Torta

For other uses, see Torta (disambiguation).

Torta cenceña made in la Roda.

Torta is a Spanish word with a huge array of culinary meanings depending from the area and period of history in question. It originated in different regional variants of flatbread, of which the torta de gazpacho^[1] and torta cenceña^[2] are still surviving in certain areas of central Spain. Tortas are also mentioned in Leviticus 24:5-9, in the Spanish translation of the Bible. Presently, however, the word "torta" is also applied to different kinds of bread and pastry products according to the region.

Historically the difference between torta and bread was its round and flat shape, as well as the absence of yeast in its preparation. The well-known word tortilla, used mainly in Mexico and Spain, means 'small torta'. In most regions a torta was traditionally considered an inferior form of bread, as the well known Spanish aphorism expresses:

A falta de pan buenas son tortas.

Where there is no bread tortas are all right

In various countries of South America, and in some countries of Europe as well, the word 'torta' means different things. Nowadays the most common usage, however, is for cakes (from the German torte or French tarte) and less for bread products.

In many South American countries, as well as in Italy, 'torta' means a sweet cake, such as a wedding or birthday cake. Torta frita is a fried flatbread eaten in Uruguay and Argentina. Other uses of the word 'torta' include Huevo en torta, a small fried mixture of scrambled eggs, not to be confused with Torta de huevo, a typical pastry from Sobrarbe, Aragon, Spain, and Torta del Casar, a cheese made from sheep's milk in Extremadura, Spain.

Mexico

Typical Mexican Torta

In Mexico a torta is a kind of sandwich,^[3] served on an oblong 6-8 inch firm, crusty white sandwich roll, called a bolillo, telera or birote. "Telera" is soft, round bread; also commonly used is the bolillo, a torpedo-shaped French roll with a thick and crunchy crust. Tortas can be served hot, typically toasted in a press in the same manner as a cuban sandwich or panini, or cold. Common ingredients may include, but are not limited to:

• Al pastor: (marinated pork)
• Alambre: (steak, bacon, onion, pepper and cheese)
• Carne asada: (marinated steak)
• Carne deshebrada: (shredded beef)
• Carnitas: (fried tender pork)
• Chile relleno: (white cheese-stuffed Anaheim or poblano green pepper fried in egg batter)
• Choriqueso: (Chorizo with cheese)
• Cochinita pibil: (pork loin in orange sauce)
• Camarón: shrimp
• Huevo con salchicha: (sausage and scrambled egg)
• Huevo con Jamón: (Ham and scrambled egg)
• Huevo con tocino: (Bacon and scrambled egg)
• Huevo con Bolonia: (Bologna and scrambled egg)
• Chilorio: (pork fried in chile sauce)
• Jamón: Ham
• Lomo: Pork tenderloin
• Lengua: beef tongue
• Milanesa: (breaded steak)
• Pescado: fried fish
• Pechuga de pavo: turkey breast
• Pollo: chicken

Some styles include:

• Cubana: Inspired by the popular Cuban sandwich. Typically includes a wide variety of ingredients: ham, white cheese, scrambled eggs, sausage, milanesa and chipotle.
• Torta ahogada: a sandwich filled with carnitas and submerged in sauce. Very popular in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Garnishes such as avocado, sour cream, lettuce, jalapeño, tomato, and cheese feature in various incarnations of the sandwich. The dish is popular throughout Mexico, and is also available anywhere with a large number of Mexican immigrants. This dish should not be confused with a Spanish egg torta, a popular omelette-like dish.

The television character El Chavo is frequently heard asking or begging for "tortas de jamón" (ham sandwiches).

Philippines

Torta Mamon from the Philippines

In the Philippines, particularly among Northern and Tagalog-speaking provinces and islands, 'torta' refers to a kind of omelette made with eggs, ground meat and sometimes minced onion and potato.

In Visayas and Mindanao, 'torta' refers to a sponge cake made with flour, egg yolks, milk, and salt.^[4] It resembles a large cupcake. Often served as dessert with butter, sugar, and/or cheese on top. It is sometimes referred to as 'torta mamon', 'mamon', or 'puto mamon'^[5] to distinguish it from the Tagalog definition of 'torta'. See Puto.

Gallery

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  Mexican torta ahogada, a pork sandwich with chili/tomato sauce, onion slices and lime juice

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  Tortas being prepared on a griddle in Oaxaca

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  Torta Dolce (sweet cake), from Perugia, Umbria, Italy

• 

  Torta de Chicharrones from Galicia, Spain

• 

  Tortas de aceite in Seville, Andalusia, Spain

• 

  Old drawing of a woman selling tortas

• 

  Packed Torta de huevo, from Sobrarbe, Aragon, Spain

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  Mexican Torta de Huevo

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  Torta from Ribagorza, Aragon, Spain

• 

  Torta Imperial, Spain

• 

  Torta frita, Uruguay - Argentina

• 

  Torta verde from Ventimiglia, Italy

See also

• Tortilla
• Migas
• Torta de Gazpacho
• Sopaipilla
• Arepa
• Pupusa
• List of sandwiches

References

1. ^ Albacete - Gazpachos Manchegos
2. ^ La Roda, torta cenceña
3. ^ "Mexican Torta recipe"
4. ^ "Torta Mamon Cebuano"
5. ^ "Mamon Filipino"

External links

• Torta de Pan Viejo
• Éxodo 29:2 y pan sin levadura, y tortas sin levadura (Spanish)
• Semicultured.com Photos of Torta Sandwich