Burrito facts for kids
A burrito is a yummy and popular dish that comes from Mexico. It's basically a tortilla (a flat, round bread made from corn or wheat flour) wrapped around a tasty filling. Imagine a delicious wrap!
In Mexico, burritos are often simple, filled with things like meat, beans, or cheese. But in the United States, burritos can be much bigger and have lots of different ingredients inside! These often include Mexican rice, beans, lettuce, salsa, meat, avocado, cheese, and sour cream.
Contents
What is a Burrito?
A burrito is a type of taco that is rolled up. It uses a large wheat tortilla that is folded or wrapped into a cylinder shape. This keeps the delicious filling inside. The word "burrito" means "little donkey" in Spanish. Some people think it's called that because the rolled-up blanket or pack on a donkey's back looks a bit like a burrito. Others think it's because the ingredients are carried in a similar way.
How Burritos are Made
Making a burrito starts with a warm, soft tortilla. Then, you add your favorite fillings right in the middle. After that, you carefully fold the sides of the tortilla over the filling. Finally, you roll it up tightly from one end to the other. This creates a neat, portable meal that's easy to hold and eat.
Different Kinds of Burritos
Burritos come in many exciting varieties, depending on where you are and what ingredients are popular there.
Mexican Burritos
In Mexico, burritos are often smaller and simpler. They usually have just one or two main ingredients. For example, you might find a burrito with just machaca (dried beef) or chicharrón (fried pork rinds). They are often eaten as a quick snack or light meal.
American Burritos
When burritos came to the United States, especially in places like California and the Southwestern United States, they started to get much bigger and have more fillings.
California Burrito
The California burrito is a famous type from San Diego. It usually has carne asada (grilled steak), French fries, cheese, and guacamole or pico de gallo. It's a very filling and popular choice.
Mission Burrito
The Mission burrito comes from the Mission District in San Francisco. It's known for being very large and packed with many ingredients. These often include rice, beans, meat, salsa, sour cream, and guacamole. It's usually wrapped in foil to keep it warm and together.
Breakfast Burrito
A breakfast burrito is a great way to start the day! It's filled with breakfast foods like scrambled eggs, chorizo (a type of sausage), potatoes, and cheese. Sometimes it also has bacon or sausage.
Wet Burrito
A "wet burrito" is a burrito that is covered in a sauce, like a red chili sauce or enchilada sauce. It's often topped with melted cheese and served on a plate with a fork, because it can be quite messy!
Burrito Bowl
A burrito bowl is like a burrito, but without the tortilla! All the delicious ingredients are served in a bowl instead. This is a good option if you want to eat fewer carbs or prefer to mix your ingredients with a fork.
Images for kids
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A basic burrito that has not been fully wrapped, with meat, refried beans, sauce and cheese
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Mission-style burrito containing shredded pork, beans, and rice
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Contents of a California burrito
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A photograph of a hand holding a chile relleno burrito wrapped in yellow paper from Al and Bea's in the Boyle Heights neighborhood in Los Angeles.
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A wet burrito
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A steak burrito bowl
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A chorizo-and-egg breakfast burrito with salsa
