Torta

Torta is a term used in many Romance- and Latin-based languages to describe a variety of baked goods, often with a cake-like character. Its exact meaning varies by country, but it generally denotes either a cake, a pastry, or a savory pie, and in some regions can also mean a sandwich.

In Italian cuisine, torta typically means a cake or a savory tart. Sweet tortas are layered or dense desserts, often baked and made with ingredients such as flour, eggs, sugar, and butter; popular examples include torta della nonna and torta caprese. Savory versions, sometimes called torta salata, resemble quiches or rustic pies and may contain cheese, vegetables, or cured meats.

In Spanish-speaking countries, torta most often refers to a cake, but in Mexico and parts of the Caribbean it commonly designates a sandwich made on a bread roll. Notable cake varieties include torta de Santiago, an almond-based cake from Spain, and tres leches cake, a sponge cake soaked in three milks that is widespread across Latin America.

In regional street-food contexts, Mexican tortas are filled with meats, avocado, cheese, salsas, and beans, served on telera or bolillo rolls. In other cuisines, the term may refer to egg-based dishes or omelette-like preparations, such as certain Filipino "torta" preparations, reflecting local culinary traditions.

Because the usage of torta varies by country, the specific dish referred to by the term depends on local language and cuisine. In all cases, torta denotes a food product that centers on cake-like or baked elements, with regional variations in form and preparation.