In Tex-Mex cuisine, the dish whose name comes from the Spanish word for “little donkey” is the burrito.
A burrito is made by wrapping fillings inside a flour tortilla, typically enclosing the ingredients completely. Common fillings include meat, beans, rice, cheese, and salsa. The tortilla distinguishes a burrito from an open or folded taco, although restaurants use many regional variations.
The Spanish word burrito is the diminutive of burro, meaning donkey. The exact reason for the name is disputed. Suggested explanations connect the rolled tortilla to a donkey’s pack or to the bundles carried by pack animals, but no single origin story is universally accepted.
Burritos are especially associated with northern Mexico and the United States. Tex-Mex versions are often larger and include ingredients such as seasoned ground beef, yellow cheese, refried beans, and rice. A breakfast burrito commonly contains eggs, potatoes, cheese, and sausage or bacon.