Burrito

This would be an ideal meal to make of leftover mashed potatoes, but that’s one leftover I rarely seem to have on hand. If you find yourself with some, these tasty burritos can be made in a flash. Serve with Beer-Stewed Pinto Beans (page 116) and a bountiful salad.

These burritos are easy because you are not so much cooking a meal as putting the ingredients on the table. Everyone then makes his or her own.

A basic burrito with a savory filling. Enjoy this simple meal rounded out by baked or microwaved sweet potatoes or corn on the cob and a bountiful tossed salad.

The inspiration for these handheld burritos came from those served at the Santa Fe Farmers Market, in New Mexico, where they are truly the early bird's reward—feasting on a portable breakfast while scoring the pick of the produce is a magical start to the day. Though either Mexican or Spanish chorizo would work, we prefer the smoothness of the Mexican sausage and the way its flavor, rich with chiles, soaks into the potatoes. Avocado adds a fresh, bright note.

Serve with a dollop of sour cream and purchased tomatillo or tomato salsa mixed with some chopped fresh cilantro.

It's a wrap! Feeding the family? Let everyone be a wrap artist by rolling his own with our recipe, which is filling and not very fattening.

Los Angeles: land of sun, fun, and burritos. Southern California's Mexican-influenced cuisine has the potential to be an all-out fat fest (cheese, sour cream) or a healthy mix of carbs (tortillas, beans) and protein (chicken, beans). A chicken burrito with the full-fat works can tip the scales at nearly 600 calories and 31 fat grams. To slim it down, we stuffed it with all-white-meat chicken, less cheese and nonfat sour cream. We also rolled it in a whole-wheat tortilla for extra fiber.

The bold flavor of turkey is a natural with Mexican food. Fire-roasted salsa can be found in the refrigerated deli case at most supermarkets.

Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Round out the main course with leaves of romaine lettuce topped with purchased guacamole and salsa; also offer rice pilaf. For dessert, spoon Kahlùa and chocolate sauce over coffee ice cream.

Serve with: Shredded lettuce and radishes tossed with lemon vinaigrette, and Spanish rice. Dessert: Lime sherbet.

Miso, a fermented soybean paste, can be found in Asian markets, specialty foods stores and in the Asian section of most supermarkets. It is usually sold in plastic tubs and has a long shelf life.

At the restaurant, the burritos are filled with smoked pork, but this version, using roasted pork, also works well.