One of the absolute best ways to enjoy ground beef in my Cuban household is making Picadillo. A classic one pan dish that is packed with flavor and textures. Through much trial and error, the Cubans have perfected a fully loaded Picadillo, and YES you must include the all important olives AND raisins. Make this dish and you’ll never eat ground beef the same.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
One of the best things about this dish is not only the flavor but also how it’s so easy to make. Everyone is always looking for an easy meal during the week and ground beef is a very common thing to have. Well this is the best way to make use of that! Ground beef comes together quickly and is simmer in a tomato based savory sauce and fully loaded with olives, raisins and diced potatoes!
Here are few reasons why this will become your new favorite ground beef recipe:
Easy – There’s a reason why our moms and abuelas always wanted to make this. It’s easy, flavorful and always gets the job done in one delicious pan.
Delicious – This dish builds flavor from start to end. From the authentic sofrito which will bring flavor to any protein to the savory tomato based sauce, all the way to the olives, raisin (YES raisins) & tiny diced crispy potatoes. Who says no to juicy tender beef with potatoes?
Authentic – One of the most popular dishes to come out of Cuba. It’s gone through variations throughout the years but one stays true and that’s the that this recipe is delicious. One bite will directly transport you to family dinners at the casita.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground Beef – It’s easy to make, accessible and fairly affordable. You can definitely substitute for any other ground meat such as turkey or chicken.
- Sofrito – A classic Cuban sofrito consist of our holy trinity: onion, bell peppers and garlic. From there tomato sauce, spices and dry cooking wine is added to create magic. Truly, this concoction will flavor just about any dish.
- Olives & Raisins – This is where the controversy begins for many, Cuban or not. Save yourself the back and forth, try this dish the way I learned how to eat it, which is with MAXIMUM flavor. Every recipe is about balance and adding briny olives & sweet raisins will do just that!
- Potatoes – Some people like the fry them separately or just steam them right in sauce. Either way is good just don’t forget to include them. Adding potatoes somehow makes this dish even more comforting and hearty than it already is.
How to make Cuban Picadillo
#1. Make sofrito
#2. Brown ground beef in the sofrito
#3. Build & simmer your sauce
#4. Enjoy!
If you liked this Cuban Picadillo recipe, check out some other popular recipes on the blog!
Authentic Cuban Picadillo (Ground Beef)
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper diced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 4 garlic cloves finely minced
- 2 tsp cumin
- 2 tsp oregano
- salt & pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/2 cup dry white cooking wine
- 24 oz ground beef
- 5 oz tomato sauce
- 1/3 cup raisins
- 1/2 cup green pitted olives sliced plus 2 tbsp brine
- 1 large Yukon gold potato peeled & cut into small cubes
Instructions
- In a large pan, heat up oliive oil on medium high heat until shimmering.
- Add onion & bell peppers and cook until softened. Incorporate fresh garlic, seasonings, tomato paste and bay leaves.
- Cook down for a few minutes to remove any acid or bitter taste from the tomato paste.
- Use dry cooking wine to deglaze any bits from the bottom of the pan.
- Once most of it has evaporated add ground beef & break it up with a wooden spoon until browned.
- Season to taste with salt & pepper.
- Pour in tomato sauce, olives (along with its brine), raisins and potato chunks.
- Mix until combined & simmer covered for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are fork tender.
- Serve with rice, beans and plantains.
