Pan con Pavo (Salvadoran Roast Turkey Sandwich)
Local name: Pan con pavo
In short: Soft rolls piled with juicy turkey in a warm tomato and bell pepper sauce, topped with watercress, cucumber and radish. It takes about 3 h 10 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 40 min
- Cook
- 2 h 30 min
- Resting
- 1 h
- Total
- 3 h 10 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 505 kcal
Pan con pavo is the sandwich of Salvadoran Christmas and New Year. Turkey is rubbed with a spiced paste, cooked until it falls off the bone and shredded into a warm sauce of roasted tomatoes and peppers. It goes into soft rolls with crisp watercress, cucumber and radish for freshness. It is messy in the best way, with sauce running down your wrist, and it is made in large batches for family gatherings.
Instructions
- Mash the garlic, achiote, cumin, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper into a paste and rub it over the turkey. Leave for 1 hour at room temperature, or overnight in the fridge.
- Heat the oven to 160°C (325°F). Put the turkey in a roasting pan with the water, cover tightly with foil and cook for 2 hours, until the meat is very tender and pulls from the bone (well past 74°C / 165°F).
- Meanwhile, char the tomatoes, bell pepper and onion in a dry skillet for about 10 minutes, then blend until smooth.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan and cook the tomato paste for 2 minutes. Pour in the blended sauce, mustard, sugar and bay leaf and simmer for 20 minutes until thick. Add 250 ml (1 cup) of the turkey cooking liquid and simmer for 10 minutes more.
- Shred the turkey, discarding the bones, and stir it into the sauce. Season with salt and keep warm.
- Split the rolls and warm them lightly. Fill with turkey in sauce, then top with watercress, cucumber, radish and tomato, and add hot sauce if you like.
Tips
- Dark meat stays juicier than breast. For a quick version, simmer 1 kg (2.2 lb) of shredded cooked turkey in the sauce for 15 minutes.
- Use sturdy rolls and toast them lightly, or the sauce will turn them soggy.
Questions and answers
Can I make pan con pavo ahead of time?
Make the turkey in sauce up to 3 days ahead and reheat it. Assemble the sandwiches just before eating so the rolls stay firm.
Can I use chicken instead of turkey?
Yes. Use bone-in chicken thighs and cook them for about 1 hour 15 minutes in step 2, until they reach 74°C (165°F) and are tender.
What bread is best for pan con pavo?
A soft but sturdy white roll, such as a French-style or hoagie roll, that can hold a saucy filling.
How long does it take to make Pan con Pavo (Salvadoran Roast Turkey Sandwich)?
About 3 h 10 min in total: 40 min of preparation and 2 h 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Pan con Pavo (Salvadoran Roast Turkey Sandwich)?
About 505 kcal per serving, with 36 g of protein, 61 g of carbohydrates and 13 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 505 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 36 g |
| Carbohydrates | 61 g |
| Fat | 13 g |
| Fiber | 5 g |
| Sugar | 10 g |
| Sodium | 1100 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
