Have you ever wondered where little donkeys come from? No, we’re not talking about the animal, we’re talking about burritos! If you take it as a literal translation, burrito translates to little donkey with burro being donkey and -ito being little.
Where did the burrito come from? We know it as a staple in Mexican cuisine, and we can recognize its characteristic meat, cheese, and bean filling stuffed in a tortilla, but how did it all start.
Unfortunately, the precise date, location, and inventor of the burrito has been lost, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have plenty of fun stories surrounding this tasty dish! Some speculate that a street vendor in Chihuahua invented it during the Mexican revolution in the 1910s. The story goes that Juan Méndez wrapped food in a tortilla to make it easier to transport and then sold it from a cart his donkey pulled.
Another speculation is that the burrito arrived in the 1940s from a different street vendor in Ciudad Juárez. Much the same as Juan Méndez, this street vendor served food wrapped in a tortilla to schoolchildren. The difference is that he didn’t have a donkey and that he often called the children the derogatory term, burritos – which is basically calling them dull-witted.
Lastly, there is the idea that burritos came from the people of Sonora. They are said to have invented it because it was easy to travel with, and since donkeys used to be a way of travel, it’s no wonder that the burrito once again found a name for itself with the aid of these animals.
Now, you may be wondering which story holds the most weight with historians. Well, it seems many favor the last one regarding the people of Sonora. This is because the region is known for its wheat-growing. In other words, it had plenty of access to tortillas, making the innovative burrito a strong possibility.
And that is the exciting tale of the burrito! We hope you’ll give one of our burritos a try April 1st in celebration of National Burrito Day! Yes, it falls on April Fool’s Day, but it’s no joke. The burrito day is real. Oh, and the burritos, too!
FAQs
A very persistent theory alleges that the inventor of the burrito was a man named Juan Méndez, who sold tacos in the city of Ciudad Juárez during the Mexican Revolution, between 1910-1920. According to that story, Méndez rode around on a donkey, and wrapped the food in large flour tortillas to keep it warm.
What is a Jimmy Changa? ›
$13.99. Flour tortilla rolled with rotisserie chicken & cheese, lightly fried -- served with avocado-ranch and queso.
Are burritos American or Mexican? ›
While burritos are undeniably Mexican in their origins, they have evolved significantly over time, especially in the United States, where their popularity has gone global thanks to American movies, series, and books. In the United States, burritos tend to be much larger than their Mexican counterparts.
Why doesn t Mexico have burritos? ›
Well, actually lets say they are not a purely Mexican dish. The burrito was actually an invention a little further north in America from California. Drawing from the widely available and delicious taco, the Americans sought to make this bigger and better to suit their appetite.
What is the original Mexican burrito? ›
Authentic Mexican burritos consist of two thin flour tortillas filled with a variety of ingredients. Although the ingredients can be as creative and unique as one's imagination, a traditional burrito is filled with meat, vegetables, and beans. However, rice and guacamole are two very common additions.
What do Mexicans call burritos? ›
Burritos are commonly called tacos de harina ("wheat flour tacos") in Central Mexico and Southern Mexico, and burritas (the feminine variation with 'a') in "northern-style" restaurants outside of northern Mexico proper.
What ethnicity is a burrito? ›
burrito, a common cylindrical food item of Mexican and American origin consisting of a tortilla wrapped around a mixed filling of such ingredients as meat, cheese, beans, and vegetables.
What do Mexicans call tacos? ›
From the corn tortillas they make the crispy tacos, soft tacos and taquitos. With the flour tortillas they make soft tacos, taquitos,burritos and chimichangas (toasted burritos). People out of Mexico have an extra meaning for the word “taco” which will be the heel of the shoes and in Mexico it is called “tacones”.
What are the cons of burritos? ›
Burritos can be high in sodium, largely due to the sodium in pre-packaged tortillas, cheese, or salsas. Keep in mind, it's the prepackaged varieties that tend to be high in sodium; freshly made tortillas or salsa will likely be much lower in sodium.
Why are burritos called donkeys? ›
One version of the story attributes the idea to the people of Sonora as a group. The inhabitants of this state in northwestern Mexico were frequent travelers who carried their belongings on donkeys. Therefore, they took to calling their tortilla-wrapped meals “l*ttle donkeys” after their trusty pack animals.
Like most meals, a burrito can be as healthy or unhealthy as you want; it depends on what ingredients you include and what you're avoiding. If you're trying to eat fewer carbs, a burrito bowl can be a better choice than a traditional burrito – and easier to take home if you want to cut back on portion sizes.
Who invented the tortilla? ›
Tortillas have been around for thousands of years. Mayan legend says that the first tortilla was a gift. As the story goes, a peasant invented the corn tortilla as a present for his hungry king over 12,000 years ago. In the ancient highlands of modern Mexico, tortillas were a staple in both Mayan and Aztec diets.
Who invented the sushi burrito? ›
History. The sushi burrito was created in 2008 by Peter Yen of the San Francisco fast casual restaurant Sushirrito. Since then, the dish has expanded in popularity and is sold by a variety of sushi and burrito restaurants in the United States.
What is the history of the breakfast burrito? ›
History tells us the modern breakfast burrito was invented in 1975 in New Mexico. The beginning of what would be one of the most important culinary inventions since sliced bread. Over the past few decades advancements have been made.
