Breakfast Torta With Bacon, Eggs, and Chipotle Guacamole Recipe

By
Nick Kindelsperger
Nick Kindelsperger is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Nick Kindelsperger is a food critic at the Chicago Tribune.  His food writing appears in The Washington Post, Newsweek, Epicurious, Baltimore Sun, Serious Eats, Grub Street, New York Magazine, and Tasting Table, among others.
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Updated April 10, 2019
Nick Kindelsperger

Ham and eggs is a very common torta filling in Mexico, and for a good reason. The salty slices bring texture and loads of porkiness to the game, while the eggs help bulk it out. But you know what is crispier and more intense than ham? That's right. Bacon. Any bacon will do, but this recipe really benefits from some extra thick slices. Another plus side of bacon is that you can cook everything in the wonderful fat left over from the cooking process. I even added a bit of it to the refried beans, which rounds them out nicely.

I know most people would call for a fried egg or two here, but I'm going with classic scrambled eggs. I love puncturing egg yolks as much as the next guy, but I think all the pleasure is lost on a torta like this, because the bread soaks up most of the yolk. Plus, it's messier and fussier to prepare. If none of my opinions resonate, though, by all means go ahead and top these with a couple of fried eggs. I won't mind.

To help bring all the components together, sliced avocado is usually placed on top. But I like taking the extra step and making a quick guacamole. You can spice yours up with jalapeños or even pickled jalapeños, but I went with a canned chipotle, which adds a great smoky background to each bite.

Recipe Details

Breakfast Torta With Bacon, Eggs, and Chipotle Guacamole Recipe

Active 15 mins
Total 20 mins
Serves 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 Mexican rolls (telera or bolillo)

  • 1 (16-ounce) can refried pinto beans

  • 1/2 pound thick-cut bacon

  • 8 large eggs

  • 2 avocados

  • 1 tablespoon fresh juice from about 1 lime

  • Handful fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

  • 1/2 white onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)

  • 1 garlic clove, minced (about 1 teaspoon)

  • 1 chipotle chile en adobo

  • 2 ounces queso fresco, crumbled

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Wrap rolls in aluminum foil and place in the oven to warm.

  2. Heat refried beans in a small saucepan over medium-low, stirring occasionally to keep from sticking on the bottom. Alternatively, heat in the microwave on medium heat, stirring every 30 seconds until hot. Taste and season with a pinch of salt if necessary.

  3. Cook bacon in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat, flipping occasionally, until crisp. Remove slices with tongs and drain on paper towels. Add 1/2 tablespoon bacon fat to refried beans and stir well. Drain fat remaining fat into a bowl and set aside.

  4. Crack 4 eggs into large bowl, season with a pinch of salt, and whisk until combined. Heat 1 tablespoon of reserved bacon fat in the now-empty skillet over medium heat until shimmering, then add the whisked eggs. Tilt the pan so eggs evenly coat the bottom, and cook until set and just starting to brown on the bottom, about 1 minute. Use a spatula to fold the eggs like an omelet, and continue cooking until lightly browned. Flip and brown on the other side. Transfer the cooked eggs to a plate. Repeat process with more bacon fat and remaining eggs. Cut both sheets of egg in half, to make four sheets.

  5. Cut avocados in half, remove the pits, and scoop the flesh into a bowl. Mash with the back back of a fork. Stir in lime juice, cilantro, onion, garlic, and chipotle. Season to taste with salt.

  6. When warm, remove rolls from the oven and discard aluminum foil. Cut each in half horizontally, and use your fingers to remove some of the excess interior of the rolls. For the bottom halves, smear the cut-side with a few tablespoons of refried beans and add a sheet of egg and 2 slices of bacon. For the top halves, smear the cut-side with a few tablespoons of the guacamole and sprinkle queso fresco. Place the top halves on the bottom halves. Slice vertically crosswise and serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
861Calories
47gFat
74gCarbs
37gProtein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories861
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 47g61%
Saturated Fat 15g75%
Cholesterol 420mg140%
Sodium 1422mg62%
Total Carbohydrate 74g27%
Dietary Fiber 10g37%
Total Sugars 14g
Protein 37g
Vitamin C 51mg257%
Calcium 229mg18%
Iron 7mg39%
Potassium 1150mg24%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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