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Cuban Beef Picadillo

Cuban Beef Picadillo

  • Makes
    4 servings
  • Cook Time
    45 minutes
  • Rating

Picadillo—a ground beef dish popular in Cuba, the Caribbean and Latin America—combines tangy, sweet and salty flavors. There are many variations, but the essentials are a stew of ground meat and tomatoes with raisins for sweetness and chopped olives for a balancing touch of brine. For an optional, finishing touch, chopped hard-cooked egg makes an attractive and delicious garnish. Serve the picadillo with white rice or fried potatoes or on a mound of french fries. Or serve it with a stack of warm corn tortillas and use it as a taco filling.

Tip

Don't use 80 or 85 percent lean ground beef or the picadillo may end up slick and greasy.

Ingredients
  • 2

    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2

    medium yellow onions, finely chopped

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 6

    medium garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 ½

    pounds 90 percent lean ground beef

  • ½

    cup raisins, chopped

  • 1

    tablespoon cumin seeds

  • 1

    teaspoon dried oregano

  • 2

    tablespoons tomato paste

  • ½

    cup pimiento-stuffed green olives, roughly chopped, plus 3 tablespoons olive brine

  • ½

    cup minced fresh cilantro

  • 3

    plum tomatoes, cored, seeded and finely chopped

Step 1

In a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high, heat the oil until shimmering. Add the onions and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up, until no pink remains, 5 to 7 minutes.

Step 2

Stir in the raisins, cumin, oregano, tomato paste and 1½ teaspoons salt, then cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in ¾ cup water and bring to a simmer. Reduce to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the water has evaporated, 7 to 9 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the olives and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Off heat, stir in the brine, cilantro and tomatoes. Taste and season with salt and pepper.


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