picadillo
food, Mexico
In Mexico the word is the same: picadillo. It is a home-style dish of ground beef cooked with tomato and diced vegetables such as potato and carrot.
Mexican cooks use picadillo as a filling for stuffed chiles, tacos, empanadas and chiles rellenos, and also eat it on its own with rice. Recipes vary from family to family, and some add raisins or olives.
Meaning: minced meat dish (noun)
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word is used across the Spanish-speaking world, but the dish changes from country to country. In Mexico it is usually made with tomato and potato.
Did you know?
- The word picadillo comes from picar, which means "to chop", because the meat and vegetables are cut up small.
Examples in context
- Hoy hay picadillo con arroz.Today there is picadillo with rice.
- Mi abuela hace un picadillo muy rico.My grandmother makes a very tasty picadillo.
- Los tacos de picadillo están listos.The picadillo tacos are ready.
Example conversation
Luis asks his mother what is for lunch in their home in Puebla.
- LuisMamá, ¿qué hay de comer?Mom, what is there to eat?
- MamáHice picadillo con arroz.I made picadillo with rice.
- LuisQué rico, ya tengo hambre.How nice, I am already hungry.
