Tortilla burgers are a fun and delicious way to enjoy a burger in a handheld, mess-free format. By wrapping a burger inside a tortilla, all the juices and flavors are sealed in, making for a tasty on-the-go meal. While the concept is simple, properly folding a tortilla burger does require some technique. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to perfectly fold a tortilla burger.
Ingredients
To make a tortilla burger you will need:
- Tortillas – Flour tortillas work best as they are more pliable. You’ll need one tortilla per burger.
- Hamburger patties – Make patties slightly thinner than normal as you are wrapping in a tortilla. Calculate one patty per tortilla.
- Burger toppings – Tomato, lettuce, onion, pickles, cheese, etc. Get creative!
- Condiments – Ketchup, mustard, mayo, burger sauce, etc.
Prep the Ingredients
Before assembling and folding your tortilla burger, you’ll want to prep all the ingredients:
- Cook burger patties – Season and grill or pan fry patties until cooked through.
- Chop veggies – Slice tomatoes, shred lettuce, slice onion and pickles.
- Open tortillas – Keep tortillas wrapped until ready to use so they don’t dry out.
- Prepare condiments – Open ketchup, mustard, mayo, etc. and have ready.
Assemble the Tortilla Burger
Once your ingredients are prepped, you are ready to assemble. Follow these steps:
- Place open tortilla on clean work surface.
- Spread about 1 tablespoon of condiment(s) in a stripe down the center of the tortilla.
- Place cooked burger patty on top of condiments.
- Top patty with desired veggies and cheese in an even layer.
Fold the Tortilla
Now that your tortilla burger is assembled, it’s time to carefully wrap and fold it closed. Here is the proper technique:
- Take the bottom edge of the tortilla and fold over the filling.
- Fold in both sides to cover the ends of the filling.
- Continue tightly rolling upwards until the tortilla is wrapped around the filling.
- Press gently to seal tortilla closed.
Secure the Fold
To help keep your tortilla burger folded closed as you eat, it helps to secure the flap. Here are two easy ways to do this:
- Toothpicks – Use 2-3 toothpicks inserted through the tortilla layers near the center.
- Small skewers – Insert two skewers vertically through the tortilla near the center.
Enjoy Your Tortilla Burger!
Once folded and secured, your tortilla burger is ready to eat and enjoy! The sealed tortilla will keep all the juices and flavors locked inside. Here are some final tips for devouring your tortilla burger:
- Hold the tortilla burger with both hands as you take bites.
- Take care when eating near the toothpicks or skewers.
- Have napkins ready for any drips or spills.
- Savor all those delicious flavors in each bite!
Tortilla Burger Folding Techniques
While the standard folding method works for most tortilla burgers, there are a few other techniques you can use to switch things up:
The Wrap Fold
This method creates a sealed wrap style fold:
- After adding fillings, fold sides in.
- Starting at bottom, roll up tortilla tightly.
- When 1/2 inch from the top, fold top down to seal.
The Pocket Fold
The pocket fold keeps the fillings completely enclosed:
- After adding fillings, fold tortilla in half like a taco.
- Fold or pin together the open sides.
The Triangle Fold
The triangle method offers three sealed sides:
- After adding fillings, fold bottom corner up to form triangle.
- Continue folding up in triangles until tortilla is wrapped up.
Tortilla Burger Filling Ideas
While ground beef patties are classic, don’t be afraid to get creative with tortilla burger fillings! Here are some delicious ideas to try:
| Protein | Veggies | Cheese | Sauce |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken breast | Spinach | Mozzarella | Pesto |
| Black beans | Corn | Pepper jack | Guacamole |
| Pulled pork | Pineapple | Cheddar | BBQ Sauce |
| Crispy tofu | Onion | Vegan cheese | Chipotle mayo |
Troubleshooting Tortilla Burger Folding
While tortilla burgers may look straightforward, there are a few common issues that can occur. Use these tips to troubleshoot your folding skills:
Filling is falling out
- Don’t overstuff your tortilla burger. Use reasonable filling amounts that can be fully wrapped.
- Be sure to fold in the sides before rolling to seal the ends.
- Roll tightly and press gently to seal burger closed.
- Secure with toothpicks or skewers to reinforce seams.
Tortilla is cracking
- Use fresh, pliable tortillas and keep moist until ready to use.
- Avoid forcing stiff or brittle tortillas to fold.
- Fold in sides before rolling to reinforce tortilla strength.
- Roll gently and don’t squeeze too tight.
Filling is making tortilla soggy
- Pre-cook wet ingredients like ground meat to remove excess moisture.
- Blot excess grease from patties and ingredients before adding to tortilla.
- Avoid overloading with wet ingredients like tomato and lettuce.
- Use a paper towel inside the tortilla to absorb some moisture.
Storing Your Tortilla Burgers
Tortilla burgers hold up well for transporting and meal prepping. Follow these storage tips:
- Allow tortilla burgers to cool completely before storing.
- Wrap each tortilla burger individually in plastic wrap.
- Place wrapped tortilla burgers in a sealed container or zip top bag.
- Store in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
- Freeze for longer term by wrapping tightly in foil then plastic wrap.
- Thaw frozen tortilla burgers overnight in the fridge before eating.
Conclusion
With the right techniques, folding a perfect tortilla burger is easy. Just remember to use fresh ingredients, assemble mindfully, fold tightly, and secure the tortilla. Once mastered, tortilla burgers make an infinitely customizable handheld meal that can be adapted to suit any taste. Get creative with fillings and folding methods for a fun, fast, and mess-free way to enjoy burgers anytime.