The burrito or taco de harina is a Mexican dish that consists of a grilled or steamed flour tortilla filled with a combination of ingredients that may include salsa, Pico de Gallo, re-fried beans, rice, meat, seafood, cheese, sour cream, guacamole and lettuce. Burritos are one of the easiest Mexican recipes to make at home.
The burrito is a traditional food in the city of Juarez in northern Mexico. Burritos in Mexico are made thin and small and are made with only one or two ingredients. Burritos in the United States are bigger and stuffed with multiple ingredients centered around a meat or vegetable. Burritos are also served wet, covered in a red or green chile sauce and topped with shredded cheese.
The city of San Francisco is known for large Mission-style burritos that started in the Mission District in the 1960s. Many American restaurants have adapted burritos for morning meals, called Breakfast Burritos, they often include, eggs, bacon, ham and other savory breakfast items.
Burritos History
The Burrito is especially popular in Ciudad Juarez, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua where they were invented. The burrito is made of spiced meat wrapped in flour tortillas. The burrito was made popular by Northern Mexican and American gold miners.
During the Mexican Revolution in the 1900s, Juan Mendez sold tacos from a street stand in Ciudad Juarez, using a donkey for transport. He wrapped the food in a flour tortilla to keep it warm. People came from other places to taste the food of the burrito, which was shortened to burrito.
Today burritos are served worldwide in Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurants. They can be found in many different flavors and sizes.
Authentic Mexican Burritos Recipe
Burrito ingredients: 1 pound of choice beef round tip roast, 1 package of tortillas for burritos ( about 10 inches in diameter), 1 head of lettuce, 1 can of re-fried beans, 8 oz shredded cheese (your choice), 1 green pepper, 1 medium onion, sour cream and salsa.
Start out by slicing up the meat into these thin slices. Cook the sliced meat in a frying pan over medium heat for about 5 minutes.
While the meat is cooking, slice up the lettuce, green pepper, and onion. Add the sliced green pepper and onion to the meat in the frying pan and cook for about another 8 minutes.
Heat the tortilla in a frying pan, one at a time.
When the tortilla is warm, you can add re-fried beans, meat mixture and top with sour cream and salsa, cheese, and lettuce. Fold and serve. Makes about 3 burritos.
References
Fast Facts
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Means Little Donkey in Spanish
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Also known as taco de harina
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A chimichanga is a deep-fried burrito
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Authentic Mexican burritos are thin and contain only one or two ingredients
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Fact:
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San Francisco Mission Style Burrito is the grandfather of the wrap
