A gourmet burrito uses high-quality ingredients to elevate the dish, with options for meat lovers and vegetarians. A gourmet sauce is a must, and sautéed onions and peppers can add extra flavor. Presentation is important, with smaller servings to prevent spillage.
Many people love a good burrito that pours over refried beans and guacamole or sour cream. As with other types of gourmet treats, a gourmet burrito is one that takes the ordinary, everyday dish and transforms it into superior heights using the highest quality ingredients available, regardless of cost. In addition to refried beans, sour cream, and guacamole, a gourmet burrito might include steak or mincemeat, pork loin, chicken, or even seafood like shrimp or sea bass. There is no single definition for what constitutes a burrito that is truly gourmet, however. The proof is in the taste buds of the lucky man, woman or child who consumes it.
Even vegetarians can enjoy a gourmet burrito by substituting non-protein sources of protein like fried tempeh cut into strips or ground as a burger alternative. Tofu, made with soybeans, can also be used, and seiten, a prepared wheat gluten product with a meaty taste, also works well. Greens and carnivores alike can dress up a gourmet burrito in salads like shredded lettuce, chopped heirloom tomatoes, and any other greens that sound right.
Most burrito aficionados stressed that a gourmet burrito must sport a gourmet sauce, either homemade or purchased from a source that sells it freshly made. This is where the gourmet-o-meter swings off the chart because there are an almost infinite number of ways to combine foods into a perfect sauce. Most salsas start with tomatoes, and many gourmet salsas use fire-roasted ones. Corn, black beans, and garlic are common partners, but fruits like pineapple, mango, or peach can also jump in on the fun. Gourmets usually include cilantro and some heat source, like chipotle or jalapeno peppers.
Some gourmet burrito fans argue that any burrito worth its salt should contain sauteed onions, garlic, and green or red peppers. This adds another step to the burrito cooking and composition process, but for those for whom these sauteed additions are a firm requirement, it’s well worth it. Another extra that helps boost a plain old burrito to the heights of gourmet glamor is lightly browning the burrito shell over an open flame for about a minute on each side.
Part of the perfect gourmet burrito is in the presentation. It’s important for the cook to understand that a burrito shell, even a large one, can only handle a few spoonfuls of food. The more ingredients used to create the burrito, the smaller the servings need to be. This way, when the burrito is rolled into a convenient pocket, everything stays inside instead of oozing onto diners’ hands and into their laps.
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