Picadillo
Spiced Ground Beef
Ground beef simmered with roasted tomatoes, diced potatoes and carrots, and a sweet-savory hit of raisins and olives — the classic taco and empanada filling of Mexican home kitchens.
Picadillo
✦ Antes de Empezar
Before you cook
Do I have to include the raisins and olives?
No — they're listed as optional in the classic recipe. The picadillo is still balanced and savory without them, though the sweet-briny contrast they add is traditional.
Ingredientes· 13View
- 1 1/2 pounds (680 g)Ground beef, or half beef and pork
- 1 tablespoonOil
- 1/2White onion, chopped
- 2Garlic cloves
- 4Roma tomatoes, roasted
- 2 mediumPotatoes, diced small
- 2Carrots, diced small
- 1 cupPeas
- 1/4 teaspoonGround cloves
- 1/2 teaspoonCumin, optional
- 1 1/2 teaspoonsSalt
- 1 cupBroth
- 1/3 cup eachRaisins and olives, optional
Instrucciones
6 pasosDora la carne
Brown the meat
Brown the ground meat in oil, breaking it into small pieces. Drain excess fat if necessary.
Sofríe la cebolla
Cook the onion
Add the onion and cook until translucent.
Prepara la salsa
Make the sauce
Blend the tomatoes, garlic, cloves, salt, and broth, then pour it over the meat.
Añade las verduras
Add the vegetables
Add the potatoes and carrots. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
Añade los chícharos
Add the peas
Add the peas and the optional raisins and olives. Cook uncovered for 8 to 10 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and most of the liquid has evaporated.
Sirve
Serve
Use as a main dish or as a filling for tacos, chiles, and empanadas.
Authentic Culinary Gear for this Recipe
Heritage Mexican cooking relies on dedicated craft tools to develop authentic blisters, toasts, and emulsified textures.
10.5" Heavy Cast Iron Comal
Distributes high, dry radiant heat for charring poblanos, toasting chiles, and warming tortillas.
Cast Iron Tortilla Press (8")
Heavy calibrated leverage to press fresh heirloom masa dough into thin, supple rounds with zero sticking.
Heirloom Masa & Dried Chiles
Single-origin Mexican dried chiles (Ancho, Guajillo, Pasilla) and heirloom nixtamalized corn masa.
✦ Recommended gear reflects genuine kitchen utility standards. Outbound links support our independent culinary archive.
