A Lorenza is a traditional dish of Sonoran cuisine in Mexico. It is similar to a taco, but with one key difference: instead of a soft tortilla, the Lorenza uses a corn tortilla that has been toasted until crispy.
About this recipe
Lorenzas are usually made on a grill and are known for their combination of crunchy and soft textures and their delicious flavor. In this post, I show you how to make them on the stove and vegan.
What is a lorenza sonorense?
A Lorenza is a traditional dish of Sonoran cuisine in Mexico. It is similar to a taco, but with one key difference: instead of a soft tortilla, the Lorenza uses a corn tortilla that has been toasted until crispy.
The filling of a Sonoran Lorenza typically includes carne asada, a type of marinated and grilled beef. The meat is cut and placed on the toasted corn tortilla.
In addition to the carne asada, Lorenzas are often served with a variety of other ingredients, such as refried beans, shredded cheese, salsa, guacamole, and sometimes crema. I love to serve them with cucumber and pickled onions, that’s how they are served at my favorite Sonoran taqueria.
Ingredients for making vegan lorenzas
- Corn tortillas, if you make them at home with masa they will taste much better.
- Refried beans
- Vegan meat, I use Beyond Steak, plant-based seared tips. If you cannot find this meat, you can substitute with mushrooms.
- Melting cheese, any vegan cheese, will do.
- To serve: sliced cucumber, pickled onion, lime, and Mexican salsa.
How to make the lorenzas in the stove
Prepare the Carne Asada: Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste.
Heat a little vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the faux meat to the pan and cook until well browned and cooked to your liking. Depending on the thickness of the meat, this may take 5 to 7 minutes per side.
Prepare the Tortillas. Put the tortillas on a griddle until they are toasted
and crispy on both sides. Brushing the tortillas with water is a good tip to make them crispier. This may take about 1-2 minutes per side.
Prepare the Lorenzas: Spread each crispy corn tortilla with a layer of refried beans. Add the plant-based seared tips pieces on top of the beans or cheese and then beans.
Sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese over the meat.
Place the Lorenzas in a skillet over medium heat until the cheese melts, cover for a few seconds to melt the cheese faster. This may take about 2-3 minutes.
Finish: Remove the Lorenzas from the pan and add your favorite salsa. Finish with pickled onions, slices of cucumber, lime, avocado, guacamole, or your favorite toppings.
Tips for the best lorenzas
- These special Sonoran tostadas can be served with the sauce of your choice. You can use salsa molcajeteada, salsa taquera or chile de arbol sauce.
- They also taste delicious served with shredded cabbage.
- Serve with guacamole or agaucate slices.
Drinks to accompany
These lorenzas taste delicious with a chelada, or with delicious fresh lemon water with chia, or cucumber with mint. With pineapple water or a delicious horchata.
Easy Vegan Lorenzas Recipe: Authentic Sonoran Cuisine at Home
Equipment
- Frying pan
Ingredients
- 6 corn tortillas
- 1 cup refried beans
- 10 oz vegan steak tips
- 1 cup grated cheese
- pickled red onions
- Mexican salsa
- Guacamole
Instructions
- Prepare the Carne Asada: Season the vegan beef with salt and pepper to taste. Heat a slight vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the meat to the pan and cook until well browned and cooked to your liking.This may take 5 to 7 minutes to brown nicely on each side, depending on the thickness of the vegan meat pieces.
- Prepare the Tortillas. Place the tortillas on a comal until they are toasted and crispy on both sides. This may take about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Prepare the Lorenzas: Spread each crispy tortilla with a layer of refried beans. Add the roast beef chunks on top of the beans or cheese and then beans.Sprinkle a generous amount of grated cheese over the meat. Place the Lorenzas in a skillet over medium heat until the cheese melts and cover for a few seconds to melt. This may take about 2-3 minutes.
- Finish: Remove the Lorenzas from the pan and add your favorite sauce on top. Pickled onions, slices of comb, lemon, avocado, guacamole or your favorite tippoings.
Notes
- A good tip is to glaze the tortillas with water to make them crispier.
- Serve immediately so that the tortilla does not become watery.
- If you can’t get vegan steak tips you can use mushrooms as a substitute
Nutrition
information
Nutritional information of this recipe is only an estimate, the accuracy for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Tengo una Certificación Profesional en la cocina vegana; en el mundo de la cocina basada en vegetales, frutas, granos, leguminosas… en comida limpia, orgánica y vegana.
My cookbook is called Yo Cocino Latino..
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