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Authentic Mexican picadillo recipe with potatoes served in a white bowl.
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4.80 from 10 votes

AUTHENTIC MEXICAN PICADILLO RECIPE

This Authentic Mexican Picadillo Recipe is the most delicious and easy picadillo recipe. Made with a fresh tomato sauce, aromatic spices and potatoes.  Perfect on top of white rice, filling for tacos or empanadas.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: Mexican
Servings: 6
Calories: 245kcal

Ingredients

FRESH TOMATO SAUCE

  • 2-4 roma tomatoes
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 jalapeño or serrano pepper
  • 1-2 garlic cloves
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ cup of chicken stock or water
  • salt to taste
  • oil a little bit for cooking

FOR GROUND MEAT

  • 1 Pound ground beef
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 1 pepper seeded and chopped
  • 1-2 roma tomatoes rinsed and chopped
  • 1-2 garlic cloves finely chopped
  • ¼ cup fresh cilantro rinsed and chopped
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon vinegar don't worry if you don't have any vinegar
  • 1-2 potatoes cut into small pieces, cubed

FOR GROUND MEAT (OPTIONAL)

  • 8-10 green olives sliced
  • ½ packet of Sazon found in the international aisle, the kind labeled

Instructions

Fresh Tomato Sauce

  • Roast tomatoes in the oven at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes or roast on stove top in a pan with a drop of oil over medium heat for 10 minutes turning over every few minutes for even roasting (you can also roast the jalapeño or serrano pepper).Note: You can skip this whole step and just use raw tomatoes but I like the taste better when the tomatoes are roasted.
  • Add tomatoes, jalapeño or serrano pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and water or stock to a blender or chopper and blend until smooth.Set aside.
  • Step 2
  • In a skillet over medium heat, add 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil or vegetable oil. Add potatoes, cover and cook until fork tender and a little golden brown. Toss in between cooking to have even cooking.About 15 minutes.
    Drain on paper towels.

Making Picadillo

  • While potatoes are cooking, use another skillet or saucepan and heat over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of oil and add onions and peppers until onions are translucent. Add garlic and cook for a minute.
  • Add ground beef to skillet and cook until beef is no longer pink.
  • Add potatoes, chopped tomatoes, sliced olives, cumin, cilantro, vinegar and half of the sazon packet to beef mixture. Sir and mix together. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Finally add tomato sauce from blender to beef mixture and mix well together.
  • Lower heat a little bit and cook for 15-20 minutes allowing flavors to blend well together.
  • Serve over white rice.Could sprinkle additional cilantro on top.
  • Enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 245kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 529mg | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 350IU | Vitamin C: 14.3mg | Calcium: 46mg | Iron: 3.1mg