Burrito Sauce vs Enchilada Sauce: What’s the Difference?
Mexican cuisine is famous for its delicious sauces that play a significant role in enhancing the flavor of dishes.
From burritos to enchiladas, a sauce can change the taste of a dish completely.
When it comes to Mexican food, two of the most popular sauces are burrito sauce and enchilada sauce.
Although they may seem similar, they have distinct differences that set them apart.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deeper into what burrito sauce and enchilada sauce are, their differences, similarities and how to choose between them.
What is Burrito Sauce?
Burrito sauce is a type of Mexican chili-based sauce typically used as a condiment or topping for burritos. It usually has a thick consistency due to the use of ingredients such as tomato paste and cornstarch. The flavor of burrito sauce is generally mild with just enough spiciness to give it some heat.
Burritos are one of Mexico’s most popular foods worldwide, and many different types of sauces complement their flavors. Burritos can have meat or vegetables with rice beans wrapped in tortillas.
What is Enchilada Sauce?
The enchilada sauce is also a chili-based Mexican sauce commonly used to prepare enchiladas, another Mexican cuisine favorite. This type of sauce has a thinner consistency than burrito sauce because it uses more liquid ingredients such as chicken broth or vegetable stock instead of cornstarch often used in making burrito sauces.
Enchiladas typically consist of soft tortillas rolled around different fillings like cheese, meat or vegetables then covered with enchilada gravy which adds an extra layer of flavor that makes them scrumptious.
Differences Between Burrito Sauce and Enchilada Sauce
Now that we know what these two types of sauces are let’s talk about their differences:
- Consistency – As mentioned earlier, burrito sauce and enchilada sauce have different consistencies, with burrito sauce being thicker while enchilada sauce has a thinner consistency.
- Spiciness – Burrito sauces are often milder than enchilada sauces. While burritos aim to complement the flavors of the ingredients inside them, enchiladas usually boast more robust flavors and spicier ingredients.
- Ingredients – While both sauces use chili peppers as a base ingredient, other ingredients used in making each of them can vary significantly. Burrito sauce often uses tomato paste, cornstarch and spices such as cumin or oregano. On the other hand, Enchilada sauce often includes chicken broth or vegetable stock, onion, garlic and Mexican spices such as cumin or chili powder.
Similarities Between Burrito Sauce and Enchilada Sauce
Despite having differences that separate them into two categories of Mexican cuisine sauces that are burrito or enchiladas sauces, there are some similarities between these two sauces:
- Both use chili peppers: Since chili peppers are essential in preparing these two types of Mexican dishes’ gravies
- Both enhance flavor: The role of burrito and enchilada gravies is to add flavor to the dishes they accompany.
Burrito Sauce vs Enchilada Sauce: How to Choose Between Them?
Choosing between burrito sauce and enchilada sauce depends on what you’re looking for in terms of taste preferences.
If you enjoy mild flavors but still want a heat kick from your condiment topping? Then try choosing a burrito gravy that offers just enough spice while also complementing your taste buds’ flavor profile.
If you prefer bolder flavors with more heat in your food? Try an Enchilada gravy that features additional spices like cumin powder or chili pepper which will give it more spiciness!
Nutritional Comparison of Burrito Sauce vs Enchilada Sauce
When it comes to calories, both sauces do not have significant differences. However, burrito sauce may contain more sodium compared to enchilada sauce because of the cornstarch and tomato paste. Meanwhile, enchilada sauce might contain slightly more sugar due to some liquid ingredients like chicken broth or vegetable stock.
When it comes to nutritional value, both sauces can be good sources of vitamins and minerals depending on the ingredients used in making them. Chili peppers are known for their high content of vitamin C, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.
Conclusion
In conclusion, burrito sauce and enchilada sauce are two types of Mexican cuisine gravies that offer distinct flavors with subtle similarities. The key difference between these two types of sauces is the consistency, spiciness levels as well as the ingredients used in preparing them. To choose between them depends on individual preferences when it comes to taste buds!
Jenny has always been passionate about cooking, and she uses her platform to share her joy of food with others. Her recipes are easy to follow, and she loves giving tips and tricks to help others create their own unique culinary creations.