Enchiladas have been around in one form or another since the pre-Columbian times. In fact, it seems that people were figuring out how to make enchiladas almost as long as there have been tortillas. The ancient Aztecs made enchilada dishes consisting of a fried tortilla topped with salsa and cheese, covered by another tortilla and topped off with a fried egg. Though these dishes existed for centuries, the term "enchilada" (which literally means "chili filled") wasn't coined until the 19th century, and the original dish has been all but completely transformed since its early days.