Rick Bayless Torta Ahogada

The first thing people will tell you about this delectably messy, potentially fiery Guadalajara icon is that you can’t make it without a proper birote, the seriously crusty, deeply flavored roll of the region. Many places that make tortas ahogadas across the country actually express ship birotes to ensure authenticity. Personally, I consider a crusty sour-dough demi-baguette a good stand-in–or even an artisan bolillo (recipe below). The bread just has to have enough integrity to stand up to “drowning” in the sauce without falling apart.

00:00 Rick's Intro to Torta Ahogada
01:52 Pickling the Onions
03:23 Browning the Garlic and Onions
04:14 A Note on Browning Garlic
05:21 Blending the Tomato Broth
06:38 Cooking the Tomato Broth
07:47 Toasting the Arbol Chiles
10:33 Seasoning the Arbol Salsa
12:49 Making the Bean Spread
15:02 Assembling the Torta
17:06 Presenting the Torta with the Broth

[jameshobbs]

It's one of the things I miss most from Guadalajara.

[joewalsh]

This recipe is why typing "bay" on my Google machine autocompletes to this collection of recipes. You've nailed it again, Chef Bayless!! All of us who revel in Chicago's Italian beef can come here, subtract 20 degrees of latitude, and re-emerge in a warm, delicious, meaty, vaguely familiar, but much spicier - and slightly soggy! - place of happiness. Thanks & keep up the great work!

[jimbrennan]

One of my favorites ~ MESSY but delicious!

[azhram]

Rick congratulations on your torta ahogada, as i read the comments I like to make some remarks for the “know it all mexicans” beans can and it’s ok to create the paste in a blender in fact one of the best places to eat a torta ahogada in GDL the beans are mixed in a blender, also people you need to understand that Rick is cooking for people in the US that do not have a easy access to all the traditional ingredients for the torta ahogada, he is presenting this traditional dish to a whole new group of people so please chill

[trailblazer]

You are a trooper Rick. Thanks for sharing this recipe with us. My mouth (and eyes) were watering during the whole presentation. I will be making this over the weekend. Feel better!

[kippywylie]

THANK YOU! I asked in a comment a month ago "Please cover Tortas Ahogadas" and here you are. We LIVE on these in the Altos de Jalisco area of Mexico.... The region north of Guadalajara. I've been told that any version of this not from Guadalajara and Altos will never work because the bread is not available elsewhere

[Hotsauceonmy]

It’s always insane to me that this guy is Skip Bayless’ brother. Such a hilariously different personality

[ross]

Hope you feel better King, rest up! thanks for the video

[thedrunkweddingphotographer]

Tortas Ahogadas are like In-N-Out, you either love 'em or can't understand why people love them so much.

[joaquinfernandez]

So glad you are bringing Tortas back to Skokie!

[EB-znhs]

Just made this recipe and we LOVED IT! I don't think i can ever buy tortas ahogadas again. This was so easy and cheap to make.

All in, the entire meal cost $30 to make for about 8 tortas. For reference, one torta ahogad in LA is about $15 EACH!

Also, my family is from Guadalajara so I consider myself an authority on this dish. This was outstanding!

[PoorChoicesHost]

one of my favorite meals in Chicago. Thanks for making this video.

[eseguerito]

Heck yeah good stuff dude. Every time i visit my cousins in Guadalajara, it’s absolutely obligatory that we go to their local tortas ahogadas spot. Best believe i devour that thing like a starving stray dog. 🫡

[daphnepearce]

Rick! Okay, I gotta try this! I'll make this with my leftover pork chiles verde from last night. This looks outstanding! Thanks Rick, hope you feel better soon!

[meganhenry]

Rick is da man! Your recipes are so great! Thank you for sharing.

[MilesAndMayhem]

This is my absolute favorite thing at Xoco, and I miss it so bad... you can't understand how happy I was to see this video pop up.

[aaronwhite]

I used to live near a handful of Mexican grocery stores that had some incredible Carnitas you could buy from the meat counter.

That's probably the only thing I miss from that town. Now that I've moved to a new place, I'm hunting down the best Carnitas I can find. Sure, I can make it myself, but it's also nice being able to just go buy it.

[devadasn]

I love tortas ahogadas, which I had one right now

[jayski]

Treating it like a "french dip" is the best idea I've ever seen. I've always had to eat these with a knife and fork.

[leechopsticks]

Very nice I supposing it tastes wonderful thank u so much