3 Must Try Antojito Dishes

Antojitos literally translates to "little cravings." This usually refers to food that is sold by street cart vendors on the streets of Mexico, although many times you can find these dishes at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Throughout the course of this brief guide, you'll learn about a few mouthwatering antojito dishes you must try.

Tostada

In Mexico, a tosta refers to a dish that uses a deep fried tortilla as a base, with a bevy of toasted ingredients placed on top. The ingredients that flavor a tostada are numerous, although they are often served with a meat or seafood of your choice, pico de gallo, fresh avocado and often times topped off with a bit of sour cream or lime. There are numerous variations of this hearty and flavorful dish, including the massive, pizza-sized tlayuda, which is endemic to the Oaxaca region of Mexico.

Tortas

Tortas are sometimes referred to by Americans as "Mexican sandwiches," and for good reason: that's what they are! Tortas can be served either hot or cold, but as a antojito delight, they are best served hot with the bread either grilled or hot pressed. Tortas are usually filled with a variety of different toppings, including ham, scrambled eggs, milanesa meta, or chicken sope. They tend to be garnished with a few toppings left on the side to be added at your leisure, including onions, lime, parsley, and hot peppers.

Gorditas

This hearty pastry is a corn tortilla that is jam packed with filling. Gordita translates from the Spanish to "chubby" due to the fact that this dish is literally bursting at the seams with meat, cheeses, and numerous other possible fillings, including salsa and stew. In Mexico, gorditas are often picked up as a lunchtime snack during working hours. Several variations on the gordita theme exist, as well. For example, in Central Mexico and Mexico City, smaller, bite sized gorditas that are topped with goat cheese and mole have become quite popular. In regions further to the south, arepas are usually favored over gorditas. They are, for all purposes, the same dish, but they use a lighter, flakier tortilla.

This guide should have shed a bit of light on Mexican street cuisine, which may have been a bit foreign to you up until this point. If you don't have access to a street vendor, it is highly recommended that you either head to your nearest Mexican restaurant or even try your own hand at making one of these delicious antojitos. Try visiting this link for more information.