A traditional Guatemalan dish — Enchiladas Guatemaltecas bear no resemblance to their rolled Mexican namesakes: here, a fried tortilla is stacked with pickled beet-cabbage curtido, savory beef picadillo, tomato sauce, sliced hard-boiled egg, and a crown of dry cheese. They are a beloved party food, served one by one and eaten with a knife and fork. The magenta streak of beet in the curtido is their signature.
Enchiladas Guatemaltecas
A traditional Guatemalan dish — Enchiladas Guatemaltecas bear no resemblance to their rolled Mexican namesakes: here, a fried tortilla is stacked with pickled beet-cabbage curtido, savory beef picadillo, tomato sauce, sliced hard-boiled egg, and a crown of dry cheese.

Step by stepInstructions
- Cook the ground beef with half the onion and the garlic until browned; add the potatoes, carrot, raisins, and cumin, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the vegetables are tender; set the picadillo aside.
- Fry the tortillas in hot oil until crisp, draining them on paper towels.
- Blend the tomatoes with the remaining onion and a pinch of salt, then simmer the sauce for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Assemble each enchilada: fried tortilla, a layer of curtido, a generous spoonful of picadillo, a drizzle of tomato sauce, slices of hard-boiled egg, and a shower of dry cheese.
- Serve immediately, one per plate, with extra curtido on the side.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Curtido made with beets is essential here — it gives the dish its rosy color and tang. Prepare all the toppings before frying the tortillas so everything comes together hot and crisp.

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