Mexico has various cuisines that are patronized worldwide. Each dish is famous for their incredible flavor, fresh and unique ingredients that people always find authentic. One interesting thing about Mexican food is that people in the south consider chicken and vegetables, while Northern Mexican prefer beef and pork in dishes like carne asada, also known as tacos.
Moreover, Mexicans are also creative in producing salsas and dressings with healthy ingredients. These flavorful and healthy dressings are commonly found in food with wrappers like the humble burritos.
The Burrito was a traditional dish during the 1500s, and since then, people have been searching for its unique taste. Indeed, people will first learn the basics, such as the correct steps to prepare a burrito, how to fold a burrito, and the right way to eat the Burrito. It is time to add additional knowledge about humble burritos. That is why, it is incredible to have amazing Burrito facts as your conversation starter.
1. The Origin of the Burrito
Burrito is the Maya Civilization of Mexico’s version of the modern-day Burrito in the 1500s. They wrapped their food in a corn tortilla and used tomato, squash, peppers, and mushrooms as fillings instead of meat. Furthermore, Native Americans in the Southwest United States, known as the Pueblo peoples, also had a dish similar to the modern Burrito. They made a wrap out of tortillas, refried beans, and meat sauce.
However, some believe that the Burrito originated in the 19th century among the Vaqueros, or Northern Mexican cowboys. Burritos were commonly associated with Northern Mexican cuisine. Burritos were introduced to Americans as a “war food” during the Mexican Revolution of the 1900s, where they wrapped their food in soft tortillas in a cylindrical shape to keep it warm.
2. Burrito Means Little Donkey
Burrito is a Spanish word that means “little donkey.” The dish burrito got its name because of the Burrito’s ability to hold a variety of ingredients. It is also compared to a donkey’s ability to carry a heavy load.
However, there’s a theory saying it started in a taco vendor during the Mexican revolution, Juan Mendez. He sold tacos in Mexico, wrapped food in large tortillas to keep it warm, and used a donkey for transportation. These large tacos gained popularity and became known as burritos.
Another popular origin of this Mexican cuisine was attributed to a street food vendor in Ciudad Juarez in the 1940s. He believed that he invented the burritos to sell to poor children. The vendor referred to these children as his ‘burritos,’ which translates to ‘donkeys. Eventually, Burrito became the children’s term for this Mexican dish.
3. The Burrito Is Not a Traditional Dish of Southern Mexicans
As the introduction mentions, the Northern part of Mexico prefers tacos, not the Southern region. You may be wondering why this is the case. This part of Mexico City doesn’t grow wheat, which is used to make tortillas and burritos.
Wheat is only grown in Northern Mexico, where burritos are more popular than anywhere else in the city. On the other hand, Burritos are likely to be found in some American-Mexican restaurants in Southern Mexico.
4. Burritos Are High in Protein, Carbohydrates, And Minerals
Burritos are made from flour tortillas, ground beef, and vegetables. As a result, it is a high-energy meal rich in carbohydrates, protein, dairy, vitamins, and minerals.
Burritos are perfect for a healthy diet because they have nutrient-dense fillings. They are high in minerals like calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and zinc. Burritos are also high in vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin C, vitamin E, and folic acid (vitamin B9).
A little tip is that brown rice is preferable to white rice when making burritos because brown rice contains high fiber.
5. National Burrito Day
This holiday honors everyone’s love of burritos. Every first Thursday of April is marked National Burrito Day, which is April 6 this year. Burritos are a favorite meal of nearly everyone, making them one of the most popular Mexican dishes worldwide. National Burrito Day provides ideal ways to fulfill your hunger with your favorite Mexican flavors. It satisfies your taste buds through a single bite.
National Burrito Day is a special occasion to enjoy as many different burritos as possible. Burritos are served at gatherings, and various meat, vegetable, and cheese options are available. At the same time, this would also be the day to stock up on burritos because most restaurants offer incredible deals and discounts on burritos. Pretty impressive!
Concluding Thoughts
Burrito is one of the meals that is shared around the world. It is filled with facts and knowledge that you should share at family dinners. We hope that this article has helped you. Do not hesitate to check more on Recipes.net.
