Chipotle Picadillo with Chili Lime Cauliflower Rice

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I’m sure at this point in the year, most people are tired of hearing about how cold it’s been and how ready everyone is for warmer weather!  I recently took a VERY brief trip to San Antonio for work (<24hrs!) and thought I was going to get a little reprieve from this cold, but was I ever surprised!  Of course the day I arrived the cold front had moved in and made the temperatures plummet from 70’s-80’s the day prior to windy with highs in the low 40’s while I was there!  And of course, silly me all I packed was a leather jacket.  BRRRR!

Not only was I very disappointed by the weather, I was almost more disappointed when the restaurant we visited for dinner explained that their picadillo was just plain old ground beef taco meat.  I was expecting a delicious flavor mash up of spices, vegetables, and tomatoey sauce to coat the beef.  So, upon learning this was not the case, I ordered shrimp instead!!! LOL

Ever since then, I have been thinking about it so over the weekend, I used whatever I could scrounge up to create my own! I didn’t expect it to turn out super great since I literally only used things I already had at home.  But, oh my, I couldn’t have been more pleasantly surprised!  Another great thing about this recipe is that it just proves that you can really use just about anything, depending on what you routinely keep around or whatever you flavor preferences or dietary needs are!

My version starts with the typical starting point of ground beef, seasoned with some traditional spices such as cumin and paprika.  I would have used oregano, but I was out at home so I did without.  Then I added in the vegetables aka FLAVOR.  Again, started pretty traditional with onions, garlic, jalapenos, and tomatoes.  But then, to kick things up some more, I added some additional frozen vegetables along with some chipotle peppers that I had in the freezer! Let it all simmer together and get nice and cozy, and dang, let me tell you, the flavors were on point!

To serve it, I went with some frozen riced cauliflower which I pretty much always keep on hand.  Then seasoned it with some dried spices, such as dried cilantro, chili lime seasoning, and jalapeno seasoning.  I also happened to have an errant lime in the fridge so I squeezed that over top as well!  I probably would have used fresh cilantro if I’d have had any on hand, but using the dried kind worked out well and really cut down on prep time since I didn’t have to chop it up!

Chipotle Picadillo Pot

Finally, I topped it with some diced avocado and it was dang delicious!  Minimal chopping involved, uses a lot of things you probably have on hand, but if not, feel free to improvise!  Smoky, a little spicy, and super flavorful!  The meat mixture can be made in one pan so clean up is easy peasy as well!

Make this tonight.  I guarantee you won’t be disappointed!

Chipotle Picadillo Topped

Chipotle Picadillo with Chili Lime Cauliflower Rice

Servings:  6 (smallish) or 4 (larger)         Time:  30-45 minutes

Ingredients:

Picadillo
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (I used ~95%)
  • 1 tbsp. olive oil, butter, ghee, or cooking oil of choice
  • 1 sweet onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 jalapenos (more or less to taste), ribs and seeds removed, finely diced
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 chipotles in adobo, canned, diced
  • 1 14.5oz can fire roasted tomatoes
  • 1 – 1.5 C frozen, mixed vegetables (such as carrots, peas, corn, and green beans)
  • 1/4 C quick oats, optional
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Avocado, for serving, if desired
Cauliflower Rice

Instructions:

  1. For picadillo, in a large sauce pan or stock pot, heat oil or ghee over medium-low heat.  Add onion and a little salt and saute for a few minutes until slightly softened. Add minced garlic and jalapeno and saute a little more, about 1 minute.
  2. Add ground beef and  cook until slightly browned.  Break it up into smaller crumbles while cooking.  Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and paprika.  It doesn’t need to be fully cooked as it will continue cooking as remaining ingredients are added.
  3. Once mostly browned, add in frozen vegetables, chipotles, and canned tomatoes. Stir thoroughly to combine.  Cover, reduce to low, and let simmer while preparing the cauliflower rice.
  4. For cauliflower rice, heat oil or ghee over medium-high heat.  Add riced cauliflower and saute, stirring frequently for several minutes until warmed through.  Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
  5. Optional:  check on picadillo mixture.  If it is still quite liquidey, add 1/4 C quick oats, if desired.  Stir thoroughly to combine and recover pot until ready to serve.
  6. To serve, spoon out cauliflower rice onto plate or bowl, top with picadillo mixture, and diced avocado, if using.  Enjoy!
Nutrition Info (approximate based on 6 servings and excludes avocado or other toppings):
250 total cal, 8.9g fat, 21 g carb, 21g protein

Recipe notes:

