Two of the most famous Mexican foods are quesadilla and burrito. Both of them involve flour tortillas with fillings. And both of them can be a proper meal for a person. But are both of them the same? The fact that both just have fillings in between the tortilla can give anyone the idea that they are the same.
Well, if you think like that, a sandwich can also be the same as a burrito and quesadilla. But as you might have guessed, the case is not that simple. In this discussion regarding burrito vs quesadilla, we will get to the bottom of the topic. So, if you really want to clear all your doubts, continue reading!
What Is Quesadilla?
Before anything else, we would like to ensure that you have a proper understanding of two of the Mexican dishes. Firstly, we will start with the quesadilla. As we have mentioned earlier, it is a Mexican dish that involves a flour tortilla and fillings. Usually, the filling is cheese, but it can also be salsa or meat combined with Mexican cheese.
However, you will generally need at least two tortillas to make the dish - one to hold the fillings and the other to make a proper seal. Once two tortillas come together, the dish is usually cut into slices.
But that does not mean that you cannot make a quesadilla with one tortilla. It is certainly possible! You will just need to fold the tortilla into a half-moon shape to make the seal.
Nonetheless, there are different variations available for quesadillas. And in most cases, these variations will only have alternations in the ingredients. They will come in different flavors as well. Some of them will act like dessert and will have chocolate inside.
Recipe for Making Quesadillas
Now that you are well aware of what a quesadilla is let us get into the procedure to make one. These are the steps that you would need to follow:
Step 1: Get the Required Ingredients
First and foremost, you will need to get all the required ingredients. That includes:
- two flour tortillas
- two tablespoons of butter
- shredded cheese
- one green chili pepper
- some chopped onion.
After getting all of these, move along to the next step.
Step 2: Work with the Tortillas
Now that you have all of the required ingredients take one tortilla and lay it on a clean surface. Get the shredded cheese and drop them on top of the tortilla. You should not put a lot of cheese on the edges, as when the cheese starts melting, it will spill out and burn on top of the pan.
Next, get the other tortilla and sprinkle some green chilies and chopped onions on the top. Again, ensure that you leave some space on the edges of the tortilla. You can also add your choice of meat at this stage. For example, add in bacon bits if you plan to make a breakfast quesadilla.
Step 3: Combine the Two Tortillas
Once you have sorted out the fillings of the tortillas, you should combine them. Do it so that the cheese mixes with the green chili peppers, onions, and the meat you might have added.
Step 4: Heat Things Up
After combining the tortillas, you will need to put them on a stovetop and turn on the heat. Before that, put the heat to medium and add one tablespoon of butter to the pan. Place the uncooked quesadilla and cook one side of it. You should see the cheese melting inside when the first side is almost done.
Then, add another tablespoon of butter and flip the quesadilla. Keep the heat on medium and let the other side cook to perfection.
Step 5: Serve the Quesadilla
Once you are done cooking, the quesadilla should have a crispy exterior, and the cheese should be oozing out a little bit. Remove it pan and then enjoy it while it is hot. And in general, it will take around 10 minutes to get ready. Also, we would recommend enjoying it with guacamole or sour cream to elevate the experience.
What Is Burrito?
Just like the quesadilla, the burrito is a Mexican dish. At its core, it consists of a tortilla sheet and filling inside. Basically, the main task of the tortilla sheet is to wrap up the filling inside. And generally, the sheet is a thin roti that will be made of wheat flour.
Nonetheless, the filling of a burrito might include any type of meat, along with vegetables such as peas and beans. Some of the styles might even have rice and other carbs inside. And usually, the inside will have a sour cream, which will give it a tangy flavor.
However, that does not mean that you cannot find a spicy version of a burrito. Some versions will contain spicy sauces and spices inside the filling. And some of the types will even have sprinkles of cheese on top of the mixture to add a cheesy taste.
Recipe for Making Burrito
Like a quesadilla, making a burrito is not that hard. You will just need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Get the Required Ingredients
Before anything else, you will need to get the ingredients:
- tortilla wraps
- chopped onion
- Two tablespoons of oil
- One tablespoon of cumin
- 500 grams of beef mince or other meat of your choice
- Coriander
- Garlic cloves
- One tablespoon of cider vinegar
- 400 grams of chopped tomatoes
- 400 grams of black beans
- A pinch of caster sugar
Yes, the ingredients might seem like a lot, but you need to understand all of these will make a total of eight yummy and tummy-filling burritos.
Step 2: Prepare the Pan, the Onions, and the Spices
After getting all of the ingredients, you will need to get the pan ready. For this, add oil to the pan and put it on top of the stove. Switch the heat to medium and add the chopped onions. Fry them for at least eight minutes, and then add the garlic cloves and all of the other spices. Now, you will need to fry them all for about a minute.
