The Burrito Was Made Popular By Northern Mexico And American Gold Miners

National Burrito Day is observed annually on the first Thursday in April.

A burrito is a heavy tortilla wrapped around meat, cheese, tomato, rice, beans, vegetables, and sauces.  Burritos can be filled with ground beef, shredded chicken, shredded beef or shredded pork.  Bean choices often include black, red, whole or refried beans.  Vegetables can be grilled or fresh.  Cumin, chili powder and oregano are typical spices that are used to give the burritos an authentic Mexican flavor.  Chimichangas are burritos that have been deep fried.

The word burrito first appeared in the Dictionary of Mexicanisms in 1895.  It is the term used in the Guanajuato region and means little donkey in Spanish.  It is possible that it stems from the appearance of the packs and bedrolls donkeys used to carry.  In other National regions of Mexico, similar types of food are known as flauta.

The burrito was introduced in the United States in the 1930’s at the El Cholo Spanish Café in Los Angeles.

• Burritos made in Mexico are made thin and small and are only made with one or two ingredients.
• Burritos made in the United States are bigger and contain multiple ingredients centered around meat or vegetable.
• The burrito is especially popular in Cuidad Juarez, in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua where they were invented.
• The burrito was made popular by Northern Mexican and American gold miners.
• The word burrito means “little donkey” in Spanish, as a diminutive form of burro or donkey.
• The first documented burrito was made in 1922
• The first certain reference to a burrito is from a roadhouse cafe near Tuscon.
• The first mention of a burrito in the Los Angeles Times wasn’t until 1958.
• In 1958 the burrito appeared in the Oxford English Dictionary.
• If fried the burrito becomes a chimichanga.
• California burritos are the most popular in America.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Project Burrito