Burrito
A burrito is a Mexican and Tex-Mex food made by wrapping a flour tortilla around a filling, typically including meat, beans, cheese, rice, and vegetables.
A burrito is a Mexican and Tex-Mex dish made by wrapping a flour tortilla around a filling, typically including meat, beans, cheese, rice, and vegetables.
What it is
A burrito is a cylindrical food item where a flour tortilla is wrapped or rolled around a savory filling. Common fillings include meat, beans, cheese, rice, and vegetables. It differs from a taco because the tortilla is wrapped rather than folded, creating a sealed, portable package.
Origins and name
The burrito is generally associated with northern Mexico, though its exact origin is uncertain. The word burrito is Spanish for "little donkey." Some sources suggest earlier Mexican usage referred to a rolled taco-like food. The modern burrito has since become a staple of Tex-Mex cuisine.
Key details
Burrito fillings vary widely, including beef, chicken, pork, beans, rice, vegetables, salsa, and dairy. A deep-fried burrito is called a chimichanga. In Canada, burritos are widely available through Mexican and fast-casual chains, often adapted to local tastes.
In short
- A burrito is a wrapped flour tortilla with a savory filling.
- It differs from a taco by being fully wrapped rather than folded.
- The word burrito means "little donkey" in Spanish.
- A deep-fried burrito is called a chimichanga.
Burritos are widely available in Canada through Mexican, Tex-Mex, and fast-casual restaurant chains, and they are commonly adapted to Canadian tastes and ingredients.
Quick questions
What is a burrito?
How is a burrito different from a taco?
What does the word burrito mean?
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/burritoSupports: Definition, ingredients, distinction from taco, chimichanga note, and likely northern Mexican origin.
- Cambridge Dictionary — https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/burritoSupports: Basic definition as a Mexican food made with a folded tortilla and fillings.
- Merriam-Webster — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burritoSupports: Definition of burrito as a flour tortilla rolled or folded around a filling.
- Dictionary.com — https://www.dictionary.com/browse/burritoSupports: Definition and etymology note that burrito means little donkey.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BurritoSupports: Summary of modern burrito usage, common fillings, and note that the precise origin is not currently known.