Step 3: Work with the Meat and Other Ingredients
Get the beef mince or other meat and put it into the same pot. Make it mix well with all other ingredients for at least five minutes. Once you notice that the meat has started to brown, add a pinch of sugar on the top.
Drop a splash of vinegar and chopped tomatoes to top things off. Let all of the ingredients inside simmer for around five minutes. Then, you will need to add the black beans into the pot. Black beans will take a little while to cook. And depending on the amount we are working with, you will need them to simmer for 20 minutes.
Step 4: Final Touches
When the black beans are ready, you will end up with a thick gravy that the beef or your choice of meat will be drowning in. And after that, you will need to work with the tortillas. Place them on top of an empty pan and heat them. Then, take an adequate filling and place them inside the tortilla.
You can also modify the recipe a bit by adding some fresh ingredients, such as lettuce. Once you are done, wrap up the burrito nicely by ensuring that the ingredients inside do not fall out. You can even wrap it up using foil paper for extra protection.
What Is the Difference between Burrito and Quesadilla?
As we have mentioned earlier, even though both of the dishes have the same concept, they are not the same. Instead, there are a lot of things that make one stand out from the other. And in this segment, we will talk about the most significant differences between burritos and quesadillas.
Filling
You might have already guessed after going through the recipe that the filling of the quesadilla revolves around cheese. The other ingredients are basically there to complement the cheese. In fact, you can find quesadillas that will only have cheese on Mexico's streets.
On the other hand, the filling of the burrito can be anything that you like. It could also be mostly cheese and some of the other ingredients. However, the gravy nature of the filling is what makes burritos stand out the most.
Appearance
Both of the dishes have different appearances. First of all, a quesadilla is flat. Whether you are making it with two tortillas or one, you will end up with something flat.
On the other hand, burritos are cylindrical. The dish gets such a shape because the fillings are wrapped in the end. And usually, burritos have a comparatively higher number of filling inside, which calls for a large size.
Meal Type
Quesadillas do not contain that number of filling inside. As we have stated earlier, it can be just cheese! Considering that, you can consider quesadillas as a light meal. However, the case with burritos is not the same. Buritto is all about heavy fillings, rice, meat, and beans. For that reason, these are heavier than quesadillas.
Cooking Method
When you are making the quesadilla, you will need to work with the tortilla first and then with the heat. However, you will need to prepare the filling inside first and then put it into the tortillas for burritos.
Secondly, the cooking method mainly comprises making the cheese inside melt properly for the quesadilla. But for the burrito, you will need to cook all of the ingredients properly and wait about 20 minutes for the black beans. So, you can say that the quesadillas are easy to make, and burritos have a lengthy cooking process.
Similarities between Quesadilla and Burrito
With the differences aside, let us get into the things that make each of them seem like they are the same thing. Yes, some factors do make them seem like the same dish. Here is a brief description of them:
Origin
Both of the foods originate in Mexico. However, the thing that holds both of them, which is the corn tortilla, is not from Mexico. You see, corn tortillas have been a staple food for the Aztecs. They used to make delicious desserts with these tortillas. Nonetheless, the core of both dishes is still Mexican.
The Base
Whether making a quesadilla or burrito, you will need to work with at least one tortilla as a base. You cannot just melt the cheese and call it a quesadilla. Likewise, you cannot just prepare the fillings of a burrito and call it a burrito. The tortilla starts and finishes things up. And that is another similarity between these two.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of tortillas do you use for quesadilla or burrito?
When you are making quesadilla or burrito, you will need to work with corn or wheat tortilla. The other ones will not be capable of giving the dishes the flavor and texture complicacy that it requires.
What sauce should I use to make burritos?
There is something called burrito sauce, which consists of greek yogurt, sour cream, adobo sauce, and lime juice. And this sauce gives the burritos a fantastic taste.
Can I put black beans inside the quesadilla?
Yes, you can surely add any ingredients of your choice to the quesadilla. However, it would be a good idea to cook them before putting them inside the tortilla for black beans. Or else the cheese inside can get burnt.
Are quesadillas healthy?
The fact that an ideal quesadilla dish provides a proper balance of all of the three macronutrients and is highly flexible in terms of calories makes it healthy. However, you should not go crazy with the filling inside if you want to keep the dish healthy.
Final Words
So, when it comes to the topic of quesadilla vs burrito, the things that matter the most are the meal type, the volume of the filling, appearance, and cooking method. However, the fact that both are Mexican and utilize tortillas as a base makes them a bit similar.
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