Semitas Poblanas
Puebla Sesame Bread
Despite living among the sweet breads in this site's Pan Dulce category, semitas poblanas are a hearty savory torta, not a dessert: a golden fried milanesa cutlet piled onto a sesame-studded cemita roll with pulled Oaxaca cheese, avocado, chipotles, and the essential herb pápalo.
Semitas Poblanas
✦ Antes de Empezar
Before you cook
What if I can't find pápalo?
Pápalo is a distinct, slightly bitter, citrusy herb native to Mexico with no true substitute, but if you can't source it, cilantro is the closest widely available stand-in — use it generously, since the herb is meant to be tasted, not just seen.
Ingredientes· 8View
Roll Dough
- 4 cupsAll-Purpose Flour
- 2.25 tspActive Dry Yeast
- 1/2 cupWarm Milk
- 2 tbsp eachGranulated Sugar & Piloncillo Syrupadds subtle sweetness
- 2 eggs + 1/4 cup lardLarge Eggs & Melted Lard
- 1/2 tspSalt
Topping
- 1/2 cupRaw Sesame Seedsfor pressing onto rolls
- small pieceDecorative Dough Pasteflour, lard, sugar
Instrucciones
5 pasosEmpanizar las milanesas
Bread the cutlets
Pound the beef or pork cutlets to about 1/4 inch thick and season with the salt. Dredge each cutlet in the flour, then the beaten eggs, then the breadcrumbs, coating evenly.
Freír las milanesas
Fry the cutlets
Shallow-fry the breaded cutlets in oil heated to 350°F (175°C) until golden brown and cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on a rack or paper towels.
Preparar los panes
Prepare the rolls
Split the cemita rolls and pull out a little of the soft crumb from the inside of each half so the sandwich closes cleanly without falling apart.
Armar las semitas
Assemble the sandwiches
Layer each roll with a fried milanesa, a generous amount of the pulled Oaxaca cheese (quesillo), sliced avocado, a handful of pápalo leaves, the sliced chipotles in adobo or chipotle salsa, and the optional sliced white onion.
Prensar y servir
Press and serve
Press the sandwich lightly closed and serve immediately while the milanesa is still warm. The assertive, herbal bite of pápalo is a defining ingredient here, not merely a garnish, so don't skimp on it.