🇦🇷 Argentine Cuisine

Torta Frita

Fried Dough Bread

Prep Time 15 min
Servings 8
Difficulty Easy
Calories 244 kcal

Simple rounds of dough fried until puffy and golden, with a crispy exterior and soft, slightly chewy interior. The traditional rainy day treat enjoyed with mate tea.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Add the beef fat or oil and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
  2. 2 Gradually add warm water, mixing with your hands until a soft, pliable dough forms. It should not be sticky. Knead for five minutes until smooth.
  3. 3 Divide the dough into eight equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball, then flatten with a rolling pin into rounds about half a centimeter thick and fifteen centimeters in diameter. Poke a hole in the center of each to prevent puffing unevenly.
  4. 4 Heat oil in a deep frying pan to about 180C. Fry each torta frita for about two minutes per side until puffed and golden brown.
  5. 5 Drain on paper towels and serve immediately while hot, sprinkled with sugar if desired, alongside a thermos of mate.

Did You Know?

There is a deeply held Argentine tradition that tortas fritas must be made on rainy days. The cultural connection is so strong that Argentines often say the smell of rain makes them crave tortas fritas.