Taquitos, often mistaken for a traditional Mexican dish, were actually invented in the US by Ralph Pesqueria Jr. in the 1940s. They are made by filling a corn tortilla with a variety of ingredients, rolling it into a tube shape, and frying until crispy. They are commonly served with toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, and salsa. Frozen taquitos can be found in supermarkets, and they are also sold in Mexican restaurants and food carts.
A mosquito is made from a soft taco shell that has been rolled around a savory filling and then deep-fried. While mosquito is considered by many to be a Mexican dish, it is believed to have been invented in the United States. Taquitos closely resemble the Mexican food known as flautas, and some people use these terms interchangeably. Exact taquito recipes can vary widely, but preparing this dish usually involves making a filling, wrapping soft shells around that filling, and then frying each roll until crispy. You can also buy taquitos from restaurants and supermarkets.
While many people associate the taquito with Mexican cuisine, and many restaurants in Mexico and Mexican restaurants in other countries sell taquitos, it is believed that this food was actually conceived in the United States. Specifically, taquitos are attributed by many to a San Diego-area tortilla factory owner named Ralph Pesqueria Jr. Tex-Mex, who Tex-Mex food lore believes Pesqueria invented the taquito in the 1940s as a strategy to increase its product sales. His invention caught on and quickly gained popularity in the United States and beyond.
Besides the fact that taquitos are often sold in restaurants and by street vendors specializing in Mexican items, another reason they are often misidentified as a traditional Mexican dish is that they closely resemble a popular Mexican food called flauta. The main difference between flautas and taquitos is that the former is made with a flour tortilla, while the latter is made with a corn tortilla. Despite this distinction, many people use the two terms interchangeably.
When making taquitos, most cooks start by preparing a filling. While taquitos like Pesqueria first devised them were filled with ground beef, they can be made with a wide variety of fillings. Popular choices include chicken, pork, steak, cheese, greens, or a combination of these. A small amount of filling is poured onto a corn tortilla, which is then rolled into a tube shape. This “tube” is then fried in hot oil until crispy and finally served with toppings such as sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
Those looking to buy premade taquitos can find them in the freezer section of their local supermarket. Typically, frozen taquitos are prepared in an oven or microwave oven. You can also order taquitos from many Mexican restaurants and food carts, as well as many fast-food restaurants.
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