Steak and potatoes in Pasilla pepper sauce is a comforting and easy-to-make stew, very few ingredients are required to create this home-style meal. This is not a dish that you’ll usually find in a regular restaurant in Mexico, perhaps only in the small family-style eateries called “fondas”, whose menus are made for those looking to eat a meal that feels homey to them, instead of eating at chain restaurants. This dish is more popular in the central states of Mexico.
Steak and Potatoes Recipe
I heard about this recipe a long time ago while living in the city of Puebla. That was back in the 80’s, when you would listen to the radio while doing your daily chores around the house, and there were no TV shows about food yet. I hope you try this recipe; the Pasilla peppers have a very unique and mild flavor.
How to make Steak and potatoes
DIRECTIONS:
- Place pasilla peppers and tomatoes in a saucepan and cover with 4 cups of water. Cook over medium-high heat for about 15 to 18 minutes until they are cooked and the peppers have softened. (Please check the ingredients list below)
- While the peppers and tomatoes are cooking, heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Season steaks with salt and pepper, and add to frying pan once the oil is hot. Cook for about 6-8 minutes. Then add the potato cubes and stir. Keep cooking.
- The place already cooked tomatoes and peppers in your blender and add the chopped onion and garlic, plus 1 ¼ cup of the cooking water. Process until you have a very smooth sauce.
- Pour sauce unto the frying pan with the steak and potatoes, using a strainer. Season with salt. Once it starts boiling, reduces heat to simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until potatoes have softened.
Serve with rice or beans and warm corn tortillas.
Buen Provecho!
Mely,
Other recipes using Pasilla peppers: Salsa borracha, Mole de Olla, Mole Poblano & Tortilla Soup.
📖 Recipe
Steak and potatoes in pasilla sauce
Ingredients
- 5 pasilla peppers cleaned and deveined.
- 2 small roma tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 Pounds sirloin steaks about ⅓ inch thick
- 2 medium size potatoes peeled and cut into cubes (about 10
- oz)
- 2 garlic cloves chopped
- ¼ white medium onion chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place pasilla peppers and tomatoes in a saucepan and cover with 4 cups of water. Cook over medium-high heat for about 15 to 18 minutes until they are cooked and the peppers have softened.
- While the peppers and tomatoes are cooking, heat vegetable oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Season steaks with salt and pepper, and add to frying pan once the oil is hot. Cook for about 6-8 minutes. Then add the potato cubes and stir. Keep cooking.
- The place already cooked tomatoes and peppers in your blender and add the chopped onion and garlic, plus 1 ¼ cup of the cooking water. Process until you have a very smooth sauce.
- Pour sauce unto the frying pan with the steak and potatoes, using a strainer. Season
- with salt. Once it starts boiling, reduces heat to simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes or until potatoes have softened.
Dave
I don't like beef but, I love the idea of Pasilla sauce. I will have to swap the beef out for something else.
It is very hard to get Pasilla here (can't even get de Arbol at all). I suspect I'm paying way too much for Pasilla @ $9. for just 50gram ! from the local bandit store. Tequila is also overpriced here, poor selection too, used to be good until 2008 destroyed all the main street stores 😫
For now, it's so expensive and hard to find Méxican chillies that I only use them for making special spice rubs. I mostly use fresh strong Asian chillies @ $3. for 100grams. They are very good, one of the best but, variety of flavor is also important.
Mely Martínez
Hi Dave,
You can use this recipe for chicken, pork or even a mix of potatoes and mushrooms.
Dave
Thanks Mely.
What is a good price for Pasilla chilli ?
Mely Martínez
Hi Dave,
100 grams average is $ 8.00 USA, that would be about 4-5 peppers.
Rebecca
Can other chili’s be used like guajillo?
Mely Martínez
Hello Rebecca,
Feel free to spice things up with guajillo peppers alongside the pasilla peppers. It'll add a delicious twist to your dish!
Happy cooking!
Jana Martinez
We love our food spicy and will probably blend in 3 or 4 serrano chiles! I look forward to making this recipe soon!
Lee
Hi, I have made several of these recipes but my blender is horrible. What blender do you recommend or use yourself?
Thanks.
mmartinez
Hello Lee,
I use a Vitamix, like this one:http://amzn.to/2BGRDnk
Before the Vitamix, I used to have a Waring blender, those are great too!http://amzn.to/2Hr4P0l
Martha
Would love a print friendly version of your recipes. Por favor!
mmartinez
Hello Martha,
We are working on adding the print option to all the recipes. Thank you for your patience.
Anonymous
OMG yum! My fiancé is Mexican and I am Caucasian. My finances mom is the best cook ever! She speaks little English so when I ask her to translate a recipe it's sometimes hard to understand. She makes a dish similar to this and I am so happy I found this recipe! Thank you
Tifferella
Can I serve this to children? I never had anything with pasilla peppers, so I'm not sure if it will be too spicy.
mmartinez
Hello,
Pasilla peppers are very mild, I hope you try the peppers first, before in sauce to check it you like them.
Tifferella
I tasted the sauce and yes it has a mild flavor.My kids didn't complain. Thanks Mely.
Tonya
Hi Tifferella. I know this may come years later :/ however I made this about a week or so ago. I have a 9 year old and a 1 year old so I understand the concern about it being spicy. Rest assured it's not spicy, you get the flavor of the Chile, but it's not spicy at all. If it helps any my fiance said it reminds him of a beef stew, obviously with a slight different taste with the pasilla peppers. Hope you give it a try and your family enjoys it. It'll now be in my rotation for dinner.
mmartinez
Thank you, Tonya!
Kimberly H
Yum.. I bet that is fantastic! I've got some pasilla peppers.. I'll have to try it sooN! Thanks!