The images of a Pork-filled burrito, crispy taco, or a sizzling fajita with salsa will probably make you crave some tasty Mexican dishes.We have always considered these dishes as part of Mexican cuisine. But what if you found out that these dishes are, in fact, not authentic Mexican food?Yes, that’s right! Foods like burritos, tacos, and fajitas are not authentic Mexican dishes. Burritos, especially, have a complicated origin. Many people in Mexico don’t even eat burritos! The word burrito in Mexico means ’little donkey’. In the USA, one can easily find burritos in a fast-food Mexican restaurant like Taco Bell. Technically, Taco Bell is Californian and not Mexican, but they have a lot of Mexican-styled cuisines.The main ingredient in a burrito is a flour tortilla with fillings of beans or fried beans, corn, and meat. Burritos are served with cheddar cheese, rice, lettuce, guacamole, and sour cream. Sometimes they are even served with eggs, potatoes, bacon, and sausages as a breakfast option.The variant found in America is vastly different from the one found in Mexico. Burritos in Mexico are a variation of traditional taco de Canasta which is eaten as a meal for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in northern Mexico. Taco de Canasta is smaller than today’s burrito.How did the burrito come to the USA, and what is its history or origin? If you are curious, then read on!You may also be interested in these fun facts articles about whether coconuts are fruit and whether a fish is a mammal.Where did burritos originally come from?The word burrito means ’little donkey’ in Spanish. The origins of the burrito are complicated and have little evidence in historical records.There is a popular story of a street vendor named Juan Mendez from Chihuahua, Mexico, who used to sell cart food pulled by a donkey. He would keep the food warm by wrapping it with a flour tortilla. Later, his cuisine got popular during the Mexican revolution because of the ease of holding and eating the food. Although this story is highly debatable, it gives us some insight into the origin of a burrito.Back in the day, the original version of the burrito wasn’t as stuffed and heavy as it is today, with several types of vegetables, fillings, and flavors. The classic burrito would have had three to four ingredients, such as meat, rice, cheese, and beans. And it would have been a lot smaller too!Later on, the dish traveled to the US and became what it is today. The first American-style burrito was called a Mission burrito. It is called so because of the name of the place where it was invented: the Mission district of San Francisco, California.Since then, burritos have gotten so popular that they have spread to other parts of the world. Burritos are now eaten as meals with servings of rice, chutney, beans, eggs, or sausages.Are burritos Mexican food or Texan food?Burritos are a popular tex-mex dish wrapped in a flour tortilla and filled with vegetables, meat (like beef or pork), and fried beans, and are served with sour cream, queso, cheese, salsa, or any other dip.Burritos are considered tex-mex food(a mix of Texas and Mexico). Tex-Mex food is different from authentic Mexican food. It is the cuisine of Tejano culture. Tejano culture is of the people with Spanish or Mexican heritage who lived in Texas before it was a Republic.Traditional Mexican food includes chilaquiles, tacos al pastor, enchiladas, rajas con crema, panucho, sincronizadas, and many more.Traditional Texas food includes dishes such as beef brisket, hamburger, chili con carne, chipotle carne guisada, pecan pie, and many more.Tex-mex hybrid dishes include burritos, tacos, and enchiladas served with rice, King Ranch Casserole, and many more.Did Americans invent burritos?Burritos can be traced back to northern Mexico, where a similar dish, taco de Canasta, is eaten. From Mexico, it made its way to the US during the 20th century.The American-style burrito (the classic mission burrito) originated in San Francisco and is now a staple food in California. The very first mention of burrito in the US was in a menu of El Cholo Spanish Cafe, Los Angeles.There are now several types of burritos available in the US. For instance, the wet burrito, breakfast burrito (such as a carne asada burrito served along with beef and bacon), mission burrito, bean and cheese burrito, and a lot more. A wet burrito is eaten with a knife and fork, and it is covered with tangy sauces and melted cheese. The wet burrito was introduced in 1966 by Beltline Bar in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A mission burrito is distinguished from others by its large size. It is covered with aluminum foil to be eaten while holding.Most burritos are served on a plate in restaurants and are supposed to be eaten with knives and forks. Some are packed as to-go and can be eaten while holding them.What does burrito stand for?The term burrito has Spanish origins and means little donkey. Burritos are wrapped in tortillas (tortillas keep the filling warm) with vegetable and meat filling. They are served with a variety of sauces and dips like queso and sour cream. Queso is a side dish of melted cheese and chili peppers. There are many types of burritos, and different restaurants serve different types of burritos.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for ‘Are burritos Mexican? Curious food facts explained for kids!’ then why not take a look at ‘How do ships float? Explore science facts that will make your wonder!’, or ‘How do trees grow? Cool tree growth facts, sure your kids need to know’?
The images of a Pork-filled burrito, crispy taco, or a sizzling fajita with salsa will probably make you crave some tasty Mexican dishes.
