Street FoodEasyFree

Milanesa Torta

Name: Milanesa Torta
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients: 4 filetes Filetes de ternera finos; 150 g Bread rallado; 2 Eggs; 2 Avocado; 200 g Refried beans; 100 ml Nata agria; 150 g Cheese mozzarella fresco; 4 leaves Lettuce romana; 200 ml Oil de girasol; 4 Bread de Telera roll o chapata

35 min (20 prep + 15 cook) Easy 4 servings Ciudad de Mexico

Edmond Bojalil

Recetas Mexas

Published: 19 Mar 2026 · Updated: 25 Mar 2026

Mexican breaded beef sandwich with refried beans, avocado, soured cream and Oaxaca cheese on a crusty roll.

About this recipe

The milanesa torta is the undisputed queen of Mexican sandwich shops. A generous breaded and fried beef fillet, golden and crispy, is placed inside a warm crusty roll spread with refried beans, accompanied by sliced avocado, soured cream, melted Oaxaca cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickled jalapeno chillies. It is a complete, hearty and utterly addictive meal that embodies the spirit of Mexico City street food.

History & Origin

The milanesa torta is an emblem of Mexico City that fuses the Viennese schnitzel tradition with Mexican bread culture. The milanesa arrived in Mexico through Italian and Austrian influence during the 19th century, particularly during Maximilian of Habsburg's Second Mexican Empire. Mexicans adopted the technique of breading and frying meat, but placed it inside a telera or bolillo roll, creating a unique sandwich. Torta shops multiplied across the capital during the 20th century, becoming the go-to lunch option for office workers, students and labourers. Each shop has its own style: some serve it simply, others make it cubana by adding ham, cheese, egg and sausage. The milanesa torta transcends social classes and can be found at street stalls for a few pounds as well as gourmet shops that reinvent it with premium ingredients.

Estimated cost

£9.75

Total cost

£2.44

Per serving

* Approximate prices based on UK supermarkets

Nutritional information per serving

620

Calories

32g

Protein

58g

Carbohydrates

28g

Fat

Fibre

890mg

Sodium

* Approximate values. May vary depending on ingredients used.

Method

1
Season the filetes of ternera with salt and pepper. Pasa each filete primero for flour, then for egg batido and finalmente for pan grated, pressing well.
💡 Aplana the filetes with a mazo before of empanizar for that queden finos and uniformes.
2
Heat plenty of oil in a sarten large over medium-high heat. Frie the milanesas 3-4 minutes on each side until esten doradas and crispy.
💡 El oil this listo when a trozo of pan chisporrotea to the contacto.
3
Remove thes milanesas and colocalas on papel absorbente for eliminar the excess fat.
4
Cut the teleras in half and tuestalas slightly in a plancha or sarten. Spread a generous layer of refried beans in the base.
5
Place the milanesa on the beans. Anade slices of avocado, cheese, lettuce and tomato.
6
Corona with soured cream and jalapenos in escabeche. Cierra the torta and serve immediately.
💡 Para a version mas indulgente, gratina the cheese on the milanesa before of armar the torta.