Dining etiquette with Italian and Mexican flavors

The history of the burrito

A burrito is a hearty Mexican dish that's great for snacking. A variety of fillings can surprise any gourmet, the main thing is to choose the right taste.

The history of the appearance of this dish is little known; it is believed that its origins appeared a long time ago in Spain. However, it acquired its final form and taste in Mexico. Mexico is a country of passion and diversity of tastes, with a difficult fate. One legend says that the name “burrito” appeared during the resettlement of Mexicans to America.

Life in Mexico was becoming dangerous; people were crossing the river into the territory of a neighboring state. However, the American cuisine could not satisfy the habits and needs of the new guests; it seemed too bland to them. At this point, relatives from Mexico began to transfer finished products across the Rio Brava River. The food was transported by an old man on a donkey named Burito. To save space, vegetables and meat were wrapped in corn tortillas, abandoning the usual utensils.

Burito is a dish that owes its name to a donkey, at the sight of which people rejoiced and shouted: “Burito is coming.”

Features of Mexican cuisine

Mexican cuisine has been formed over centuries, combining the characteristics of the dishes of the Indians who lived in the country, as well as the Spaniards, who at a certain period of history acted as conquerors.

It is impossible to imagine Mexico without corn tortillas (a flatbread similar to pita bread), vegetables (mostly tomatoes), legumes and chili peppers. Among meat dishes, Mexicans prefer pork and poultry. National cuisine is distinguished by its richness of flavors, pungency and variety of spices. It is impossible to remain indifferent to the colorfulness of the prepared dishes.

Burrito is considered almost the calling card of the country. Every Mexican restaurant has this dish on the menu. The most popular recipes are Mexican burrito with meat or vegetables. If not everyone can visit this exotic country, then preparing a national dish at home is quite possible.

Making corn tortillas at home

In order to fully adhere to the traditions of the Mexican people, the preparation of a burrito must begin with a corn tortilla in which the filling will be wrapped.

Mexican Burrito Ingredients:

1. Corn flour - about 400-500 grams.
2. Salt - a little less than a teaspoon.
3. Olive oil - a few tablespoons.
4. Heated water (warm, but not hot) - 300 ml.

Cooking process:

1. In a separate bowl, mix flour and salt. Mix everything thoroughly and add olive oil, continuing to stir the mixture.
2. Next, it is important to gradually pour in warm water while kneading the dough. It is kneaded until it stops sticking to your hands.
3. Next, the container is placed in a warm place, where the dough reaches within half an hour.
4. Small round cakes are made from the finished dough, which are fried in a well-heated frying pan for several minutes on each side. Frying occurs without oil.
5. Ready flatbreads must be stored in a cool place for several days and reheated before use.

The unleavened corn tortilla is a great addition to the filling, which in turn will be bursting with flavor and spice.

Traditional Burrito Recipe

The recipe for a classic Mexican burrito is accessible to any housewife; it uses products that are not difficult to find on the shelves of a modern store.

Required ingredients:

1. Several flatbreads, let's take 5 pieces.
2. Chicken breast halves – 5 pieces.
3. Onion.
4. Bell pepper.
5. Ripe tomatoes.
6. Cucumber.
7. Some mushrooms (champignons are fine).
8. Grated hard cheese.
9. Spices (salt, pepper and others to taste).
10. Sauce to taste (sometimes mayonnaise).

The process of preparing this Mexican burrito recipe is simple:

1. The chicken fillet must first be boiled, cooled and cut into pieces. The bird must be sprinkled with salt and spices; if you want a spicy dish, then chili pepper will do.
2. It is also important to heat the mushrooms, cool them and chop them finely. Finely chop all vegetables.
3. Mix all ingredients in a separate bowl and season with mayonnaise (use any sauce that suits your taste).
4. The filling is evenly distributed over the flatbread and wrapped in it. These rolls are placed in a preheated oven for 10-15 minutes.

