Mexican Torta Burgers Recipes

TORTA BURGERS

Steps:

• Mix the crema, cilantro and lime juice in a small bowl; season with salt and pepper. Combine the beef with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Divide the mixture into 8 equal-size balls.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Lightly coat with cooking spray. Smash 4 of the beef balls into very thin patties. Add the patties to the skillet and cook, smashing them even more with a spatula, until browned, about 3 minutes. Flip the patties, top each with a slice of cheese and cook until the patties are cooked through and the cheese melts, about 2 more minutes for medium doneness. Wipe out the skillet, lightly coat with more cooking spray and repeat with the remaining beef and cheese to make 4 more patties.
• Spread the crema mixture on the cut sides of the rolls. Place 2 patties in each roll with the salsa, lettuce, avocado and radishes. Serve with tortilla chips.

TORTA PASQUALINA

Steps:

• For the crust: Mix the flour and salt together in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Combine the oil and 1 cup water in a liquid measuring cup and pour into the well. Stir together with a fork to make a shaggy dough. Turn out on a work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, 2 to 5 minutes. Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces and roll each into a ball. Space the balls 1 to 2 inches apart on the worksurface or in a baking dish. Cover with a damp towel and let rest 1 hour.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, heat the oil and butter in a large pot over high. Add the onion, chard stems, 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Cook until softened and dry, stirring occasionally, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the chard leaves, then the spinach, adding a little of the greens at a time and letting each batch wilt before adding more.
• Once all the greens are wilted, add the marjoram and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the stems and greens are tender and all the liquid has cooked off, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a large cutting board to cool, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F with a rack in the center and a large baking sheet set on the rack. Mix the ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, yogurt, breadcrumbs, nutmeg and 2 of the eggs in a large bowl. Finely chop the greens and stir into the ricotta mixture.
• Brush the inside of a 9-inch round cake pan (at least 2 inches deep) with olive oil. Generously dust a work surface with flour and roll out 1 dough ball to 12 inches in diameter. (Keep the other dough covered.)
• Drape the dough round in the pan so the edges overhang by about 1 inch. (It's ok if it doesn't completely lay across the bottom of the pan, it will stretch as you add more layers.) Brush the edges with oil first to anchor them, then brush the rest of the dough. Roll another ball in the same way, lay it on top of the first and brush with oil the same way. Continue rolling, layering and brushing with 4 more balls of dough for a total of 6 layers, leaving the last layer unbrushed with oil. Gently spread the chard filling into the crust.
• Crack one egg into a ramekin. Make a 2-inch-deep-by-2-inch-wide indentation in the filling 1 inch from the edge of the pan using the back of the handle of a wooden spoon. Slide the egg into the hole. Repeat the process with 4 more eggs, spacing them evenly around the pan. Do not put an egg in the center. Sprinkle the eggs with salt and pepper.
• Roll another ball of dough to 12 inches in diameter. Lay it over of the filling with a 1 1/2-inch overhang and brush with oil. Repeat with the remaining 5 balls of dough leaving the top layer unbrushed with oil. Trim the overhang to 1/2 inch. Roll the overhanging edges over each other along the rim of the torta, tucking them in and pinching to seal. Beat the remaining egg in the ramekin and generously brush the top and edges of the torta.
• Place the torta on the preheated baking sheet and bake until puffed and golden brown and the internal temperature registers 150 degrees F when taken at the center, 70 to 80 minutes. (The edges will measure hotter.) Cool on a wire rack at least 4 hours. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

MEXICAN CEMITA BURGER

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl combine the chipotle, adobo sauce, garlic, Mexican crema, and mayonnaise. Mix until well combined and set aside.
• Avocado Spread:
• In a small mixing bowl combine the avocado and lime juice. Season, to taste, with salt and set aside.
• Combine the beef, adobo sauce, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Mix well, handling the meat as little as possible to avoid compacting. Divide the mixture into 4 equal portions and form into patties to fit the size of the buns.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. When oil is hot, add burgers. Cook for 3 minutes, then flip burgers. Top the burgers with Oaxacan cheese and cover with aluminum foil. Cook until the burgers are cooked medium-rare, about 3 to 4 minutes. Toast the buns.
• To assemble the burgers, spread some Chipotle Crema on the cut sides of the buns. On each bun bottom, add some corn tortilla chips, a cheese-topped patty, onion, equal amounts of Avocado Spread, and papalo. Cover with the bun tops and serve.