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 There are reasons why there are certain names of Mexican food on the menu. Some of the dishes are associated with what they are made up of. Then there are some titles that are given to pay homage to a cultural tradition.
Names of the Mexican food are given because of the way that they compare to other objects or things in the Spanish or Latin American culture. For example, a burrito is a rolled tortilla filled with different ingredients. Burrito is derived from the donkey which is called a burro in the Spanish language. The donkey carries a blanket filled with personal items or food and rolled up onto its back. The burrito resembles this.
Empanadas are bread or pastries that are filled with various ingredients rolled or wrapped and then fried. This term is given to the entre because the Spanish verb “empanar” means to wrap or coat in bread. Many names of Mexican food are given to them because of the way that the dish is prepared.
Quesadillas are scrumptious dishes that are made of flour or corn tortillas that are filled with cheeses and various other mixtures such as vegetables and meat. They were derived in South America. This dish was tagged from the term queso which means cheese in Spanish.
Tortillas are names of Mexican food that are very common in many restaurants. The term tortilla means little torta or little cake in Spanish. They are a flatbread that can be made of corn or wheat. They can be eaten alone or in combination with another dish. Sometimes the tortillas are fried and are turned into tortilla chips. They are then eaten with a red or green sauce or even a cheese queso dip. These examples are often appetizers served at a number of restaurants. Fajitas are most times eaten with tortillas. The meat and vegetables and other various toppings are combined and wrapped together with a tortilla. Faja means belt or skirt. The cut of beef that is used to make fajitas is the skirt steak. Fajitas are brought to the table and served on a sizzling hot, cast-iron platter. Guacamole is a very popular type of dip that is commonly eaten with chips or sometimes added as a side to various dishes such as fajitas and tacos. The Aztec dialect translation of this scrumptious dish is avocado sauce. Guacamole is made by mashing ripe avocados. Some people will add various spices, onions, peppers or tomatoes to add to the flavor and texture of the dish.
Some are given because of the color of the dish, and then are translated into the Spanish term. For example, frijoles negros mean black beans, papas means potatoes, and arroz amarillo means yellow rice. Then there are some names of Mexican food that are translated directly as to what they mean, and there is no reason behind the specific name that was given to the dish. It may be helpful to have a translation if they are curious as to why a dish is called what it is.
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