The Montecito Burrito

Just imagine a perfectly warm noonday at Pierre Lafond’s in Montecito, California. Perpetual sunshine makes all appear to be a pastel shade of it’s once vivid color.  Ahead stands a row of sidewalk tables, each with a sun drenched pale turquoise umbrella.  Wine glasses and coffee cups are tinkling, lively conversation is  bubbling, little dogs are peeking from behind satin, tanned legs, concluded by sexy gold sandals.  There are famous faces here, camouflaged by their famous maker shades. We can say the "O" word.  Oprah and Stedman go here and so did Ellen and Portia before they moved back to LA.  The pastoral setting exudes a simple hedonistic innocence and blatant evidence that everyone is just soaking up pure pleasure.  One of the specialties of the House is called,  “The Montecito Burrito”.  This is something we have had over & over again until it is as familiar as an old shoe!  We now make it here at the Old Masini Adobe, even though we never did get the recipe, we just used our imagination, 

and this is how we do it. 

 

Montecito Burrito

Ingredients:
1 large firm head of iceberg lettuce or 2 small
I pkg. Cream cheese (can be fat free) at room temp.
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1/8 tsp. grated orange peel
Dash of Tabasco
1/2 cup black olives pitted & chopped
1/4 cup chopped chives
3-4 tomatoes seeded and sliced thin
1/4 cup Cilantro leaves (no stems)
 S & P to taste
4 large flour tortillas 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Method:
Slice lettuce heads in half and wash.  Let drain then slice thin and spin or place on a towel to blot & dry.
In a bowl combine the cream cheese, grated orange, Tabasco, chopped black olives, and chopped chives.  Blend well with a fork.   Now take the tortillas one at a time and place on a large piece of waxed or parchment paper. Spread the cream cheese mixture over all.  Make a row of sliced tomatoes and a row of cilantro leaves.  Now add a healthy amount of sliced lettuce (the secret to this dish is to really pack in the lettuce).  Roll the filled tortilla firmly to create a big, fat ,crunchy lettuce filled Burrito.  Now roll firmly in the paper and place in the refrigerator for and hour or more.  

Good to make these in the morning to have for lunch or dinner.  

To serve, cut each one in half with the paper on. Then, to eat, 

 just move the paper back and dunk this giant 

hunk of goodness into the rich salsa below. If you love the iceberg wedge salad you will

adore this and make it over & over.

 

 

For the Salsa...

Ingredients:

Butter, lard or oil of your choice.

1 medium yellow onion chopped

1 large clove of garlic chopped

1/4 cup chopped parsley

4 or 5 tomatillos chopped

Adjust the peppers hotness to your taste (veins & seeds make it hotter).  

Directions below produce medium hot.

1 jalapeño seeded & chopped

1 pasilla pepper roasted until black, placed in bag for 15 min., then peeled 

keeping the veins and some seeds & chopped

1 or 2 dried chipotle peppers or dried 1/2 tsp. chipotle powder

1 teaspoon smokey paprika

S & P to taste

1 28 oz. can whole tomatoes with liquid.

1 14 oz. can cannilni beans mashed

1 teaspoon orange juice

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

add a dried bay leaf and a pinch or 2 of dried oregano.

Put all ingredients except orange juice & cilantro into a large deep skillet and cook covered 

on medium low heat for 45 minutes.  Important to stir often to avoid sticking.

 

Cool down and remove the bay leaf and dried chipotle.  Place in blender in batches, adding the orange juice and cilantro.  check for salt & pepper and add tabasco for more heat if you like it.  This salsa is just the richness the dish needs to be astounding.  Nothing is really as satisfying as this when it's so cool and crisp and spicy on a hot, hot day. We promise it is addictive!

Comments

[Christine]

Love burritos. Great recipe.

[White On Rice Couple]

I call this a KILLER burrito with KILLER step by step photographs! wow, thank you for sharing all of this with us.

[EAT!]

What a perfect lunch! i love a nice neat wrapped up sandwich and this one would be right up my alley.

I will be checking back often for more delicious recipes!

[coachmimi]

Although I'm not a fan of iceberg lettuce, I'll use it for this recipe. It looks like a great take-along meal for the cooler!

[Clementina]

Thank goodness it is called a "burrito" and not a "wrap", although it is a very creative burrito!

[My Comfort Food]

Love burritos, and the sauce looks absolutely to die for!

[Kim]

This looks really tasty! Love the chipotle added in here!

[Gera @ SweetsFoods]

Sinful and delicious when eaten in moderation these burritos, but is it possible? I guess no!

I can eat a dozen of them yummmmmm :)

Cheers,

Gera

[Lori]

Oh wow, I was already craving burritos and this just made it so much worse! Looks wonderful!

[Joanne]

Great take-along dish. It looks light and refreshing.

[Pink Foodie]

This burrito looks wonderful. I love all the ingredients used.

[Debi]

Maybe if we make these the unseasonably cool weather up here on the lake will disappear!
Thanks for sharing.

[curiousdomestic]

That sounds really good for a picnic. My vegetarian friends will love it, too.

[bergamot]

Wow... looks really great. Like the way it was assembled. Thanks for the recipe

[Sophia]

mmm...I am definitely imagining...me...sitting there..eating...that ...delicious thing...bUrp~

[kiss my spatula]

oh, we are huge burrito lovers here. your version looks and sounds just like the type we can devour too many of.

[LK- Healthy Delcious]

that burrito looks great! So simple and fresh. I love the salsa too- I've been really into tomatillos lately.

[Cookin' Canuck]

What a light and delicious-looking burrito!

[Mama Mel]

Yum! Either I'm really hungry, or that looks delicious! I think it's both! I'll have to try it sometime! :) Thanx for stopping by my blog! Have a great day!

[short and bald]

Yum, yum... healthy and delicious!

[Julia]

I could just eat one of those right now :-)

[Jessie]

I think i just died because these burritos look amazing!

[Juls]

It looks just delicious!!! Great post!
ciao
Giulia

[lola]

yum, looks great!

[I love tastes]

This Montecito burrito looks so tasty, refreshing, and healthy that I just want to bring them to eat at the beach with some chilled ice tea...!

[Cricket]

Oh my! It's vegetarian too! It's fun to try and recreate a recipe from a favourite restaurant...frustrating but fun.

[Lana]

Wow! Just lovely. Great for these hot summer days we're having here in Georgia.

[Blackswan]

Wholesome goodness! Thks for d delicious pix :)

[Vanilla and Thyme]

This looks absolutely delicious! After the way I've been eating the past few days, I will welcome these recipe ideas with open arms! Thanks for sharing- :)

[jenn]

Yum! I love burritos. Looks very healthy. I could definitely have one of these especially after this weekend.

[Kamran Siddiqi (The Sophisticated Gourmet)]

Lovely post! These burritos look super delicious and I love the idea of using cannellini beans instead of refried beans. This is on my must-try list.

[Mike]

looks great, must try sometime soon :)

[Heavenly Housewife]

I am so impressed by this recipe. I think it would be great for Hubby's lunchbox :D

[Natasha - 5 Star Foodie]

These burritos sound scrumptious with the fresh tomatoes and crunchy lettuce! Great job recreating this recipe and thank you for sharing with us!

[ruth]

Wow, love the whole ensemble!