enchilada

[en-chuh-lah-duh, -lad-uh]

noun

Mexican Cooking.

1. a tortilla rolled and filled with a seasoned mixture, usually containing meat, and covered with a sauce flavored with chiles.

enchilada

/ ˌɛntʃɪˈlɑːdə /

noun

1. a Mexican dish consisting of a tortilla fried in hot fat, filled with meat, and served with a chilli sauce

Word History and Origins

Origin of enchilada¹

First recorded in 1885–90; from Central American Spanish, feminine of Spanish enchilado “spiced with chile” (past participle of enchilar ), equivalent to en- causative prefix + chil(e) “chile pepper” + -ado adjective suffix; en- ¹, chili, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of enchilada¹

C19: American Spanish, feminine of enchilado seasoned with chilli, from enchilar to spice with chilli, from chile _chilli

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. whole enchilada, the entirety of something, especially something impressive or outstanding.

   She has a job with money, prestige, and satisfaction—the whole enchilada.

2. big / top enchilada, big enchilada.

see big cheese (enchilada); whole ball of wax (enchilada).

Example Sentences

“If we don’t have a politics of solutions and making people’s lives better, I just don’t know where we end up,” he said, as his enchiladas sat cooling before him.

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But if I’m going to stack a dozen enchiladas in the freezer, why not make them cute?

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The family had planned to go on a rare outing for a dinner of enchiladas de mole.

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There are tales of Angelenos who traveled to Spain and were astonished to find that Spanish food was not, in fact, tamales and enchiladas.

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She’s already sipping on a mezcal margarita by the time I arrive, passing a menu to recommend the enchiladas or ceviche.

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