picadillo

Picadillo to me is one of those classic dishes that comes together easily and gets better the longer it sits.  There are many variations but typically it is a combination of ground (or chopped) beef with diced veggies.  Sometimes a few raisins and pieces of hard-boiled egg are thrown in as well.

For my picadillo I decided to combine ground beef with carrots, potatoes and green beans.  I chose not to go with raisins but I will be adding an egg later on.  To begin I sauteed onion, garlic and chile serrano until the onion became translucent. 

I then added the ground beef.  After the beef browned, I added the vegetables.  I cut them all relatively small so they could cook more quickly.  I threw the potatoes in a bit early but soon after I added the carrots and green beans.  I lowered the flame and let the beef sit for a bit while i combined a spice mix.

 I wanted to add some additional flavor to the picadillo, so in a small bowl I combined ancho chile, cumin, mexican oregano, salt and pepper.  These spices added warmth and smokiness to the beef.  I allowed everything to cook together for a few more minutes.

I served the picadillo in a bowl with sliced hard boiled egg.  Normally the egg is mixed in with the beef but the egg on top adds a nice touch.  I served with warm tortillas and dinner was ready.  The leftovers the next day were just as good if not better, so it is best to make a large batch!