Burrito is a dish consisting of a wheat flour tortilla that is wrapped in such a way that it is possible to fully enclose the flavorful filling on the interior. The filling consists of a combination of various ingredients such as meat, beans, rice, lettuce, guacamole, and cheese, among others.
Its name means little donkey in Spanish, and a popular theory suggests that it stems from the way the bedrolls and packs appeared on the donkeys that carried them. Some claim that the dish originated in the 19th century by either the vaqueros in Northern Mexico, farmers in California, or the miners from Sonora.
VARIATIONS OF Burrito
MOST ICONIC Burrito
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Breakfast burrito is a unique variety of a burrito, consisting of a tortilla stuffed with ingredients that are usually a breakfast staple such as eggs, bacon, and potatoes. It was invented in 1975 in Tia Sophia, a café in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The breakfast burrito craze started to catch on and soon found its way into mainstream fast-food establishments such as McDonald's and Taco Bell. Although eggs, bacon, and potatoes are the key ingredients, there are no set rules on what constitutes a great breakfast burrito, so it can also be filled with other ingredients such as tomatoes, cheese, ham, spinach, and beans.
MOST ICONIC Breakfast Burrito
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Green chile cheeseburger is New Mexico’s variation of the classic burger, made with green New Mexico chile-topped beef patty inside a burger bun. A slice of melted American cheese on top of the patty is mandatory. The dish has been popular at least since the 1950s, and nowadays it is practically a symbol of New Mexico.
This cheeseburger typically also contains other toppings such as onions and lettuce.
Frito pie is a cheap, hearty, and highly caloric dish consisting of chili, crunchy corn chips (especially the Fritos brand variety), cheese, and onions. It is a popular meal in Southern and Midwestern parts of the United States, and can be found at numerous state fairs and high school football games.
Although it can be made in a casserole dish, unusually, it is most often prepared in a Fritos corn chip bag, with a number of toppings. The origins of the dish are yet unclear, but it is believed that it was invented in Mexico as a popular food at fiestas before it spread to the United States.
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Green and red chilis are synonymous with New Mexican cuisine, so much that even the road signs welcoming you to the state are marked with a pair of chilis. It is no wonder that green chili stew has some sort of a legendary status in New Mexico.
Although pork is the locals' favorite ingredient in the stew, it can also be made with lamb, beef, chicken, or turkey, traditionally accompanied by thick and fresh corn tortillas on the side. Some cooks like to add potatoes, beans, and tomatoes to the already flavorful stew.
Green chili has a cult-like following throughout New Mexico due to its strong vegetal taste and its heat, making the dishes prepared with it deep, complex, and rich, so it is not strange that the green chili stew has a status of the ultimate Southwestern comfort food.
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Tuna tartare is an elegant starter originating from Los Angeles. The dish is made with a combination of raw tuna, avocado, egg yolks, green peppercorns, capers, chives, tarragon, mustard, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. It was invented in 1984 by chef Shigefumi Tachibe at the Chaya Brasserie when a few customers came in wanting beef tartare, but one of them didn't eat beef, so the chef tried tuna, and it was an instant success.
Nowadays, it's usually served as a visually attractive appetizer with crackers or toast.