Pickled red onions are what makes it taste like a torta.
Storing and freezing
Best eaten straight away. Keep fillings separately in the fridge for up to 2 days. Do not store assembled tortas.
Questions
What is a bolillo?
A bolillo is a crusty Mexican white roll used for tortas. Crusty white rolls or small ciabatta rolls are the best UK substitute.
Can I make it gluten free?
Yes, use gluten free rolls and check the ham. The bases are already gluten free.
Can I eat it cold?
Yes. Assembled cold tortas make a good packed lunch if wrapped tightly, but eat within a few hours.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Tacos de Camarón al Ajillo (Garlic Prawn Tacos)
GFDFEFPollo Pibil de Horno (Yucatan Style Slow Baked Achiote Chicken)
DFEFNFTorta de Pastor (Pastor Pork Sandwich with Refried Beans and Avocado)
EFNFSabich (Aubergine and Egg Pitta)
VNFSee 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.