Home / Dinner / Hilachas

Hilachas

Name: Hilachas
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 120 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 2 lb (900 g) flank steak or skirt steak; 6 ripe tomatoes, quartered; 2 tomatillos, husked; 1 white onion, quartered; 4 garlic cloves; 2 dried guaque (guajillo) chiles, soaked; 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges; 2 carrots, sliced; 4 cups (1 L) beef broth; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; Salt and pepper, to taste

A traditional Guatemalan dish — Hilachas turns humble flank steak into threads of tender beef in a chunky tomato sauce with potatoes and carrots.

⏱ 30 minPrep time

🔥 120 minCook time

🍽 6Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet

A traditional Guatemalan dish — Hilachas turns humble flank steak into threads of tender beef in a chunky tomato sauce with potatoes and carrots. Its name means ‘rags’ or ‘threads,’ a nod to the shredded meat at its heart. Homey, comforting, and deeply satisfying, it is a weekday staple served with rice and tortillas.

Guatemalan recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Simmer the steak in water to cover with a little salt until fork-tender, about 1 1/2 hours; let cool, then shred into threads.
Blend the tomatoes, tomatillos, onion, garlic, chiles, and cumin with a cup of the beef cooking liquid until smooth.
Fry the sauce in oil for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring, until it thickens and darkens.
Add the shredded beef and broth, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the potatoes and carrots and cook until tender, about 20 minutes more; season with salt and pepper.
Serve hot with white rice and warm tortillas.

💡 Chef tips & storage

For a shortcut, pressure-cook the beef for 40 minutes instead of simmering. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the meat — let it reduce uncovered if it looks watery.

Recipe details

Prep30 min

Cook120 min

Servings6

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 17, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Hilachas

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Log In

Get free recipes every week

Hilachas

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Join the conversation

Keep browsingYou might also like

Älplermagronen

Waterzooi

Tikin Xic

Log In