  • I like the picadillo meat mixture to be thicker, not soupy, which is why I add the oats.  If you prefer not to use oats, you could first drain the canned tomatoes before adding them to the mixture.
  • Most picadillo recipes includes potatoes.  I didn’t have any so I didn’t use any.  But feel free to experiment with either fresh or frozen diced potatoes.  If you use fresh, I would dice it small to ensure they cook all the way through or microwave slightly first.
  • I initially just intended to use a carrots and peas frozen mixture, but upon searching my freezer, only found the mixture mentioned above (carrots, peas, corn, and green beans) which I happened to quite enjoy!
  • For canned chipotles in adobo, rarely does a recipe call for the whole can.  In order to reduce waste, if I open a new can, I’ll generally divide any remaining peppers into baggies with 2-3 peppers each and freeze them for future use.  These can be quickly defrosted by submerging the baggy in a room temp/slightly warm bowl of water.
  • If you prefer things on the spicier side, you can add additional chipotles or leave the ribs and seeds in the jalapenos, since that’s where most of the heat lives!
  • I’ve mentioned this before, but a garlic press makes mincing garlic soooo much easier!  This isn’t the brand I have (mine is Pampered Chef, which was a gift from my mom for Christmas one year), but here’s a link to a highly rated one from Amazon:  garlic press.  You don’t even have to peel the garlic first!  But if you’re mincing several cloves at once, peeling it first helps.
  • This recipe is easily modifiable for various dietary needs.  For instance, if keto, use less starchy or lower carb vegetables, less lean (higher fat) ground beef, and omit the oats.  For paleo or whole30, again, adapt the vegetables used and be sure to utilize compliant spice mixes and omit the oats.

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave me a comment letting me know how you like it!  Also, tag @ceceonthego and #ceceonthego on social media!  I love seeing your recreations!

 

Note:  CeceOnTheGo participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  The products linked are products actually used by the author or are recommended based upon reviews, as indicated.

Flank Steak with Basil Vinaigrette

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As the weather turns cooler, I’ve been craving more hearty and rich dishes.  A few weeks ago, the weather was just starting to hint at the cooler temperatures to come, and rather than using the flank steak in my fridge for a salad as I planned, I decided I wanted something more comforting than a salad.  As I dug around trying to decide what else I could potentially make, inspiration hit.  This dish transitions perfectly from the end of summer into fall and winter.  It can be paired with just about any combination of vegetables, depending on what is one season.  But each time I’ve made it, I’ve stuck to both riced cauliflower and mushrooms and then mixed in a third vegetable based on what I had on hand – squash and zucchini, sauted kale, green beans and onions, and most recently, roasted brussels sprouts.

You can grill the flank steak in the warmer months, or cook it in a cast iron skillet, as described below, in the colder months.  The vegetables can also be prepared in your favorite way – grilled, roasted, sauted. Just keep the seasonings simple and let the basil vinaigrette shine!

Flank steak basil vinaigrette and wine

This dish could very easily be bland, boring, and basic.  But adding in the fresh herbaceous sauce that only takes a few minutes to throw together really steps it up a notch and takes it to a whole new level.  It takes this dish from an any other day, clean out the fridge, uninspired meal to elevated and elegant, but still super quick and easy!  The fresh herbs and garlic really bring the wow factor!  So, make this dish, fall in love, cozy up with a glass of wine or hot tea, and share the love with all your favorite loved ones!

Flank Steak Basil Vinaigrette

Flank Steak with Basil Vinaigrette

Servings:  4          Time:  ~30 minutes

Ingredients:
  • 1-1.25 lb flank steak
  • 12 oz bag frozen, riced cauliflower
  • 2 pints fresh mushrooms, such as crimini or white button, whole or sliced
  • Additional vegetables as desired
  • 1/4 C fresh basil leaves, finely chopped
  • 3 T olive oil
  • 1 T red wine vinegar
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • Couple dashes crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper
Instructions:
  1. Liberally season both sides of flank steak with salt and pepper.
  2. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat and add a small amount of butter or ghee.  Add seasoned flank steak and sear a few minutes on each side until lightly browned.  Turn heat to medium low and cover with lid or piece of foil, cooking for about 6-8 minutes longer or until desired doneness.  I recommend not cooking past medium (about 160 degrees F), as flank steak is lean and can get tough if overcooked.  Remove from heat and set aside to rest.
  3. While steak cooks, prepare vinaigrette.  Place olive oil in small dish, whisk continuously while slowly adding in vinegar.  Once combined, add mined garlic and basil, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper to taste.  Set aside until ready to serve.
  4. Cook vegetables – saute riced, frozen cauliflower in butter or ghee over medium high heat for several minutes until warmed through.  Season lightly with salt and pepper.  Remove from pan.  Add good amount of butter, ghee, and/or olive oil to same pan.  Add mushrooms, and cook over low heat, seasoned with salt and pepper, until cooked through.
  5. Once steak has rested, cut in thin strips against the grain.
  6. Plate:  add a mound of cooked, riced cauliflower to plate or bowl, pile on cooked mushrooms and additional vegetables, layer on sliced steak, cover it all in a spoonful of basil vinaigrette, and dig in!
Nutrition Info:

365 total cal, 23 g fat, 10 g carb, 30 g protein

Egg Roll Bowls

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I’m always on the look out for healthy, flavorful, QUICK meals.  Since I avoid dairy products, a lot of what I eat regularly is Asian inspired.  In addition to generally not containing dairy, Asian food is delicious!  Stir fries and curries are my flavor jam!  I love just about anything with garlic and ginger.

