Pepito is a traditional Spanish sandwich made using beef, pork or chicken. It is also widely consumed throughout Latin America, in particular Venezuela where it is a popular street food and Mexico. Additional primary ingredients used to prepare this sandwich include refried beans, black beans or pinto beans. The bread can be a soft roll, bun or baguette.
Although the ingredients do vary by region and by people’s preferences, there are a large number of common ingredients that can be added to a Pepito including:
- Eggs
- Cheese
- Lettuce
- Sliced or diced tomato
- Avocado
- Guasacaca
- Garlic
- Cilantro
- Olives
- Jalapeño or pickled jalapeño peppers
- Onions
- Crema or mayonnaise
- Butter
- Olive oil
- Fresh lime juice
- Worcestershire sauce
- Hot sauce
- Mustard
- Cumin
- Salt and pepper.
There are many different variations of Pepito, with some versions including a lot of toppings and heavy garnishes, while some are prepared using only the primary ingredients and a few other ingredients. Different versions, including ingredients such as pressed ham and cheese, bacon, fried, roasted or preserved peppers, are also common in the country.
Origin & Cultural Significance
It is believed that the original Pepito just included grilled veal placed in the middle of a partially halved crusty bun. Over the years, the dish evolved to its present form.
The pepito is occasionally considered as a type of torta sandwich and has also been called a “traditional Mexican torta” which is a common type of sandwich.
Traditional Pepito Recipe
Ingredients
- Hoagie-type bread rolls - 4
- 6 oz. steaks - 2
- Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp
- Minced garlic - 1 tbsp
- Soy sauce - 2 tbsp
- Worcestershire sauce - 1 tbsp
- Salt - to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper - to taste
- Shredded vegetables (such as lettuce, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes) - optional
- Guasacaca (for garnish)
- Mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup (for garnish) – optional
Instructions
- Begin by gathering all the ingredients.
- Next, take the beef and cut it into 1-inch pieces, seasoning it with salt and pepper.
- Now, take a large skillet and add 1 to 2 tablespoons of oil to it. Heat the oil and add the beef to it. Sauté it until the meat is just browned. Make sure to cook it over high heat.
- Throw in the garlic and add soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce and allow all the ingredients to cook for about 2 to 3 minutes more, or until you attain the preferred doneness.
- Take the skillet off the heat. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
- The next step is to split the sandwich rolls lengthwise. Once that’s done, it’s time to assemble the dish.
- Begin by placing the shredded lettuce and tomato in the rolls first.
- Divide the meat among the four rolls, adding it on top of the lettuce. Add a little bit of guasacaca and any other preferred sauce. Top the sandwich off with some potato sticks and there you have it. Your pepito is ready to be served!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 346Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 1015mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 18g