Chipotle Chicken Wrap

History & Origin

The chipotle chicken wrap is a dish that perfectly embodies the evolution of Tex-Mex food towards lighter, more modern formats. Its history is tied to the boom in wraps in casual gastronomy during the 1990s, when fast-casual restaurants began offering portable and relatively healthy alternatives to burgers and traditional sandwiches. Chipotle - a wood-smoked dried jalapeño chilli - is the soul of this wrap. This chilli, fundamental to Mexican cuisine since pre-Columbian times, gained massive popularity in the United States following the founding of the Chipotle Mexican Grill chain in 1993, which turned it into the emblematic flavour of an entire culinary philosophy: fresh ingredients, intense flavours and comforting food served quickly. The chicken marinade with chipotle, sour orange and spices is the element that transforms the wrap: the smokiness of the chilli, the citrus sweetness of the orange and the mild heat of the pepper create a complex and addictive flavour profile that contrasts with the freshness of the lettuce, tomato and sweetcorn. The chipotle ranch dressing - that American fusion of buttermilk and spices with Mexican smokiness - completes the perfect circle. In Spain and the United Kingdom, the chipotle chicken wrap has become one of the most popular wraps on Tex-Mex restaurant menus and supermarket shelves, successfully adapting the flavours of the American south-west to the European palate.