Chipotle Brings Sofritas to Dallas, Proves Even Vegetarian Burritos Can Be Way Too Big
Chipotle needed a better vegetarian option. Until recently, the only thing a meat-adverse diner could order in the restaurant was a set of tacos or a burrito stuffed with black beans and a mix of grilled onions and bell peppers. The results were filling (everything at Chipotle is filling) but obviously an afterthought. 
Tofu cooked with peppers and spices yield an attractive alternative to meat.
Then, in October, the guacamole giant introduced a new product in a few test markets, including Dallas. Sofritas, a braised and well-seasoned tofu, was marketed as a crossover vegetarian product -- not just good enough to lure in strict vegetarians, but delicious enough to attract die-hard carnivores.
If you've done any Spanish (sofrito) or Italian (soffritto) cooking, you might recognize the name as the blend of peppers, onions and garlic that form the flavor backbone of many dishes. Some versions are cooked down until the vegetables form an indiscernible paste. The results are generally amazing.
The cooks at Chipotle take their sautéing quite that seriously, but they make up for any shortcomings with plenty of chipotle chilies, roasted poblanos and spices. The results are heady and, honestly, meaty. It resembles a lean ground meat hit heavily with spices. In fact, I think the Sofritas best the chicken in Chipotle burritos, which is often tough and dry.
It's kind of like tacos.
The burritos that result from a Sofritas order, unfortunately, are just as gargantuan as their meaty counterparts. You can try your best to request "just a little rice," or "only a touch of that mild salsa," but you're still going to end up with a burrito bigger than your forearm. You'll need help getting your burrito to your table, and you'll probably have to sit still for a few hours after you've finished it. You'll also end up with a burrito that's way better for your heart, and the environment as a whole. Not bad at all.
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