The finished dish will delight you with an unusual flavor combination. If chili pepper is added to it, the snack will be spicy, while the cucumbers will add juiciness, and the chicken fillet will make you feel better.

Recipe 1: chicken burrito (with photos step by step)

Burrito is a dish for those who love creativity, so don’t limit yourself in choosing ingredients - try something new.

• Chicken breasts - 2 pcs. (pre-boil in salted water)
• Sweet bell pepper - 1 pc.
• Fresh tomatoes - 2 pcs.
• Fresh champignons - 200 g (or 1 can of salted ones)
• Onions - 2-3 heads (it is better to use red)
• Parsley - 1 bunch
• Garlic - 1−2 cloves
• Vegetable oil - 3 tbsp. spoons
• Cheese - 150 g (semi-hard varieties)
• Armenian lavash – 6 pcs. (you can use tortillas)
• Ketchup - 2 tbsp. spoons
• Mayonnaise - 1 tbsp. spoon
• Salt
• Pepper

Peel the onion and cut into half rings. Boiled chicken breast fillet - cubes. Sweet pepper - medium pieces. Finely chop the parsley. Tomatoes - cut into cubes. Grate the cheese. Finely chop the garlic. If the mushrooms are fresh, cut them crosswise into thin slices, but if they are canned, cut into pieces, then you don’t need to do anything.

Heat the vegetable oil in a frying pan. Fry the onion. Add finely chopped garlic and fry it all for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.

Add chicken, stir and fry for 2-3 minutes.

Add mushrooms. If you use raw champignons, increase the frying time to 5 minutes. Mix.

Next, add bell peppers to brighten up our burrito filling! Fry for 2-3 minutes until the peppers become soft. Lightly salt the resulting mass and add a little black pepper.

It's time to add the chopped tomatoes. Mix everything and fry for 2-3 minutes.

Next, add chopped parsley. Without greens, the burrito will not be as flavorful and beautiful! Stir and simmer a little - 2-3 minutes. That's it, the burrito filling is ready. Now comes the important part: the burrito filling.

The burrito folding deserves special attention. I tried to make it as clear as possible. Unroll the pita bread (or tortilla) and put the filling in the middle, which needs to cool slightly. Cover the top with lavash and pull it to the edge. Then we wrap the edges on the right and left and fold it into an envelope. Next, wrap the entire pita bread completely. The burrito is ready.

We also make all the pita breads. Sprinkle grated cheese on top of the burrito. And put it in the oven or microwave (you can use the grill function - this will make the cheese more rosy).

Remove the burrito from the microwave (or oven). Apply a pattern on top with mayonnaise and ketchup.

Burrito recipe with minced meat and beans

There is another popular recipe - Mexican minced burrito. To complete the taste, it is customary to add beans to it.

For the right dish you will need:

1. 5 corn tortillas.
2. 300 grams of minced meat (the hostess decides which meat to use).
3. Onion.
4. Garlic.
5. Canned beans.
6. A little sour cream.
7. Greens to taste.
8. Spices to taste.

Cooking steps:

1. Finely chop the onion and garlic and fry in a frying pan. Make sure that the food does not burn and that the onion becomes transparent.
2. Add minced meat, spices and finely chopped herbs to the pan. Mix everything thoroughly, continuing to fry until the minced meat is completely cooked. It is advisable that there are no lumps left in the meat and that everything is thoroughly mixed.
3. Finally, a can of canned beans is added (it is advisable to drain the marinade). Everything is thoroughly mixed and cooked for about 5-10 minutes.
4. Preheated flatbreads are greased with sour cream, and hot filling is laid out on top. Everything is wrapped and served to guests.

Meat and beans will add extra satiety to the dish; this recipe can surprise your family or guests.

