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Monday, May 11, 2009

Yes, I did it again.

Have you ever had a Pambazo? Well, for those of you who haven't...I recommend trying one. Pronto! If you visit me, even occasionally, you know that I love Mexican food. In all my years of eating it though, I had never even heard of a Pambazo. It is basically a torta (big, awesome sandwich)...where it differs is the bread, or the outside of the bread. It is dipped or painted with a sauce made up of chiles and then fried, well sauteed really until slightly crusty on the outside. It gets your fingers and mouth all red and messy...ah, fun with food! Mexi has been talking about how much he wants one...for what seems like months. So, finally he decided to give it a go. He said they turned out pretty well for his first try, but that they'll be even better next time...bring it on!!!

So, like a sandwich or a torta, you can put anything you like in between the two bread halves. Mexi chose chorizo with papas (potatoes) this time. You can use chicken breast, veggies, pork, steak, ham- You name it! Here's the basic process:

Pambazos

basic ingredients (mix & match as desired):
bolillos or telera bread
dried chiles (such as ancho)
tomato or tomatillo
garlic
Your choice of filling (such as chorizo & potatoes)
various toppings (such as lettuce, avocado, crema, queso)

Make a sauce from some dried chiles, garlic and tomatoes &/or tomatillos by tossing a few some in a pot with a little water and simmering to soften. Mexichef used 1 ancho chile, 1 tomato and couple cloves of garlic. Once they are softened, transfer the solids to a blender with a couple of Tbs. of water (just enough to let the blades move through it all) and some salt to taste; blend until smooth.

In the meantime, get your filling ready. In this case, crumble fresh chorizo into a skillet and cook until browned. At the same time, cook up a couple of potatoes and dice once tender and cool enough to handle. Add the potatoes to the pan with the chorizo.
Next, brush some bolillo or telera bread halves with your chile mixture. Or dip them in (I think we may dip next time). Have a hot, large pan ready. Add a bit of oil, just to coat the bottom then add your chile-covered bread to pan. Let each side crisp up and get some nice, golden color. (This doesn't really show in the photo, but I promise, it happens...and it's goooood.)
Now, add your filling and any other toppings you may like to the inside of one half of the bread. We used avocado, lettuce and crema this time.

Crumble some queso fresco over the top (or just put it inside) and prepare to get messy. Bite, chew, groan, lick your fingers. Repeat.
Thanks for joining me for more Mexican food...and speaking of chiles on this beautiful (yet chilly...ha ha) day in the month of May (National Chile Pepper Month)....if you haven't checked out my GIVEAWAY, full of tasty Chile Pepper Stuff and an awesome Tex-Mex Cookbook by Gloria Chadwick...what are you waiting for?!

Would you like to comment?

  1. They look so tasty! I have never even heard of them before and now I want one.

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  2. I want to eat at your house every night!!!!!!!

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  3. I had never heard of these until reading your post. They look very interesting. I think I want one.

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  4. I bet this has such terrific flavor! I've never heard of it but I would love to make it sometime. It looks like something my husband would really enjoy eating. I love cooking Mexican dishes but sometimes I feel like I make the same thing over and over. This one is different and fun! Thanks for the great idea!

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  5. I've never heard of these before, but man, it looks so amazing!

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  6. I've never heard of that before, but it looks awesome. I love a good messy sandwich.

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  7. OMG... this Pambaso looks sooo good! As soon as I read your post, I started imagining it with a grilled chicken breast and some guacamole. Want to submit your recipe to my new Tex-Mex cookbook? :)

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  8. Yes, you should let Gloria submit that awesome Pambaso...I would love living in your house! I would speak more Spanish right?

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  9. pambaso sounds perfect right about now and yours looks so good.....I feel like making a taco run to see if my push carts can whip me up a quick pambasso otherwise I guess I'll have to do it....

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  10. I've never heard of this, either, but I know I'll never forget it! I love these-I can't wait to make my own. Mouth-watering.

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  11. Oh,does that ever look tempting! I want one in front of me right now!!

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  12. I *love* this post! I have had tortas several times, but not with the messy-but-oh-so-delicious sounding red chile coating. I will have to try this some time.

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  13. Looks great! Genius... you're a genius I tell you!... you certainly did it!

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  14. I LOVE LOVE LOOOOVE tortas, but I haven't had a pambaso, yet. So I must make this.

    Looks good!

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  15. Totally new to me...but sign me up!! These look awesome.

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  16. THIS IS ONE DISH I'VE NEVER HEARD OF, BUT WOULD LOVE TO TRY.

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  17. Whoa. DELICIOUS>

    And I've been craving Mexican all day so this is just screaming at me. Even if I don't make THIS, I think I need to have something along these lines for dinner. Fantastic, Heather!

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  18. Dar,

    Ok that looks beyond incredible. I have already had dinner and now I am hungry again!! YUMMY!!

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  19. This dish is new to me, too. It looks yummy. And it sounds like you and your hubby make a great team in the kitchen. Thanks for stopping by to wish me a happy bloggiversary. :)

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  20. i've never had these - but they do sound amazing! they're totally on my list of to try items!!

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  21. I also have not heard of it - Pambaso sounds excellent! I can't wait to try it!

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  22. Never had this before, but you know I love to try new things! This looks really delicious.

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  23. Oh, I definitely want to play with this. It's like a Mexican muffelletta. (I bet I spelled that wrong). Really tasty sandwich. I love being old and learning new things.

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  24. wow....all the mexican restaurants I've eaten at and all the mexican friends I have and all the mexican food I've made, i've never even heard of these! way yum!! of course anything topped with queso fresco is yum! Definitely something worth exploring. thanks for introducing it :)

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  25. Wow! This looks fantastic! (and great idea eating off paper plates :-) )

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  26. I had not heard of a pambaso until today. See how much you learn when you are blogging:D

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  27. I've never heard of these but they looks so delicious. I am anxious to try this!

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  28. It looks delicious! I too love anything mexican, yummy!!!

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  29. This looks delicious. I have never heard of it. I love all your mexican cooking posts, it inspires me to try.

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  30. You came up with a new food! Amazing. With all the blogs out there it is hard to be unique. Good job and I want one!

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  31. This is what I love about food blogging, discovering new recipes. I've never heard of these before - looks wonderful!

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  32. This is the absolute first time I have ever heard of pambasos and now I must have one! Thanks for the recipe.

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  33. Oh how yummy! These look divine, you have such great pictures!

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  34. they look so gorgeous.....never heard of them!!!!

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  35. I've never seen these before - but they look muy deliciouso!

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  36. How messy is this to eat? Does the sauce dry?

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