A Mexican dish of corn tortillas rolled around a filling and covered with chili sauce. The filling typically includes meat, cheese, beans, or vegetables, and the dish is often baked and garnished with cheese, sour cream, or onions.
From Spanish 'enchilar' meaning 'to season with chili,' derived from 'chile' (chili pepper). The dish has ancient Aztec origins, where tortillas were filled with small fish and covered with chili sauce, evolving over centuries into modern variations.
Enchiladas showcase the holy trinity of Mexican cuisine: corn, chili, and beans/meat. The phrase 'the whole enchilada' entered American slang in the 1960s to mean 'everything' because this dish represents a complete, satisfying meal in Mexican culture!
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