Description
Spicy calabacitas con carne molida en salsa verde brings Mexican comfort straight to kitchen tables with zesty green sauce and hearty ground beef. Rich flavors blend perfectly, offering a quick, satisfying meal that connects you to traditional Latin American cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) ground chuck (90/10 blend)
Vegetables:
- 4 medium zucchini, sliced 1/8-inch thick
- 3 ripe tomatoes
- 2 fresh tomatillos
- 3 serrano chilies
- 2 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Liquids:
- Salt to taste
- Onion powder to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) water
- 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Prepare the vibrant salsa verde by simmering tomatillos, tomatoes, and serranos in water until softened, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Transfer the boiled vegetables to a blender, adding fresh garlic and cilantro, then pulse until smooth and uniform in texture.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook ground chuck, allowing it to brown naturally in its own rendered fat.
- Sprinkle garlic salt, onion powder, and black pepper over the meat, stirring to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Carefully drain excess oil from the browned meat using a slotted spoon or tilting the pan to remove fatty liquid.
- Return the meat to the skillet and introduce diced zucchini, prepared salsa verde, water, and bouillon to create a rich, hearty mixture.
- Adjust seasonings to personal taste, ensuring a balanced flavor profile.
- Reduce heat to low and allow the dish to simmer gently for 10 minutes, cooking zucchini until tender yet maintaining a slight crispness.
Notes
- Swap ground chuck for lean turkey or plant-based crumbles to create a lighter, lower-fat version of this dish.
- Roast tomatillos and serrano peppers instead of boiling for a deeper, smokier salsa verde flavor profile.
- Use fresh summer zucchini for maximum sweetness and tender texture, avoiding overcooked or woody vegetables.
- Enhance protein content by adding black beans or quinoa for a more nutritionally balanced meal that works great for vegetarian adaptations.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 283 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg