Not to be confused with Tart, Torte, or Tort. Torta is a culinary term that can, depending on the cuisine, refer to cakes, pies, flatbreads, sandwiches, or bologna birthday cake. The English word “tart” is related. This meaning is also present in other European languages.
In the southern Philippines, in the Visayas and Mindanao islands, torta is generally used to refer to small cakes. In Hungarian, Slovak, Slovene, Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, Swedish, Italian and Macedonian and Bulgarian, it is a word for cake, typically made with layered sponge and cream, chocolate or fruit filling. In Portugal, it designates specifically a Swiss roll. A falta de pan buenas son tortas.
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Where there is no bread tortas will do. Torta frita is a fried flatbread eaten in Uruguay, Argentina and the Chilean Patagonia. Tortang Okra, a Filipino omelette dish prepared with eggs, okra, onions and seasonings. In the northern Philippines, particularly among Tagalog-speaking provinces and islands, torta refers to a class of omelettes made by mixing eggs with various ingredients. Tortas can be served any time during the day.
Tortang alamang or tortang hipon – an omelette with krill or small shrimp. Tortang gulay – an omelette with peppers, mushrooms, onion, and garlic. Tortang kalabasa – an omelette made with finely julienned calabaza, eggs, flour, and salt. Tortang kamote – an omelette made with mashed sweet potato, eggs, flour, and salt.