However, I’ve never been a huge fan of traditional fried egg rolls.  I know, I know…there’s just always been something a little off-putting about them to me flavor wise.  Then add in the often greasy outer fried shell, and it’s a no-go in my books.

Recently though, I stumbled upon this recipe from Peace, Love, and Low Carb that I found intriguing.  Upon looking through the ingredient list, I thought that this was an egg roll variation that I could on board with.

Garlic, ginger, soy, and sriracha form the base of the flavors so what isn’t there to like about it?  I keep many of the ingredients on hand so basically just have to grab the coleslaw and broccoli slaw mixes(and maybe fresh ground pork and ground turkey if I don’t have time to thaw out the frozen stuff) to prepare.

You can also make it both Paleo or Whole30 compliant, so along with being dairy free, many types of eaters can fit this into their eating style!  If you avoid soy or soy based products, you can use coconut aminos.  A little about coconut aminos – clearly from the name, it is made from coconut.  More specifically, coconut sap.  While I do enjoy soy sauce, I try not to consume too much soy based products because of my thyroid disorder.  Coconut aminos is a pretty good substitute and is Paleo and Whole30 compliant.  It is MUCH lower in sodium (about 75% less, which is generally a good thing) and also has a slightly sweet flavor.  It doesn’t taste like coconut, but if you use it in place of soy, be prepared to need a bit more salt in your recipe than if you use traditional soy sauce.

So, back to the recipe:  it comes together really quickly thanks to using convenient items such as bagged coleslaw mix!  And since it makes a pretty large quantity, you’ve got lunch taken care of for the next couple of days!

egg roll in a bowl meal prep

We’ve been enjoying this around our house regularly (at least every other week) for the last couple of months and I don’t intend to quit anytime soon :).  Enjoy!

*Note – you need a pretty large skillet or wok for this!  Alternatively, you could use 2 smaller skillets and split it evenly amongst them.

egg roll in a bowl in skillet

*Second note – if you use a lot of fresh garlic, I highly recommend investing in a good garlic press!  My mom bought me one from Pampered Chef for Christmas, and it’s a total game changer!  You don’t even have to peel the garlic!  Just pop the clove in, press the handle down, and scrape off the perfectly minced garlic!  Remove the skin, and repeat!  Find a similar one here, with great reviews!

egg roll in a bowl served up

Egg Roll Bowls

Servings: 6            Time: 30 min

Ingredients:

  1. 1 lb reduced fat ground pork
  2. 1 lb lean (93% or higher) ground turkey
  3. 5 cloves garlic, minced
  4. 1 large onion, large dice
  5. 14 oz bag coleslaw mix
  6. 14 oz bag broccoli slaw
  7. 1 T ground ginger
  8. 1 t ground pepper
  9. 4 T coconut aminos or reduced sodium soy sauce (I used 2 T of each)
  10. 3 T rice wine vinegar (I’ve also used apple cider vinegar)
  11. 2 T sesame oil
  12. 3-4 T sriracha (or Whole30 compliant chile/hot sauce)
  13. About 5 green onions, white and green parts, sliced
  14. 2 T sesame seeds
  15. Fresh cilantro for topping, optional

Instructions:

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the turkey and pork and cook until no longer pink.  Drain the fat from the skillet.
  2. Add the onion and garlic and saute a few minutes.
  3. In the meantime, whisk together the ginger, pepper, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, sriracha, and soy sauce or coconut aminos.
  4. Add the bag of coleslaw mix to the meat and onion mixture.  Pour about half of the liquid mixture to the skillet, and gently toss it, allowing the coleslaw to cook down a bit and make more room in the skillet.  This is where it gets a bit tricky to keep it all contained in one skillet so be patient.  🙂 Start adding the broccoli slaw mixture, in smaller batches, to allow room in the pan.  It helps to use tongs and just kind of flip portions of the mixture around.  Continue adding the liquid to help flavor and steam the veggies down.  Once it’s all added, test for seasoning and add more sriracha, salt, pepper, etc. as needed.
  5. Portion into bowl, top with green onion, cilantro, and sesame seeds.
  6. Dig in!

Nutrition Info:

380 total cal, 21 g fat, 10 g carbs, 31 g protein