Hilachas (guatemalan Shredded Beef In Tomato-tomatillo Sauce)

Total Time: 3 hrs 20 mins Preparation Time: 20 mins Cook Time: 3 hrs

Ingredients

• Servings: 6
• 2 lbs beef flank steak or 2 lbs skirt steaks, cubed
• 5 cups water
• 2 -3 tablespoons oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup tomato, chopped
• 1 cup tomatillo, chopped
• 2 -3 guajillo chilies, warmed over a flame, deseeded and chopped
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 lb potato, peeled and chopped
• 2 -3 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1 bunch cilantro, chopped

Recipe

• 1 place the beef, water and a big pinch of salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until the beef is very tender.
• 2 remove the beef to a bowl, reserving the broth, and set aside to cool
• 3 when cool enough to handle, shred the beef with your fingers and set aside.
• 4 while the beef is simmering, place the onion, tomatoes, tomatillos and chiles in a food processor or blender and puree, adding a little water if necessary.
• 5 heat the oil in a large pot over medium flame. add the onion-tomato puree and simmer until the puree is cooked down and darkens somewhat in color, about 10 minutes. do not burn.
• 6 add the shredded beef and about 3 cups of the broth to the onion-tomato puree and season with salt and pepper. simmer for about 15 minutes.
• 7 stir in the potatoes, onions and a little more broth or water if necessary simmer until the potatoes and carrots are cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.
• 8 stir in the breadcrumbs to thicken the sauce.
• 9 then stir in the chopped cilantro, adjust seasoning and serve hot with corn tortillas or rice.
• 10 *variations.
• 11 use 1 or 2 shredded fresh corn tortillas to thicken the sauce instead of the breadcrumbs if you like. if the sauce has thickened enough while simmering, neither thickener may be necessary.
• 12 add 2 teaspoon achiote seasoning to the onion-tomato puree for added flavor. bricks of achiote seasoning can be found at many latin markets.
• 13 the potatoes and carrots can be eliminated if you like.
• 14 canned tomatoes and tomatillos work just fine in this recipe.
• 15 two cups of chopped tomatoes can be used if you would like to eliminate the tomatillos.
• 16 if you can't find guajillo chiles, use anchos or pasillas. or substitute with 1 tablespoon of paprika and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.