Mission Project

The Mission is a part of San Francisco that is home to many different cultures. The neighborhood primarily features cuisine from many different Latin American countries, though there are also various other countries represented through restaurants. In addition to traditional and authentic fare, there is also the strange cuisine that seems to pop up anywhere Americans get involved. _____-American food. Place the name of any country or region in the blank and you are likely to have a whole new type of food, unique even from its original country or region. Today I want to focus on Mexican-American food to talk about a type of dish that we should all be familiar with: the San Francisco-style burrito, also known as the Mission-style burrito. This burrito is massive. You might have stumbled into the grocery store after devouring one of these tasty meals and, wanting to create your own burrito at home, encountered the tortilla aisle to find that the torillas labeled "burrito size" are pitifully small and unfit for your purposes. Terrible, I know. San Francisco-style burritos are made specially with extra large tortillas that are steamed to make them ultra durable. However, another important aspect of these burritos, one that is key to their success, is their foil wrapping. Not only is this wrapping necessary in order to hold your burrito together, it also makes a neat little carrying case for meals on-the-go. You simply tear the foil as you go to expose more and more of the tasty torpedo! The basic ingredients in a San Francisco-style burrito include Spanish rice, your choice of black/pinto/refried beans, salsa, and your choice of meat. La Cumbre is a taqueria on Valencia Street and 16th St in the Mission district whose informational pamphlet notes the "Mission-style" burrito as one of its specialties. I visited this restaurant during my research for this project, and it was amazing. I got a black bean, rice, salsa, and guacomole burrito with mild salsa that was out of this world.

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I love San Francisco-style burritos, which is why I wanted to learn some of the recipes for the ingredients of these tasty treats. Below I've listed two recipes that will assist you in making some delicious San Francisco-style burritos at home. Don't forget the foil wrap!

SPANISH RICE

Ingredients:
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 cups medium or long-grain white rice
- 3 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth if you want to make it vegan/vegetarian)
- 1 heaping Tbsp tomato paste
- pinch of oregano
- 1 tsp salt

1. In a large skillet brown rice in olive oil, medium/high heat. Add onion and garlic. Cook onion rice mixture, stirring frequently, about 4 minutes, or until onions are softened.

2. In a separate sauce pan bring stock to a simmer. Add tomato sauce, oregano, and salt. Add rice to broth. Bring to a simmer. Cover. Lower heat and cook 15-25 minutes, depending on the type of rice and the instructions on the rice package. Turn off heat and let sit for 5 minutes.

REFRIED BEANS

Ingredients:
- 2 cups black or pinto beans (I like black!)
- 3 Tbsp olive or sesame oil
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 tsp cumin
- 1-2 tsp salt
- 1-2 tsp black pepper

1. Heat the oil over medium heat, add the onion, and sauté until soft, about 10 minutes. Add garlic and continue sautéing for another minute or two.

2. Stir in the beans, spices, and ½ c of reserved soaking liquid. Mash the beans into the liquid. If they seem too dry, add more liquid. Taste and adjust the spices.


PICO DE GALLO

Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups tomatoes, seeded and diced
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1 Tbsp jalapenos, diced
- 1 Tbsp garlic, minced
- juice of 2 limes
- 2 Tbsp cilantro
- salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl



These recipes are easy and will get you started with the building blocks of your amazing burrito! Good luck, and don't forget to shop at Rainbow Grocery, which is also located in the Mission!