Antojitos are Mexican snacks sold by street vendors with basic cooking tools. They are made with corn tortillas and can be served with various condiments. Popular antojitos include tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and tostadas.
Antojitos are Mexican appetizers or snacks. They are often sold in Mexico at outdoor markets or on the streets by vendors. Vendors traditionally make them fresh. Most antojitos are made with corn tortillas or have cornmeal as the main ingredient.
The noun antojitos comes from the verb antojar. The definition of the word antojar ranges from the somewhat mundane “I feel” to the more passionate “I wish”, “I long” or “I yearn”. Beyond the standard definition of Mexican street snack, antojitos are often translated into phrases like “little tantrum,” “sudden craving,” or “craving.” These colorful expressions are almost always used in reference to small Mexican appetizers that can be eaten with the hands while walking. Antojitos can also refer to more elaborate appetizers found on upscale Mexican restaurant menus.
Many Mexican street vendors selling antojitos have only the most basic cooking tools on hand. The entire street kitchen set often includes just a gas ring or charcoal brazier and a bucket of water. These items are often placed on top of a rickety table or pushcart along with condiments and napkins.
With these basic tools, salespeople typically whip up a specialty or two for their customers. Tourists are often seen watching the vendors prepare tortillas with fresh, appetizing bundles of fresh vegetables, meat, and herbs. The speed with which the vendors make and serve their antojitos is generally considered to be very fast: they can normally serve 10 to 20 people in a matter of minutes.
Often considered the simplest and most popular snack in the category, totopos are tortilla chips, usually made in the morning of the day they are sold. They are served hot or cold, with one or more condiments or sauces. The most common condiment served with totopos is a simple fresh chili, cilantro, and tomato sauce. Other traditional accompaniments include guacamole or other avocado-based flavors.
Other popular antojitos include tacos, enchiladas, burritos and tostadas. Tacos are small, lightly fried corn tortillas traditionally filled with meat and topped with lettuce and cheese. Enchiladas are usually softened corn tortillas dipped in salsa, filled with meat, cheese, or a combination thereof, and then baked. Burritos are commonly made with flour tortillas and are filled with meat, beans and cheese and then rolled into a cylinder. Tostadas are simply large fried corn tortillas topped with layered refried beans, collard greens or lettuce, chopped onion, and salsa.
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