Mention this dish to a Cuban anywhere in the world and you’ll likely get stories of the smells and tastes of their youth. Picadillo is the ultimate comfort food. Every Cuban abuela (grandmother) has their own special version – tomatoes or tomato sauce, potatoes or not, raisins or capers, etc… Any way you make it, it’s sure to please.

Picadillo- Cuban Ground Beef and Olives

The ultimate Cuban comfort food, this dish serves up ground beef bursting with sweet and salty undertones that both kids and adults will love.

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: Caribbean, Cuba

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 25

Total Time: 30

Servings:

Author: My Hungry Traveler

Equipment

Large skillet or wok
Colander

Ingredients

1½ lb Ground beef
2 tbsp Olive oil (Sub: vegetable oil)
1 large Onion, diced
4 cloves Garlic, chopped
2 oz Dried chorizo, diced (optional)
1 small Bell pepper, diced
½ tsp Kosher salt
½ tsp Black pepper
1 tbsp Tomato paste
½ cup Dry white wine
14 oz Can of diced tomatoes, with juices
2 tsp Cumin
2 tsp Dried oregano
2 tbsp Red wine vinegar or Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp Ground cinnamon
2 whole Bay leaf
1 pinch Nutmeg
⅓ cup Raisins
⅔ cup Pimento stuffed olives + 2 tbsp brine
2 tbsp Capers (optional)

Instructions

Cook – Add onion, chorizo (if using), bell pepper, and garlic to the olive oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Cook until onions have softened, about 8 minutes.
Stir in tomato paste, cumin, oregano, salt, pepper, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add wine and cook another 5 minutes to reduce.
Add ground beef and allow it to brown crumbling meat with a fork or wooden spoon, around 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomato, vinegar, brine from olives, bay leaf, and capers. Lower heat, cover, and cook another 30 minutes. Add raisins and olives. Cover and cook another 10 minutes.
Serve accompanied by plain white rice.

Notes

If you want to add potatoes, peel and cut a large waxy potato into 1/4-inch dices. Stir in potatoes at the same time the tomatoes are added to the cooked ground beef.