MEXICAN CHORIZO AND POTATO PRESSED SANDWICH

Mexican Chorizo and Potato Pressed Sandwich image

Inspired by the jam-packed Mexican sandwiches called tortas, this recipe layers on flavors and textures - think sausage, beans, potatoes, lettuce and more. Here, the bread is key: a loaf from the supermarket will be more tender and easier to eat than a crusty one from a bakery.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories main-dish

Time 4h35m

Yield 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

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Ingredients

1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, skin-on, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil, plus extra if necessary
1 pound fresh Mexican chorizo, removed from casing
1 large supermarket-style French or Italian loaf (about 16-by4-inches)
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup refried pinto beans
1/4 cup jarred salsa verde
1/3 cup pickled jalapeno slices, roughly chopped
1/4 cup crumbled Cotija cheese
1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and soft stems, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves and soft stems, coarsely chopped
1 1/2 cups thinly shredded iceberg lettuce

Steps:

Put the potatoes in a large nonstick skillet and cover with water by 1/2 inch. Season with enough salt to taste like seawater. Bring to a boil and turn down to a simmer. Simmer the potatoes until mostly cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and let cool on a plate in a single layer.
Rinse and dry the skillet; place over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon oil. When the skillet is hot, add the chorizo and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until crisp and brown, about 6 minutes,. Transfer to a plate with a slotted spoon. With about 1 tablespoon of fat left in the pan - remove some if there's too much or add more oil if there's too little - add the cooled potatoes and cook, stirring periodically, until golden brown all over, 4 to 6 minutes. Add the chorizo back to the pan and stir for about a minute. Remove from the heat and let cool completely.
Slice the bread loaf in half horizontally and lay the two halves cut-side up. Pull out some of the bread from both halves (reserve for another use), leaving a 1/4-inch border. Spread mayonnaise on both halves. On the bottom half, layer ingredients in this order: refried beans, chorizo and potato, salsa, pickled jalapenos, Cotija, tomato, cilantro, shredded lettuce, some salt and pepper, and the top half of bread. Wrap tightly in parchment, wax paper or plastic wrap and secure with twine if necessary. Press at least 3 hours with a brick (see Cook's Note) or cast-iron skillet on top to flatten the sandwich, refrigerated. About 45 minutes before serving, bring the sandwich to room temperature.