National Enchilada Day

National Enchilada Day celebrates the enchilada, a corn tortilla rolled around a filling and covered with chili pepper sauce. Enchiladas may contain meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables, seafood, or combinations of these ingredients. The holiday is observed annually on May 5.

Enchiladas originated in Mexico, and the practice of rolling tortillas around other food dates back at least to Maya times, although the dish’s exact origins are uncertain. Food journalist David Hammond notes that there is no evidence pre-Hispanic peoples made enchiladas exactly like those served today in his discussion of the dish’s history.

The word enchilada comes from the Spanish verb enchilar, meaning “to add chile pepper” or “to season with chile.” Enchiladas were mentioned in El cocinero mexicano, Mexico’s first cookbook, published in 1831, and later appeared in Mariano Galvan Rivera’s Diccionario de Cocina, published in 1845. May 5 is also the date of Cinco de Mayo, giving the day an especially fitting place on the calendar for enjoying this Mexican dish.

How to Observe National Enchilada Day

Celebrate by enjoying an enchilada at home or ordering one from a restaurant. Make your own with a favorite filling—such as meat, cheese, beans, potatoes, vegetables, or seafood—and cover it with chili pepper sauce. You can also compare different fillings and sauces, or spend a little time learning about the enchilada’s Mexican history.

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