A burrito bowl is a healthier alternative to a traditional burrito as it contains similar ingredients but is served in a bowl instead of a tortilla. The contents of a burrito bowl can vary widely, but often include meat, rice, beans, vegetables, cheese, and sour cream. Burrito bowls can be made at home or purchased from restaurants.
A burrito bowl is a variation of the traditional Tex-Mex burrito with an assortment of savory ingredients that are served in a bowl rather than wrapped in a tortilla. Beyond this basic definition, the exact contents of a burrito bowl can vary widely. Many diners choose burrito bowls over traditional burritos to reduce their calorie and fat intake or to avoid consuming gluten. Burrito bowls can be made at home or purchased from restaurants.
The only real criteria for a burrito bowl is that it should contain ingredients that might be found in a traditional burrito, but are served in a bowl rather than wrapped in a tortilla. Exact burrito bowl recipes can differ greatly from one another, and the potential combinations of ingredients are largely limited only by the cook’s imagination. Often, however, a bowl contains items such as chopped, shredded, or ground meat, such as chicken, beef, or pork, as well as rice, black or refried beans, tomatoes, onions, cheese, guacamole, sour cream, and pico de gallo. These ingredients can be layered on top of each other or mixed so that they are evenly distributed.
Some Tex-Mex food chains consider the burrito bowl a “healthy” alternative to traditional burritos. This statement stems primarily from the fact that the extra-large tortillas commonly used to make burritos can be a significant source of calories and carbohydrates. Additionally, burrito tortillas are usually made with wheat flour, which should be avoided by those who have trouble digesting gluten, a protein found in wheat and some other grains. While avoiding the tortillas may save some calories and prevent digestive issues in some diners, however, it should be noted that a burrito bowl can still contain a large amount of fat and calories, depending on what’s in it. For a healthy meal, diners should choose bowls that pile on lots of fresh vegetables rather than red meats and full-fat dairy products.
Home cooks can make burrito bowls pretty easily by combining seasoned meat with rice, chopped greens, beans, and their favorite seasonings. Those who prefer to let others do the cooking will generally find that burrito bowls are readily available at many take-out and eat-in Tex-Mex restaurants. Even if burrito bowls don’t appear on the menu at any of these establishments, diners can often improvise by asking restaurant staff to serve their burrito without its shell.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
