Cemitas

Updated Feb. 7, 2024

Cemitas
David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews.
Total Time
35 minutes
Rating
3(118)
Notes
Read community notes

The cemita is a widely popular Mexican sandwich from the state of Puebla. It’s named for the bread it’s served on, an egg-rich, sesame seed bun. Also referred to as a cemita Poblana, the sandwich is frequently filled with a crispy fried cutlet, often pork or chicken. Traditional toppings are layered to create a symphony of textures and flavors, including creamy avocado, salty Oaxaca cheese, tangy pickled jalapeños or smoky chipotles en adobo, fresh raw onions and papalo (a fragrant Mexican herb similar to cilantro). If Oaxaca cheese is unavailable, string cheese delivers a similar texture and flavor.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 sandwiches
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • 2large eggs, beaten
  • 1cup plain bread crumbs
  • 4(5-ounce) pork cutlets, pounded ¼-inch-thick
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • About ½ cup neutral oil (such as safflower or canola), for shallow frying
  • 4cemitas or sesame rolls (about 5 inches in diameter), split
  • 2avocados, thinly sliced
  • 8ounces Oaxaca or string cheese, finely shredded
  • ½cup pickled jalapeños (or 4 chipotles en adobo with 2 tablespoons of their liquid), chopped
  • ½small white onion, thinly sliced
  • 1cup cilantro leaves and tender stems
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (16 servings)

300 calories; 21 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 3 grams polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 14 grams protein; 263 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Place flour, eggs and bread crumbs in 3 separate wide, shallow bowls or large plates.

  2. Step 2

    Season cutlets with salt and pepper. Working with one cutlet at a time, dredge in flour until fully coated, then shake off excess. Dip in egg, coating both sides, let excess drip off, then press into bread crumbs until well coated. Transfer to a clean plate and repeat with remaining 3 cutlets.

  3. Step 3

    In a 12-inch skillet, heat ¼ inch of oil over medium until shimmering. (A pinch of bread crumbs dropped into the oil should sizzle.) Add 2 cutlets and cook until golden and cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt. Repeat with the remaining 2 cutlets.

  4. Step 4

    Build the cemitas: On the bottom rolls, divide the avocado slices, arranging them in an even layer. Place one cutlet on top of each, followed by the cheese, jalapeños, onion and cilantro. Close sandwiches and serve warm.

Ratings

3 out of 5
118 user ratings
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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Oaxaca cheese does not have a similar texture/flavor to string cheese. There are lots of salty cheese options that would work better.

Oaxacan cheese is nearly identical to string cheese, it’s just a different shape. Pull it apart into strings, it’s the same thing. Nothing exotic here.

I am baffled by this. I live in Puebla and we eat cemitas regularly. The chicken should be pounded super thin, and the quesillo or Oaxaca cheese should be piled high. And I have no idea what they’re talking about with those eggy rolls—I’ve eaten hundreds of cemitas and not a one is made with an egg dough.

I'd encourage anyone curious about this recipe to track down some authentic cemita rolls (or bake yourself, if so inclined). I've had a lot of great cemitas, and the bread itself really contributes a lot... I don't think substituting a random sesame roll from the supermarket would do it justice.

Oaxaca cheese does not have a similar texture/flavor to string cheese. There are lots of salty cheese options that would work better.

Oaxacan cheese is nearly identical to string cheese, it’s just a different shape. Pull it apart into strings, it’s the same thing. Nothing exotic here.

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