Sausage and Mushroom Burrito Recipe

A burrito with sausage or ham and mushrooms goes well with ketchup or hot Tabasco sauce. To prepare such a dish, you will need several tortillas (you can use pita bread or Mexican tortilla) (4 - 5 pieces), mushrooms, eggs, sour cream, cheese, tomatoes, spices and butter.

Ingredients for a burrito with sausage and mushrooms:

• tortillas (flatbread), 4 - 5 pcs.,
• olive oil (4 tbsp.),
• 8 medium mushrooms,
• butter (1 tbsp),
• 6 large eggs,
• ½ cup sour cream,
• salt and pepper (to taste),
• 60 g boiled sausage,
• 120 g mozzarella cheese,
• one tomato.

How to cook a burrito with sausage and mushrooms.

1. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet. Add the mushrooms and fry for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Remove from stove.

2. In a small bowl, beat together the eggs with 2 tbsp. l. sour cream, salt and pepper.

3. Add the diced sausage and stir.

4. In a frying pan over medium heat, melt 1 tbsp. l. butter, pour in the egg mixture and cook only about 3 minutes, without overcooking. Remove from the pan and place in a bowl.

5. Spread the middle of each flatbread with a thick layer of sour cream. Layer the egg mixture, shredded mozzarella cheese, sautéed mushrooms and chopped tomato.

6. Cover the filling with one edge of the tortilla, then both sides and roll (form a burrito).

7. Heat a frying pan over medium heat and add 2 tablespoons of oil. Place burrito in pan, folded side down, and cook without turning until bottom is golden brown. Cook on each side for about 2 minutes, adding remaining oil as needed.

See also: How to make homemade cottage cheese, step-by-step recipe

Note to the owner:

To keep the tortillas pliable and prevent them from cracking, place them between two damp but warm towels.

Vegetarian burrito

For opponents of meat and lovers of vegetarian food, there is a popular recipe for a Mexican burrito (with photo), which is full of vegetables.

For preparation you will need:

1. Corn tortillas.
2. Bell pepper.
3. Tomatoes.
4. Green beans.
5. Boiled rice (will give you fullness).
6. Spices to taste.
7. Olive oil.
8. Fresh greens.

The cooking process is simple:

1. Thoroughly peel all vegetables from seeds and cut into small pieces.
2. Simmer vegetables in a heated frying pan with olive oil for 7-10 minutes. After this, add a couple of tablespoons of boiled rice to the vegetable mixture. Mix thoroughly and add spices and herbs.
3. Remove the pan from the heat and let the filling cool slightly.
4. Fill each flatbread with vegetables, wrap it in a roll and place in a preheated oven for 5-10 minutes.

The finished dish will delight lovers of vegetarian cuisine, without allowing them to go hungry. You can add any additional ingredients to the Mexican burrito recipe, it all depends on your taste preferences.

California Carne Burrito

American cuisine offers lovers of Mexican dishes a unique recipe with pineapples and French fries. First you need to fry the potatoes in long slices.

p, blockquote 25,0,0,1,0 —>

Prepare the following components:

p, blockquote 26,0,0,0,0 —>

• 100 g mayonnaise and 200 g sour cream;
• 500-600 g grated cheese;
• 8 flatbreads;
• 2-3 ripe avocados with a nutty taste;
• 2 tbsp. l. lime juice;
• cumin, garlic powder and salt 1 tsp each;
• 500-700 g French fries;
• 200 g canned pineapple slices;
• 400-500 g beef steaks, fried and cut into pieces.

If all products are ready, you can start assembling:

p, blockquote 27,0,0,0,0 —>

1. Mix peeled avocado with mayonnaise, lime juice, sour cream and spices.
2. Fry the pineapples until thin crust.
3. Warm the tortillas, wrapped in foil, in the oven for 7-10 minutes.
4. Place meat, potatoes, avocado sauce, pineapple and cheese on tortillas. Form into a burrito and fry until crispy in a dry frying pan.

