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Photo by Teresa Taylor

What: Sofritas, a new vegetarian/vegan-friendly choice for your favorite Chipotle dishes

Where: Chipotle restaurants across Colorado

Where do you go when a need a burrito fix? For many Coloradans, the answer is Chipotle. Since the first store opened in Denver in 1993, Chipotle has been dolling out their burritos, bowls, tacos and salads across the Rocky Mountains. After years of sticking to their successful recipes, Chipotle’s go to favorites have a new neighbor on the line.

Sofritas is a new vegetarian and vegan-friendly option being served up in Colorado locations after pleasing tofu lovers and skeptics alike in California and the Pacific Northwest. Made with tofu from Hodo Soy, a small, organic producer out of California, Sofritas are the result of years of tinkering as Chipotle searched for just the right no-meat addition to their menu. Made with shredded tofu that has been braised for hours with roasted poblano peppers, garlic, and spices like cumin, this newbie has a fluffy texture and spicy kick that left me satisfied despite my admittedly non-vegan/vegetarian status. I even tested Sofritas on an unsuspecting carnivorous friend who didn’t realize at first that it wasn’t just taco-spiced hamburger they were munching on (“so do you like it?”- me, “ground beef’s ground beef.”-him, “but that’s tofu.”- me).

SofritasTacos

Photo courtesy of Chipotle

Cooked on a separate surface from their other offerings and sweetened with agave nectar instead of honey, Chipotle is looking to make sure everyone has a delicious choice when stopping in their stores for a bite to eat. There’s reasons for tofu-wary meat lovers to give Sofritas a try too. With a nice hot kick and a strong spice flavor, this new item can add a lot of flavor to your regular favorites. So don’t be afraid to add it to your chicken burrito for a new flavor or sub that barbacoa out all together for a healthier lunch while still pleasing your taste buds.

And Sofritas isn’t the only change at Colorado Chipotles. Several (including the 16th and Blake location I visited) also recently launched a new composting program, just one more way this Colorado original is working toward making sure that the food we enjoy is also coming from- and now going to- responsible, environmentally beneficial and healthy sources.

Chipotle has tested other vegan/vegetarian choices before, but with this new recipe they have created something that makes eating meatless easy and enjoyable. I preferred my Sofritas on a burrito with sour cream, guacamole and green salsa, but this is the perfect chance for you to find your new Chipotle go-to.