Definition

Noun: A Mexican dish consisting of a corn tortilla rolled around a filling, typically meat, and covered with a chili pepper sauce. The assembled dish is then baked.

Usage

The word "enchilada" is a countable noun. It refers to a single prepared item of this food. When ordering or discussing multiple items, use the plural form "enchiladas."

Examples

• I would like to order one chicken enchilada and a side of rice.
• Her specialty is cheese enchiladas with a green tomatillo sauce.
• This restaurant serves the best beef enchilada in the city.

Advanced Usage

• "The whole enchilada": This is a common English idiom (slang) meaning "everything," "the entire thing," or "the whole situation." It uses the dish as a metaphor for a complete package.
  • Example: He didn't just buy the car; he got the insurance, warranty, and accessories—the whole enchilada.

Variants and Related Words

• Enchilada sauce (noun phrase): The specific chili-based sauce used to cover the dish.
  • Example: The key to a good enchilada is a flavorful enchilada sauce.
• Enchilada-style (adjective phrase): Prepared or served in the manner of an enchilada.
  • Example: For dinner, we're having enchilada-style stuffed peppers.

Synonyms

• Burrito: A different Mexican dish consisting of a flour tortilla wrapped around a filling, but not typically baked with sauce on top.
• Taco: A Mexican dish of a folded or rolled tortilla filled with various ingredients, but not baked in sauce.
• Entrée / Main course: General terms for a primary dish, of which an enchilada can be an example.

Related Phrases

• Cheese enchilada: An enchilada filled primarily or entirely with cheese.
• Beef enchilada: An enchilada filled with seasoned ground or shredded beef.
• Chicken enchilada: An enchilada filled with shredded or diced chicken.
• Green enchilada / Enchiladas verdes: An enchilada covered with a green sauce made from tomatillos and green chilies.
• Red enchilada: An enchilada covered with a red sauce made from red chili peppers.

Noun

1. tortilla with meat filling baked in tomato sauce seasoned with chili