I enjoy trying different kinds of foods from all over when I travel, and I try to also find recipes for places I might want to go as well. I make it a point to explore different kinds of cuisine from all places. One dish that i recently stumbled upon is Picadillo.  Picadillo, known in the Philippines as Giniling, is a hearty, comforting dish that brings together simple ingredients in a rich tomato-based sauce. What makes Giniling special is how adaptable it is. You can swap ground beef for pork, chicken, or even turkey. You can also swap the veggies for assorted heartiness and color.

For this recipe, you will need the following:

1 lb  ground beef (the leaner, the better, but I found a little fat in this recipe worked well)

3 medium potatoes, diced

2  large carrots, diced

1 medium onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 can tomato sauce (Alternatively I used fresh tomatoes that were blanched and chopped in the food processor)

2 tbsp soy sauce (I found teriyaki sauce works in a pinch)

2 tbsp cooking oil

Assorted spices of your choice to taste


Now let’s get down to the good part:

1. Prepare the base: Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until fragrant and translucent.


2. Brown the meat: Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up clumps with a spatula. Drain excess fat if necessary.


3. Season: Stir in soy sauce, tomato sauce, (for additional texture you can opt for  tomato paste to mix with the sauce). Simmer for 2–3 minutes.


4. Add vegetables: Mix in potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender.


5. Finish: Add any additional veggies you may want to use (commonly peas and peppers are used, but you can use what you want) and the seasonings. Simmer for another 5 minutes until everything is well combined. (Green onions garnish is optional)

And there you have it. A simple hearty dish that the whole family can enjoy. This one was a lot of fun. Until the next time, dear readers. Excelsior!