About National Fajita Day
Every August 18th, this beloved Tex-Mex dish is honored with its own national holiday. Fajitas are made with grilled meat, onions, and peppers, and are typically served with tortillas, sour cream, guacamole, and salsa.
Even though this dish is associated with Mexico, Fajitas has a fascinating and complex history that can be traced back to Texas in the 1930s, when Mexican vaqueros (cowboys) created a way to use throwaway cuts of beef. These cuts, such as skirt steak, were considered undesirable at the time. The vaqueros marinated and grilled the meat, then served it on tortillas, creating the foundation of what we now know as fajitas.
The term “fajita” itself is a diminutive term for little strips of meat cut from the beef skirt. It is believed that the word “fajita” originated from the Spanish word “faja,” which means girdle, little strap, or belt. The dish quickly gained popularity in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, particularly in the Mexican-American community.
This odd holiday was founded by On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina in 2016. It serves as a reminder of the cultural significance this dish has had in Mexican cuisine and culture. It represents the coming-together of both Mexican and Texan culinary traditions, often referred to as Tex-Mex, and has become a staple in not just Mexican-American and Tex-Mex restaurants, but also in kitchens around the world.
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