Torta de Pollo Pibil

In Mexico “Tortas” are another way to eat a fast meal, with a little more punch to it than only a taco. This Mexican sandwich is usually accompanied with some type of protein or a mix of different proteins, refried beans and some type of vegetable that can range from lettuce, tomato or avocado and chilies. For the bread we use “bolillo”, which is a Mexican bread. If you don’t find “bolillo” you can substitute with ciabatta.

In the Southern part of Mexico in the Yucatán peninsula they love preparing things Pibil style and usually prepare it with pork. Pibil gets its red color from annatto, a seed that is grown in Latin America and then packaged as achiote. This is a personal favorite, since it is a very low-calorie dish preparation which packed with flavor. At home I substitute the pork with chicken breast and serve it with a side of onions for dinner when I am looking for something light, but that does not taste like diet food.

Here is my idea for a Mexican Chicken Pibil “Torta” that is ideal for a summer dinner.

For the Chicken Pibil

Ingredients

4 Chicken Breasts with bone
1 package of achiote paste (3.32 oz) (found in any Latin supermarket)
3 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon of dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
2 cups of orange juice mixed with 1 cup of lime juice
1 habanero pepper

Put in blender the achiote paste, garlic, oregano, orange/lemon juice and habanero pepper. Add Chicken breast and let marinade for a couple of hours. Put all the ingredients in a pressure cooker and cook till the chicken is fully cooked. Let cool. With the help of a fork, pull the meat of the bone.

For the pickled red onion

3 medium red onions thinly sliced
1 bay leave
1 tablespoon or oregano
¾ cups of White Vinegar
2 tablespoons of lime juice
Sea Salt

Incorporate all the ingredients. Can be done a day ahead and they are better as time goes by.

To prepare the torta:

4 bolillos or ciabatta
Refried beans
Chicken Pibil

Toast the piece of bread and cut in halves. Heat up the pibil chicken (can do that in the microwave) and serve in bread as a sandwich. Serve immediately.

For serving:

In a small dish put some refried beans. In another one some guacamole (see recipe) and another some pickled red onion so that everyone can add to their torta the seasonings they prefer.