I'm going to say, "no". I like beans and rice as a side for tacos, but for some reason, rice in a burrito just feels wrong to me. Opinions?

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[–] 57 points 11 months ago (10 children)

I live in a place with a LOT of Mexican folks, and they happen to operate a lot of taco trucks around the area. Muy authentico. They put beans and rice, a massive pile of your meat of choice, onions cilantro and cheese. It’s a burrito the size of a small child, wrapped in a tortilla the size of a small blanket.

If the people whose culture the noble burrito hails from decide to put rice in it, the answer is yes. Rice belongs in burritos. We gringos just need to say gracias when we pick up our order and deal with it.

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  • [–] [S] 2 points 11 months ago*

    I kinda hate rice because I worked at place like that and they told us it was a price saver/ filler. Honestly though, that's every peasant dish that's become popular. When I'd make my lunch, I always subbed the rice for pico. I'm trying to get more into the rice on burritos, though.

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  • [+] -13 points 11 months ago (7 children)
  • [–] 16 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

    You made all this up. Rice is a popular ingredient in a ton of authentic Mexican food including burritos.

    Source: Mexican friends. Going to Mexico. Showing a Mexican friend this post and him replying "what the fuck"

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  • [–] 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    I'm from mexico and yes, rice is a very common in mexican food, but not in burritos, except in american style burritos (which are very good with rice)

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  • [–] 12 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    They are literally Mexican people. The burrito is fucking Mexican. Seeth all you like.

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    [–] 23 points 11 months ago (6 children)

    Its food man. It belongs if you like it, it doesn't if you don't. I don't understand some of these arguments where "the originating culture did it this way so it belongs!" Who cares how people half way across the world make their burritos, fuck culture and tradition. Cooking is art, do what you want and make it how you like. Personally I put rice in because its an easy nutritious filler that doesnt impact taste or texture too bad and which extends the good meats and seasoning and stuff out a couple meals.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago (5 children)

    See also: pizza, General Tso chicken, Pad Thai

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago (4 children)
  • [–] 18 points 11 months ago

    I think some burritos have entirely too much rice content, but I think a minor rice component is acceptable.

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  • [–] 30 points 11 months ago

    Absolutely yes.

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  • [–] 14 points 11 months ago

    If rice can get wrapped in seaweed (Sushi), it can go in anything.

    YOLO!

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  • [–] 10 points 11 months ago

    I like adding some rice, it’s very absorbent when there’s too much sauce. Then again, I’m European and have never come in contact with actual good Mexican food.
    So maybe my opinion is a pretty bad one :)

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  • [–] 10 points 11 months ago

    Honestly, rice makes everything better, so that's a yes from me!

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  • [–] 8 points 11 months ago

    Not that it "should" per se, but it certainly can.

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  • [–] 6 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    Yes UNLESS in a breakfast type burrito.

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  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago

    Yes -- at least for some kinds of burritos. My go to lately for quick meals is a burrito with pepper jack, rice, black beans, a slice of bacon, and a mix of two salsas.

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  • [+] 5 points 11 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 5 points 11 months ago (2 children)

    San Diego burritos are phenomenal and often don’t contain rice

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago

    I thought it couldn't be a burrito if it didn't have rice in?

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago

    Yes it keeps the lower half happy.

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago

    No for me, the tortilla is already loaded with carbs, adding rice and i will feel so bloated but not full either.

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago

    Yes and no.

    No because most burritos are just meat and cheese, with sauce on top and beans and rice on the side.

    Yes, because rice is awesome. It will absorb the sauce, so if you have your tortilla laid out, a bed of rice laid down before you put your meat down will absorb a lot of those juices that would otherwise just drip onto your plate (maybe your shirt). Also, it makes the burrito more filling.

    Also no, because I can't have too many carbs at once. The tortilla is enough. I don't even do burritos anymore, I do street tacos. I do corn tortillas with cheese, meat, and pico. Rice doesn't belong anywhere near that. But that's not burritos, that's tacos.

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago

    Yes, but the burritos I eat aren't even close to authentic. Black rice is really good in them :)

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago

    Only if it's the correct amount. It's a tricky balance, so the safe option is to leave it out completely.

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  • [–] 4 points 11 months ago (1 child)
  • [+] 5 points 11 months ago (1 child)
  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    Yeah, and in a taco. Rice and beans baby

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago
    [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    I understand why it would feel weird having rice with a tortilla. I guess it's like rice and macaroni. Too many carbs.

    HOWEVER, the rice is mixed with a bunch of other stuff so it's not like you're just eating rice in a burrito. It's more like the rice in soup.

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    I'm fine with it, as the rice completes the protein of the beans. It doesn't need to be in there, and I think it's more of a filler overall, but it's fine to have a small amount.

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    I'd put you in there, just gimme the damn burrito.

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  • [–] 2 points 11 months ago

    Oh yeah. Makes the burrito so much better.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago

    I don't mind it, unless it is just really shit rice (Taco Bell's rice comes to mind,) but overall I do see it as more of a filler and I'd be perfectly happy without it being in a burrito.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago

    Mmm that reminds me. I know what I’m getting for dinner now😁

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago*

    I'm not especially married to it and wouldn't choose it over beans, but I don't think that it's especially bad.

    But, I mean, your burrito is coming in contact with your tongue and going down your throat, not mine. If you don't like it, hey, go with something else. I don't think that there's some global "should" that applies to all humans on food preference.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago*

    Should? IDK if it should be, but I do like it in one. I could take it or leave it. I don't think it really does much aside from make it more filling. Everything else in the burrito usually completely overpowers rice; even if it's a well seasoned Spanish rice.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago

    Yep, tastes good.

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  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago (3 children)

    It's traditional to have it, so to "should?" the answer has to be "yes". I don't usually bother when cooking at home, though.

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (2 children)

    Not traditional in burritos where they were invented, but not a bad addition anyway

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  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago (1 child)

    Where... do you think burritos were invented, if not Mesoamerica?

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  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago

    Burritos are a recent invention from Cd. Juarez, Chihuahua, where they are usually just made with stews of different types, usually including meat of different types, beans and hot sauces, or milder ones. Vegetables are included sometimes but not always.

    In Mexico, south and central america in general they are not that popular except in the northern states, and recently they are being introduced there but usually what they get is an americanized version for american tourists that want to "try local burritos" which aren't local in the most popular tourist places.

    This americanized version is the one that started including rice, I think by influence of other wraps and dishes from all around. To be entirely honest, I like both types of burritos, they are great with and without rice, but rice is not "traditional" at all in burritos.

    Besides, in mesoamerica there was no rice, it was introduced from the old world as far as I know.

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  • [–] 0 points 11 months ago
    [+] -3 points 11 months ago (6 children)
  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (3 children)

    Really went off the rails there at the end, yeah?

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  • [–] 1 point 11 months ago (2 children)

    Come to America, or better yet accept poor refugees

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