Pambazos are a traditional Mexican street food featuring a deliciously soft, lightly fried sandwich filled with potatoes and chorizo. The bread is soaked in a flavorful red guajillo pepper sauce or salsa, giving it a unique color and slightly crispy exterior. Perfect for a quick meal or snack, pambazos are packed with bold flavors and easy to make at home!
What is the origin of Pambazos?
Pambazos trace their origins to 19th-century Mexico, particularly from the central regions like Puebla and Veracruz.
The name comes from the Spanish word “pan basso” (meaning “low-quality bread”), originally referring to the simple bread used in the dish.
Over time, this humble street food evolved into a more elaborate and flavorful sandwich, with the signature addition of red guajillo pepper sauce and fillings like potatoes and chorizo.
What is telera bread and what are alternatives?
Telera bread is a soft, round Mexican bread roll with a slightly flat shape and a light, airy interior.
It’s commonly used for sandwiches like tortas, thanks to its soft crust and ability to absorb flavors without becoming too soggy.
If you don’t have telera bread, good alternatives include bolillo rolls, which are similarly soft and commonly used in Mexican cuisine, or ciabatta and French rolls, which have a comparable texture and structure for holding sandwich fillings.
What ingredients go into this vegan pambazo recipe:
Telera Breads: These soft, flat rolls are the base for the pambazo. They absorb the guajillo pepper salsa or normal salsa, giving them a slightly crispy exterior and a vibrant red hue. Their airy texture holds the filling well without overpowering the flavors.
Vegan Sausage is a plant-based alternative to chorizo. It adds a savory and slightly spicy flavor to the filling. It’s sautéed with the potatoes, giving the pambazo a hearty and protein-packed bite.
Boiled and diced, potatoes form the bulk of the pambazo filling, pairing well with the vegan sausage. They absorb the spices and flavors while providing a soft, comforting texture that balances the dish.
A salsa coats the telera bread, infusing it with a rich, smoky flavor. The salsa is crucial for the signature look and taste of pambazos, making the bread slightly crispy while adding heat and depth to the sandwich.
Dairy-Free Mexican Crema or Sour Cream: This plant-based version mimics traditional crema, offering a tangy, creamy contrast to the spicy and savory filling. It’s drizzled over the pambazo to enhance the richness of the flavors.
Crisp and fresh, lettuce adds a crunchy texture and lightens up the sandwich, complementing the richness of the potatoes and sausage. It’s typically shredded and placed on top of the filling.
Dairy-Free Queso Fresco or Feta: A plant-based version of the crumbly, mildly tangy cheese traditionally used in Mexican dishes. It’s sprinkled over the pambazo, adding a hint of saltiness and creaminess that balances the spicy and savory components of the dish.
What is guajillo sauce?
Guajillo sauce is a smooth, flavorful Mexican sauce made from dried guajillo chilies.
It has a rich, smoky, and slightly tangy flavor with a mild to moderate level of heat, making it versatile for a variety of dishes like pambazos, enchiladas, tamales, or even as a marinade.
Guajillo sauce is commonly used to coat the bread in pambazos, giving it its iconic red color and a deep, savory flavor.
Can one use regular salsa as an alternative to guajillo sauce?
While you can use regular salsa as an alternative to guajillo sauce in a pinch, it will result in a different flavor and texture.
Guajillo salsa has a distinct smoky, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor from the dried chilies, which regular salsa, often made with fresh tomatoes, onions, and chilies, does not replicate. Salsa typically has a chunkier consistency and a fresher, more acidic taste.
If you use regular salsa, your pambazo will still taste good but lack the deep, smoky essence and rich red color that guajillo sauce provides. To get closer to the authentic flavor, you might want to mix your salsa with a bit of chili powder or even smoked paprika for some smokiness.
How to make Pambazos?
Heat oil in a pan. Cook the potato cubes with crumbled vegan chorizo sausage with for about 5 minutes, depedning on how soft your potatoes are. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and finally 3 tbsp of salsa. Set aside.
