Description
This Mexican Picadillo recipe is a flavorful and hearty ground beef dish simmered with diced potatoes, tomatoes, and a blend of traditional Mexican spices. Perfect for serving over rice or with warm tortillas, it offers a comforting meal that’s easy to prepare and customizable with additional ingredients like olives or raisins.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 ounces yellow potatoes (about 3-4 small), diced
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, chopped
- 1 serrano pepper, chopped (optional, for spicier)
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef (can substitute ground chicken, turkey, or pork)
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 3/4 cup beef stock (or chicken or vegetable stock)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon Mexican oregano
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- Salt and pepper to taste
For Serving
- Cooked rice or warmed tortillas
- Sliced peppers
- Chili flakes
- Fresh lime juice
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Sauté Vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add diced potatoes, chopped onion, jalapeno, and serrano peppers. Cook and stir for about 5 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Brown the Meat: Add chopped garlic and ground beef to the pan. Use a wooden spoon to break up the beef. Cook for about 5 minutes until the beef is browned but not fully cooked through.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Stir in the chopped tomatoes, beef stock, paprika, Mexican oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper. Mix well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer gently for 20 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the potatoes to become tender.
- Serve: Spoon the picadillo over cooked rice or serve it alongside warmed tortillas. Garnish with sliced peppers, chili flakes, fresh lime juice, and your favorite hot sauce for extra flavor and heat.
Notes
- Heat Factor: Medium, but you can easily increase the spiciness by adding hotter peppers, more chili flakes, or your favorite hot sauce.
- Customization: Traditional Mexican picadillo recipes often include additional ingredients such as parsley, blanched almonds, olives, carrots, and raisins to add complexity and texture.