If the tortillas are already elastic and do not break when twisting the tubes, then it is not necessary to reheat them.

p, blockquote 28,0,0,0,0 —>

Sweet burrito

In cooking you need to use your imagination and experiment. This is how the most original dishes were and are created. This original Mexican burrito recipe will please both adults and children.

Ingredients:

1. Corn tortillas.
2. Cherry jam (you can add fresh berries).
3. Cinnamon.
4. Butter.

Dessert preparation steps:

1. Carefully coat each flatbread with jam and add fresh berries. Form them into envelopes so that the filling does not leak out during cooking.
2. Brush the top of each burrito with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon.
3. Place everything on a baking sheet and place in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.

The finished dish can be allowed to cool slightly and served as an original dessert.

Burrito: recipe with cherries

The burrito can also be prepared with a sweet filling. In this case, we will prepare a burrito with cherries. This recipe is perfect for breakfast with tea.

Required Products:

• butter – 50 grams;
• tortillas - eight pieces;
• cherry jam – 400 grams;
• fresh pitted cherries – 200 grams;
• cinnamon - one teaspoon;
• powdered sugar - one tablespoon.

Making these burritos is very simple. Divide the jam and cherries into eight scones, then wrap them in envelopes.

Take a baking sheet and grease it with oil, place a burrito on it, each of which should be greased with melted butter, and sprinkled with cinnamon on top.

Place the baking sheet in the oven, which is preheated to 190 degrees, for fifteen minutes. After cooking, the envelopes need to be sprinkled with powdered sugar. And you can serve it to the table. Bon appetit!

Salsa sauce for a classic burrito

Returning to the traditional Mexican burrito recipe, at home, you can easily prepare a special salsa sauce, which is another hallmark of Mexico.

Ingredients:

1. Lime.
2. Ripe tomatoes.
3. Red onion.
4. Chili pepper (without seeds).
5. Cilantro.
6. Salt and black pepper.

Cooking process:

1. You need to grate the lime zest and squeeze about 2 tablespoons of juice into it.
2. Scald the tomatoes with boiling water and peel them. Chop finely and add to lime zest and juice. To stir thoroughly.
3. Finely chop the cilantro, pepper and onion. Mix everything together and add spices to your own taste.
4. Mix thoroughly and the sauce is ready.

Salsa is served with most Mexican dishes. You can easily adjust the spiciness of the sauce yourself.

Recipe 5: Homemade Bean Burrito

• Minced meat - 500 gr
• Canned beans - 1 can
• Corn - 1 can
• Tomato
• Onion
• Lime
• Bell pepper
• Paprika (powder)
• Cumin
• Ground black pepper
• Ground chili pepper
• Oregano
• Garlic powder or two finely chopped cloves
• Two or three chili peppers
• A piece of cheese

Place minced meat with a small amount of vegetable oil in a frying pan.

At the same time, open the beans and simmer/boil them in another frying pan over medium heat. The softer the beans, the better. Remember to add water (a little) as needed.

Finely chop the onion and both chili peppers.

Squeeze half a lime into them and mix everything, squeezing lightly. The picture should show that the onions have turned pink.

The minced meat is fried. Drain the liquid and let the minced meat sit in a colander. The less fat the better.

Finely chop the tomato and bell pepper and mix them.

Mix beans and minced meat.

Add all the spices, a teaspoon of each. Mix.

Add a little water and boil, stirring from time to time. We are waiting for the water to boil.

Has the water almost boiled away? Drain off the remainder and let it sit in a colander.

Heat the tortillas in the microwave.

Place the meat and beans on the tortilla. You can pour any sauce (tabasco) before this, or you don’t have to pour it.

On top are all other components as desired.

We bend the edges on the left and right so that the middle third is not covered.

From the part closest to you, bend the tortilla in half.

And tuck it under the filling.

Let's roll this video further.

The finished burrito can be placed in the grill press for a few seconds.

The burrito is ready! Bon appetit!