Distinguishing quesadillas from burritos can be very hard considering that these 2 are all made using tortillas. Furthermore, the tortillas are usually stuffed with similar ingredients that is why most people are unable to tell them apart. The article below gives an insight of how quesadillas differ from burritos, it also states some of the common reasons why people confuse the two. To get a better understanding simply take a look at the article below.
Contents
Quesadilla
A quesadilla is a regarded as a Mexican type of a taco. It is made using a tortilla that is filled with cheese then cooked on a griddle so that the cheese really melts down. Although traditionally the quesadilla is made using cheese it can be stuffed with small portions of meat or beans and spices.
Burrito
A burrito is a very common Mexican dish that is made using a tortilla that is stuffed with ingredients like meat or beans, cheese and lettuce. A burrito is cylindrical in shape due to the fact that it is stuffed with a number of ingredients.
Difference between quesadilla and burrito
Appearance
A burrito is cylindrical whereas a quesadilla is flat. This is mainly because a burrito has a lot of stuffing in it so when it is wrapped around the filling it turn big and achieves that cylindrical shape whereas a quesadilla is flat because it consists of very few ingredients.
Volume
A quesadilla is lighter as compared to a burrito. This is mainly because the tortillas are filled with different ingredients. The burrito is heavier because it consists of ingredients like meat or beans, lettuce and cheese whereas a quesadilla only consists of a filling made from cheese.
Cooking method
When making a quesadilla you have to place the cheese inside the tortilla then grill it so that the cheese can melt. Whereas when making a burrito, once the filling is inside the burrito is not placed back on the stove it is served like that unless the filling has turned cold.
Furthermore, a burrito is made using a filling of meat or beans together with cheese whereas a quesadilla is traditionally made using cheese only. The cheese is placed inside the tortilla and then it is folded in half then toasted until all the cheese has melted.
Similarities between quesadilla and burrito
Origins
The first similarity to note between a quesadilla and a burrito is that they are both Mexican dishes.
Cooking method
Furthermore, a quesadilla and a burrito are both made using tortillas, made either from corn flour or wheat flour.
Easy recipe for making quesadilla
For this recipe you will need to use 2 flour tortillas, shredded cheese, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1 green chilli pepper and chopped onion
Step 1
Start by taking your tortilla and lay it inside a plate or clean surface. Take the shredded cheese and sprinkle it on top of the tortilla. Avoid placing a lot of cheese close to the edges of the tortilla since when the cheese starts melting it will spill out and start burning inside the pan.
Step 2
Take the other tortilla wrap then sprinkle the chopped onions and green chillies on top. Make sure you leave a little space around the edges of the tortilla. Finally combine the 2 tortillas together such that the cheese mixes with the onions and green chilli peppers.
Step 3
Take a non-stick pan then place it on a stovetop that is switched on to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan and when it has heated up add the tortilla and cook if on 1 side until you start seeing the melting cheese. Add another tablespoon of butter and flip the tortilla so that the other side can heat up perfectly.
Step 4
When the cheese has melted and the tortilla has achieved a crispy outside, remove it from the pan and serve it. This usually takes 10 minutes for the quesadilla to get ready. You can serve it with a combination of sour cream and guacamole just to elevate the flavours a little bit.
Easy recipe for making burrito
NB: this recipe makes 8 burritos
To make burritos you need a tortilla wraps, 2 tablespoons of oil, 1chopped onion, garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon cumin, coriander, 500g beef mince, 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar, 400g chopped tomatoes, a pinch of caster sugar and 400g of black beans.
Step 1
Start by adding oil to a pan and heating it up on a stove that is switched on to medium heat. Add the onions and fry them for about 8 minutes. Then move on to add the garlic cloves and all the other spices and fry them for about a minute.
Step 2
Take the beef mince and add it into the same pot. Mix it with all the other ingredients for about 5 minutes or until the meat starts to brown. Then simply add a pinch of sugar and top it off with a splash of vinegar and also the chopped tomatoes. Let all the ingredients simmer for about 5 minutes.
Step 3
Add the black beans to the pot and let them simmer with all the other ingredients for about 20 minutes. The final result should be beef that is submerged in a thick gravy.
Step 4
When the filling is ready, take the tortillas and heat them up in a pan. The next step is to take the filling and place it inside the tortilla. You can also add any fresh ingredients like lettuce. Wrap the burrito nicely such that the filling does not drip out of the burrito. You can wrap the tortilla with foil paper just for extra protection. Eat the burrito while warm to avoid food poisoning.
Conclusion
Quesadillas and burrito are 2 different things. Although they are both made using tortilla wraps they contain different ingredients. They should always be reheated before consumption to avoid food poisoning. Furthermore always store leftover quesadillas or burritos in the refrigerator. This helps to retain their flavours and texture.