The Great Texas Debate: Are They Flautas or Taquitos?
Serious question for my fellow Texans out there: do you call them taquitos or flautas?
Here in El Paso, we call them flautas- for the most part. But I've noticed that people from different parts of Texas call them taquitos!
At first glance, they will look familiar and are made the same way; they're both stuffed into a tortilla, rolled into a cylinder shape and fried until golden and crispy. You top them with your favorites- my favorite way to accompany my flautas is with cabbage, tomato, red chile and sour cream.
Although, it would seem as though what I've been calling flautas are not flautas- they're taquitos. Apparently flautas are made with flour tortillas and taquitos are made with corn tortillas. According to this website, flautas are more common in northern Mexico more than taquitos; however, I've been through most parts of northern Mexico and have never had flautas with flour tortillas! Maybe if I go deeper into Mexico, I'll encounter an actual flauta made with a flour tortilla.
I know for sure I'm not the only one who has questioned this- but it seems like taquito is the lesser preferred term:
It's also something that's very confusing to others:
And if I, a Hispanic, am confused about the terminology, imagine non-Hispanics!
I guess it doesn't really matter if you basically get what you're asking for! However, to me, they will always be flautas- and they will always be topped with cabbage, tomatoes, red chile and sour cream.
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