Caldillo durangueño is Durango’s most representative dish. It’s a hearty broth of beef cut in cubes or strips, cooked with tomato, garlic, onion and cumin. What sets it apart is the chile pasado, a long green pod pepper roasted, peeled and sun-dried, which gives the broth a smoky and slightly sweet flavor.
Old recipes, according to tradition, used venison; over time beef took its place. Some people make the caldillo with dried beef, and some add potato, which today is optional.
In a survey conducted decades ago about the dish that represented each state, Durango chose the caldillo, and it remains its best-known culinary expression.
Caldillo appears on the menus of small eateries, markets and regional restaurants, and at home it’s a Sunday and cold-day dish.