In Mexico City, a “Pambazo” is a sandwich made of a particular type of bread stuffed with potatoes and chorizo and then drenched in a guajillo sauce, served with lettuce, cheese, and cream.
There are other sandwiches with the same name in other parts of the country, like in the State of Veracruz, where the sandwich is filled with refried beans, ham, and even chorizo and pickled chipotle peppers. This particular bread, also called Pambazo Mexicano, is very similar to a Kaiser roll but dusted with flour and without the seeds.
Pambazo Mexicano: Chorizo-Potato Sandwich
Some of the research I did found that the name comes from colonial times, when the bread could be said to delineate the social classes. Since bread made with white, refined flour was mostly consumed by the higher classes (like viceroys, bishops, etc.), the commoners ate bread made out of brown flour. This cheap bread was thus very popular, and was called “pan bajo”, or “lower bread”.
How to make Pambazo
DIRECTIONS:
- Place the diced potatoes in a saucepan with hot water and cook at medium-high heat. It will take about 10-12 minutes for the potatoes to be cooked. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- Place the guajillo peppers in a bowl with hot water to soften while the potatoes are cooking.
- In the meantime, cook the chorizo in a skillet over medium-high heat. It will be ready in about 8 minutes.
- By this time the potatoes should be ready, so remove them from heat and drain. Next, stir them into the skillet with the chorizo, and keep cooking for three minutes. This is just enough time to allow the flavors to blend and the potatoes to get a little more tender. Set aside.
- Place guajillo peppers, 1 cup of soaking water, garlic clove, oregano, and peppercorns into a blender. Process until you have a smooth sauce. Strain and place in a bowl.
- Heat a griddle and add a ½ tablespoon of oil. Place the sliced rolls upside down and brush their tops all over with the Guajillo salsa. Flip the rolls so the tops get a little warm and crispy. This step will be about a minute per side. Repeat the process with the rest of the rolls, adding oil to the skillet as needed.
- To assemble the Pambazo, place some chorizo and potatoes on each toasted roll, then top with the shredded lettuce, cream, and cheese. Serve with a hot salsa or pickled jalapeños. Enjoy!
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📖 Recipe
Pambazo Mexicano
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups potatoes, diced
- 3 guajillo peppers seeds, and veins removed
- 2 chorizos 3 oz. each
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 garlic clove
- 8 black peppercorns
- ½ teaspoon Mexican oregano
- 6 Teleras or Kaiser rolls sliced lengthwise
- 1 ½ cup of shredded iceberg lettuce
- ¼ cup crumbled cheese
- 2 tablespoons Mexican cream
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place the diced potatoes in a saucepan with hot water and cook over medium-high heat. It will take about 10-12 minutes for the potatoes to be cooked.
- Place the guajillo peppers in a bowl with hot water to soften while the potatoes are cooking.
- In the meantime, cook the chorizo in a skillet over medium-high heat. It will be ready in about 8 minutes.
- By this time the potatoes should be ready, so remove them from heat and drain. Next, stir them into the skillet with the chorizo, and keep cooking for three minutes. This is just enough time to allow the flavors to blend and the potatoes to get a little more tender. Set aside.
- Place guajillo peppers, 1 cup of soaking water, garlic clove, oregano, and peppercorns into a blender. Process until you have a smooth sauce. Strain and place in a bowl.
- Heat a griddle and add a ½ tablespoon of oil. Place the sliced rolls upside down and brush their tops all over with the Guajillo salsa. Flip the rolls so the tops get a little warm and crispy. This step will be about a minute per side. Repeat the process with the rest of the rolls, adding oil to the skillet as needed.
- To assemble the Pambazo, place some chorizo and potatoes on each toasted roll, then top with the shredded lettuce, cream, and cheese. Serve with a hot salsa or pickled jalapeños. Enjoy!
Notes
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Tim
Todo lo que tengo que decir es muy muy bueno. Todo lo que he hecho de tu libro es increible.
Hice papas asadas de la forma en que las hariamos si estuviera haciendo pambazo sin chorizo, pero agragando cebollas y salteadas como guaenicion para sevir con costillas de cerdo
Mely Martínez
Hola Tim,
Suena muy buena opción hacer las papas así como lo mencionas. Gracias por compartir esa idea.
Juan Alvarez
I made the pambazos last night, and OMG! They turned hot so legit to the flavor I remember from my childhood in Mexico City.
Thank you!
I can’t wait to try other recipes from your website.
Gary
Mely,
I have made your pambazo recipe several times, it is SO good.
¡Me gusta esto! Thank you!
dhoniboyd Simonson
I've had them with beans but never with potatoes, but I am going to try it tomorrow. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Christin
Idk why my sauce came out bland with only a slight oregano flavor . Maybe the peppers I used were too small.
Mely Martínez
Hello Christin,
Maybe that could be the reason.
Beth
I'm not familiar with guajillo peppers. Is there a substitution? I live in the Willamette Valley part of Oregon and the town of Woodburn, fortunately, has some great panaderias, little restaurants, and small shops. I need to get over there to find a tortilla press, so I'll look for these peppers while I'm there. ¡Muchas gracias, Mely!
mmartinez
Hello Beth,
Try looking for them in your local Latin store, I had seen them even at Walmart. An also online.
Belinda
You can use california or new Mexico Chile pods I personally like those better they're not as sweet.
Debra Wood
I absolutely LOVE Pambazos! Unfortunately they are difficult to find here in Cuernavaca, Morelos, so guess I'll try my luck at making these. Always wondered what was the red substance on the outside of the bread! Thank you so much for this recipe! Chirzo & potatoes are yummy together.
R.
You should be able to find them hanging on the wall dried in a "celophane bag"
Should be no problem to find them at a "Mexican Market" or even a "99 cent store".
Maggie Unzueta
It looks delicious!
Kate
This sandwich looks too good!! I love the history behind it too. 🙂
Sylvia Rocha
oh dear!! I'm gonna be eating plenty of these!!! thank you SO much for posting!! mmmmmm