Now, if you have chunky salsa, filter out the bigger pieces with a sieve, then add 1 tsp of water to the remaining smooth salse. Use a brush to soak the bread rolls (cut them in half first) with the salsa all around.
Heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in another pan, then reduce to medium-high heat. Fry the bread from both sides until they are slightly toasted. Remove them from the pan.
Now start assembling the Pambazos. First, give the potato-chorizo mixture on the bottom half. Continue with lettuce, vegan sour cream, queso fresco (or feta cheese), and finally a dollop of salsa. Close the sandwich and enjoy.
What to serve with Pobalanos?
Pambazos are hearty on their own, but they pair well with a variety of Mexican sides and condiments that complement their rich, spicy flavors. Here are some great options to serve with pambazos:
- Refried Beans: Creamy, seasoned refried beans (frijoles refritos) are a classic side dish that adds extra richness and pairs perfectly with the flavors of pambazos.
- Mexican Rice: A side of spiced Mexican rice with tomatoes and onions offers a light, flavorful contrast to the filling in pambazos.
- Pickled Jalapeños and Vegetables (Escabeche): The tangy, spicy pickled vegetables bring acidity and crunch, cutting through the richness of the sandwich.
- Salsa Verde or Salsa Roja: A fresh or roasted salsa adds extra heat and flavor, allowing people to customize their pambazo experience.
- Creamy avocado or guacamole brings a cool, rich element that balances out the spicy and savory flavors of the pambazo.
- Nopales Salad: A light cactus salad with tomatoes, onions, and cilantro offers a refreshing, healthy side.
- Corn on the Cob (Elote): Grilled corn slathered in mayo, chili powder, lime, and cheese is a popular Mexican street food that complements the bold flavors of pambazos.
Other sandwich recipes to try
- Easy Falafel Pita Sandwich Recipe with Tahini Sauce
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Salmon Burgers
- Vegan Lentil Burger
- Vegan Philly Cheese Steak
I hope you enjoyed making and savoring these delicious pambazos as much as I did!
If you loved the recipe, don’t forget to leave a comment and give it a star rating below—your feedback means the world to me!
And if you’re feeling extra proud of your pambazo creations, snap a pic and share it on Instagram or Facebook — I can’t wait to see your delicious results!
Pambazos Recipe
Pambazos are a traditional Mexican street food featuring a deliciously soft, lightly fried sandwich filled with potatoes and chorizo. The bread is soaked in a flavorful red guajillo pepper sauce, giving it a unique color and slightly crispy exterior. Perfect for a quick meal or snack, pambazos are packed with bold flavors and easy to make at home!
Ingredients
For the Pambazo filling
- 8 oz vegan sausage
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 14 oz potatoes
- 3 tbsp salsa
- salt, pepper to taste
For the bread:
- 4 telera breads or kaiser rolls
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 tbsp salsa
For serving
- 1/2 cup dairy free Mexican crema or sour cream
- 1 cup lettuce
- salsa
- 3/4 cup dairy free queso fresco or feta
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan. Cook the potato cubes with crumbled vegan chorizo sausage for about 5 minutes, depending on how soft your potatoes are.
- Season the mixture with salt and pepper and finally 3 tbsp of salsa. Set aside.
- Now, if you have chunky salsa, filter out the bigger pieces with a sieve, then add 1 tsp of water to the remaining smooth salse. Use a brush to soak the bread rolls (cut them in half first) with the salsa all around.
- Heat 2 tbsp of vegetable oil in another pan, then reduce to medium-high heat. Fry the bread from both sides until they are slightly toasted. Remove them from the pan.
- Now start assembling the Pambazos. First, give the potato-chorizo mixture on the bottom half. Continue with lettuce, vegan sour cream, queso fresco (or feta cheese), and finally a dollop of salsa.
- Close the sandwich and enjoy.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1 sandwichAmount Per Serving: Calories: 470Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 454mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 4gSugar: 3gProtein: 19g