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Mexican Hawaiian Toasted Sandwich

Name: Mexican Hawaiian Toasted Sandwich
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 4 Bread rolls (bolillo or telera); 200 g Sliced smoked ham; 200 g Oaxacan or Manchego-style melting cheese; 8 Pickled jalapeños; 8 aros Tinned pineapple rings in syrup; 2 tbsp Mustard; 4 tbsp Mayonnaise

20 min (10 prep + 10 cook) Easy 4 servings CDMX

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 29 Mar 2026 · Updated: 30 Mar 2026

Mexican toasted sandwich with ham, pineapple and melted cheese, Mexico City-style.

About this recipe

The Mexican Hawaiian torta is the capital's equivalent of the tropical club sandwich: toasted bolillo or telera bread filled with smoked ham, pineapple in syrup, melted Oaxacan or Manchego-style cheese, with mayonnaise, mustard and pickled jalapeños. Despite its name, this sandwich is 100% Mexican in its preparation and has been one of the favourites at Mexico City sandwich shops since the 1980s, when American cuisine's influence popularised the use of pineapple in savoury dishes.

History & Origin

The Hawaiian torta is one of the most curious examples of Mexican culinary creativity: a sandwich that adopts the name and sweet-savoury combination of the famous American 'Hawaiian pizza' - ham and pineapple - but adapts it completely to the Mexican gastronomic identity with bolillo bread, melted Oaxacan cheese, jalapeños and local condiments. In Mexico City sandwich shops, especially in the 1980s and 1990s, the Hawaiian torta became popular among young people for its contrasting flavours: the sweetness of the pineapple, the saltiness of the ham, the richness of the melted cheese and the inevitable heat of the pickled jalapeño. Today it remains a much-requested torta, especially in the taquería-torterías of the CDMX historic centre and neighbourhood markets. It is quick to prepare and affordable, with easy-to-find ingredients.

Estimated cost

£7.00

Total cost

£1.75

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

480

Calories

22g

Protein

55g

Carbohydrates

18g

Fat

Fibre

680mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Halve the bread rolls. Spread the bottom half with mayonnaise and the top half with mustard. Heat a griddle or flat pan over medium-high heat.
2
Place the ham on the hot griddle with a few drops of oil. Allow it to brown lightly on both sides. Add the drained pineapple rings on top of the ham and cook for 1 minute more.
3
Place the open bread on the griddle. Add the shredded Oaxacan cheese or slices of melting cheese on the bottom half. Cover with a lid so the steam melts the cheese quickly.
4
Once the cheese has melted, place the ham and pineapple on top of the cheese. Add pickled jalapeños to taste.
5
Close the sandwich, press lightly on the griddle for a further 30 seconds to bring all the ingredients together. Serve hot.