It seems like every Mexican recipe is a combination of vegetables, meats, cheese, and tortillas, but which one is which?  We’ll teach you the difference between fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, and tostadas!

Burrito: A burrito consists of a tortilla wrapped around a number of fillings, namely rice, beans, and meat.  Some more Americanized burritos, however, contain many other ingredients, such as salsa, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, or vegetables.

Ceviche: Ceviche is a seafood dish that can be served on its own or in tortillas.  It is comprised of raw seafood that is marinated in the juice of citrus fruits, which causes the fish to “cook” without actually using heat.  In addition to seafood, ceviche contains avocado, onion, chile, and sometimes tomato.

Enchilada: An enchilada is a tortilla wrapped around various fillings; it usually contains meat, vegetables, cheese, and/or beans, and is then topped with a sauce.  The sauce is most often a chili pepper sauce, but some enchiladas are topped with mole sauce or cheese.

Fajita: Fajitas are made of grilled meats and vegetables, usually onions and bell peppers. The fillings are served in an iron skillet with tortillas on the side; the diner must then roll the fajitas themselves and may top them with sour cream, cheese, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole.

Flan: Flan is a Mexican dessert.  It is a baked custard dish made of eggs, milk, gelatin, and vanilla, and is known as “crème caramel” in many countries.

Guacamole: Guacamole is a dip made of mashed avocadoes and lime juice.  Some guacamole recipes also contain tomatoes, onions, garlic, and other seasonings. 

Quesadilla: A quesadilla is made from a large folded tortilla that is filled with cheese and cooked so the cheese melts.  Traditional quesadillas contain only cheese, but other variations contain meats and vegetables.

Taco: A taco is made of a folded corn or flour tortilla filled with various ingredients, including meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, or onion.

Tamales: Tamales are made of masa, a corn-based dough.  They are wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves before they are cooked and they resemble small packets once prepared.  They sometimes contain cheese, meats, or vegetables. 

Tostada: A tostada is made by deep-frying a tortilla and topping it with various taco fillings or ceviche.  Tostadas are usually served as appetizers or snacks.