Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Part 11 Mexican (Burritos) Cuisine

Sorry this week's posts are running late.  My assistant and I have both been under the weather (sick) this past week.  There are 3 posts coming that includes this one.  The other 2 will be recipes.  Thank you for your patience.

"Burritos" are extremely popular in the USA and Northern Mexico.  I didn't say all of Mexico because it is only the northern part that grows wheat to make the "Flour Tortilla."  The burrito is also not very old.  Maybe 200 years or less.

The true origins of the burrito are not known.  It is believed that someone in northern Mexico and/or Native Americans in the southwest USA started them.  The flour tortilla as we know today evolved out of Northern Mexico.

The burrito began as essentially a sandwich or what you would have called a sandwich in that day.  It had meat, beans or vegetables in them.  Not a combination of these ingredients as they were very simple.  The flour tortilla was folded around the filling and sealed using a little water.  Thus you could carry these anywhere and eat them when you were hungry or for a meal time.

Today's burritos have the flour tortilla and being wrapped up so the filling stays in it in common with the original ones.  From there it has been influenced by many different things.  The burritos you eat today can have everything but the kitchen sink in them.

Burritos come many different ways now.  You can order them in a sit-down restaurant today and they will come with different toppings over them.  It is common to see them on the plate with shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese on top.  Possibly even sour cream or guacamole on top of that.  Salsa is usually served on the side.

"Wet" or "Smothered" burritos are common too.  They have what is called a "Gravy" on top of them.  Maybe these will be topped with shredded cheese as well.  This gravy is spicy and there are many different recipes for it.  Most have beef gravy or broth mixed with tomato sauce and spices.  It varies by region and preference.  One of  this week's recipes is for a "Burrito Gravy" and it is worth trying.

In the USA, we have chain restaurants that specialize in "Wrapped Burritos" with many choices of ingredients for the filling.  Burritos today come with choice of meat (beef, pork, chicken, etc.), choice of beans and several types of rice, salsas, sour cream, guacamole and shredded cheeses.  And they're not limited to that.  It almost comes down to if you can think of something you want in them, you can get it.

I like all the different types of burritos available.  I hope if you haven't tried a burrito before, you will.  If you have tried one kind and not another, expand your experience and look for other types.  you might be surprised by which one ends up being your favorite go to "Burrito."

Until next week, "Happy Cooking" and get out there and find that great burrito.

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