{"id":349350,"date":"2025-12-18T09:44:46","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T09:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/uncategorized\/zacatecas-beef-stew-karens-kitchen-stories\/"},"modified":"2025-12-18T09:44:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-18T09:44:46","slug":"zacatecas-beef-stew-karens-kitchen-stories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=349350","title":{"rendered":"Zacatecas Beef Stew | Karen’s Kitchen Stories"},"content":{"rendered":"


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This Zacatecas-style beef stew is a quick and hearty dish you can have on the table in less than an hour.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Zacatecas<\/a><\/div>\n

This stew is based on picadillo Zacatecano, a mixture of ground beef and potatoes in a tomato sauce. Most regions of Latin America have their own picadillo, from simple to complicated. This one, from the central\/north state of Zacatecas, Mexico, is fairly simple but still flavorful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The food of Zacatecas is hearty and filling, and includes versions of birria, other stews, meat tacos, chili relleno, carne asada, enchiladas, and menudo.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Zacatecas<\/a><\/div>\n

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Ingredients:<\/h2>\n

Ground Beef:<\/b> The ground beef is only lightly browned to develop a little flavor but mostly left uncooked before it’s added it to the stew to maintain the moisture in the beef.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Vegetables<\/b>: Potatoes, carrots, zucchini, and peas. For the potatoes, I used baby Dutch yellow potatoes. They were easy to cut and they don’t need to be peeled.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For the Sauce: <\/b>Tomatoes, onions, garlic, beef stock, and jalape\u00f1o. The sauce does not need to be cooked separately. It will cook along with the rest of the ingredient in the stew.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Herbs and Spices<\/b>: Cilantro, allspice, cumin, Mexican oregano, salt, and pepper.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thank you to Melissa’s Produce<\/a> for the white onions, baby Dutch potatoes, zucchini, and fresh peeled garlic.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Zacatecas<\/a><\/div>\n

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To Make This Stew:<\/h2>\n

First, blend the tomato sauce ingredients in a blender and set the mixture aside.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Then, very lightly brown the ground beef and then remove it from the pan and set it aside. Then, add two tablespoons of olive oil to the pan and then cook the carrots for a few minutes, then the potatoes, and then the zucchini and herbs and spices. Add the tomato sauce, beef stock, and some water and then cover and simmer for ten minutes.\u00a0<\/p>\n

After that, chop up the ground beef and add it to the pan, cover, and cook an additional ten minutes. Finally, add the peas, more cilantro, adjust the salt and pepper, and serve with tortillas, pickled jalape\u00f1os, and lime wedges.\u00a0<\/p>\n

You can also serve this over rice.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Zacatecas<\/a><\/div>\n

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Equipment You May Need:<\/h3>\n

6 quart stainless stock pot<\/a> or saucepan with a lid.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Blender: You can use a full-sized blender<\/a> or a mini one<\/a> and blend the sauce in batches.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Make-Ahead and Storage:<\/h3>\n

You can easily make this stew in advance. As with most stews, it only gets better over time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three to four days.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Zacatecas<\/a><\/div>\n

“Z” is for Zeppole, Zacatecas, Zucchini, Za’atar, Ziti, and More!<\/h2>\n

To complete the 2025 Alphabet Challenge, we are sharing recipes that begin with “Z” or include ingredients or methods that that begin with “Z.”\u00a0<\/h4>\n

Last year (2024) for the letter “Z,” I made Zuppa Toscana<\/a>, a tasty copycat Olive Garden soup. Be sure to give it a try.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Guess what? We’ll be back next year to cook through the alphabet one more time!<\/p>\n

\"Zacatecas<\/a><\/div>\n

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Zacatecas-Style Beef Stew<\/h3>\n