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Meat, Americas

Hilachas beef and rice

Hilachas beef is a Guatemalan braised dish made of shredded chuck roast in a tomato and tomatillo sauce, served over rice. It takes 2 hours and 10 minutes for 4 people, costs €3.70 per serving, and is rated easy. The key to success is cooking the meat whole before shredding it, so it stays juicy.

Hilachas means shredded in Spanish. Beef that falls apart into strands, simmered in a red tomato sauce with potatoes. Easy and comforting.

Hilachas beef and rice
Total time
2 h 10
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€3.70
Calories per person
690 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Fall, Winter
The kids
They generally like it

Hilachas means shredded in Spanish, and that is exactly what happens here. Beef chuck simmers for a long time in water, then falls apart into thin strands that soak up a tomato sauce seasoned with paprika, Espelette pepper, and cumin. Tomatillos add a tangy edge that sets this apart from a classic beef stew, and potatoes and carrots turn it into a full meal.

This is a Sunday dish, or one for a day with no rush, the kind that simmers away while you do something else. Shredded meat is usually a hit with kids, since there are no big chunks to chew, and the plain rice softens the heat for more sensitive palates. Make a big batch, the leftovers are often even better the next day.

The ingredients

4 people

Butcher

  • Beef chuck roast 800 g

Pantry

  • Crushed tomatoesoften in the pantry 400 g
  • Canned tomatillos 200 g
  • Paprikaoften in the pantry 1 tbsp
  • Espelette pepperoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Cuminoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Riceoften in the pantry 300 g
  • Olive oiloften in the pantry 2 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onion 1
  • Garlic 3 cloves
  • Potatoes 600 g
  • Carrots 2

The step by step recipe

  1. Cook the meat in a pot of salted water with an onion cut in half. 1 h 15

    Save the broth, it will go into the sauce.

  2. Shred the meat into thin strands with two forks.

    Remove any sinew and visible fat as you go.

  3. Blend the tomatoes, tomatillos, garlic, paprika, chili, and cumin, then cook the sauce in an oiled saucepan. 15 min

    Let it fry a bit, it loses its raw taste.

  4. Add the meat, diced potatoes and carrots, and a bit of broth, then let it simmer. 25 min

    The vegetables should be tender but still whole.

  5. Cook the rice in salted water, then drain it. Serve the hilachas over the rice. 11 min

    A squeeze of lime on the plate adds freshness.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick a well marbled chuck roast rather than a lean one, it shreds more easily and stays tender after two hours of cooking.
  • Taste the sauce before adding the meat and adjust the chili for kids or guests, it is easier to fix at that stage.
  • Cut the potatoes and carrots into even cubes so they all cook at the same speed and stay whole.

The variations

  • Swap the chuck roast for flank or beef shank, two cuts that shred just as well with long cooking.
  • For a vegetarian version, replace the beef with cooked black beans and cut the simmering time to 15 minutes.
  • For a faster version with impatient kids, use leftover cooked and shredded beef and jump straight to the sauce step.

What to serve it with

  • Sliced avocado or simple guacamole
  • Warm corn tortillas
  • A squeeze of lime on the plate

Storage

Hilachas keep for 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container, and freeze well for up to 3 months. Reheat gently in a pot with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.

Questions about this dish

Can I substitute the tomatillos if I can't find any?

Yes, you can use green tomatoes instead or simply add a bit more crushed tomatoes. The taste will be less tangy but the dish still works.

Can hilachas be made ahead?

Yes, it is actually recommended, the sauce improves after resting overnight in the fridge. Reheat it gently and serve over freshly cooked rice.

Why cook the meat whole before shredding it?

Cooking it whole keeps the meat juicy through the 75 minutes of cooking. If you cut it first, it loses more flavor into the cooking water.

Is this dish very spicy for kids?

With just one teaspoon of Espelette pepper for 4 servings, the dish stays mild. You can reduce it further if you are cooking for young children.

How long does it take to make hilachas beef with rice?

Count 2 h 10 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in hilachas beef with rice?

About 690 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does hilachas beef with rice cost?

About €3.70 per serving, or €14.80 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains none of the major allergens tracked by Mon Chou. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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