Picadillo Cubano is a simple, but satisfying popular Cuban dish. I like it because it’s easy to prepare and tastes brilliant.
What is Picadillo Cubano?
It’s one of the most popular Cuban dishes. There are different variations and recipes, but it’s basically a dish made with ground beef, vegetables and spices. Some cooks add stuffed olives, capers, potatoes and raisins to their picadillo. I learned to make this dish from my uncle’s wife in Miami. She’s from Cuba and this is the way her family make it.
What do I Serve with This?
The flavors of this dish are incredibly intense and rich. You’ll just have to go and make it yourself to see what I mean. You’ll love every bite of this dish, I promise.
I like to serve my picadillo with white rice to soak the delicious sauce, plantains and avocado.
What you Need to Make Picadillo Cubano
You’ll find the printable recipe card with exact amounts and directions below.
Oil: I like to use olive oil.
Ground Beef: You can use any ground meat with the fat percentage that you prefer.
Spices: ground cumin, ground oregano, bay leaf, salt and pepper.
Vegetables: onion, green bell pepper and garlic.
Tomato Sauce and Tomato Paste: add sweetness and body to the dish.
White wine: Use your favorite or replace it with beef broth if you don’t want to use wine.
Stuffed Spanish Olives: they add amazing flavor to this recipe.
Raisins: If you don’t like them just omit it.
How to Make this Dish
In a large sauce pan on medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
Add the beef and brown, stirring occasionally, then add the cumin, oregano, bay leaf, onion, bell pepper, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes more.
Add the tomato sauce, white wine, olives and raisins. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring often.
Remove the bay leaf and serve over plain white rice.
More Beef Dishes to Try
Carne Desmechada (Shredded Beef)
Sudado de Carne de Res (Beef Stew)
Bistec a la Criolla (Creole Steak)
Bistec Encebollado (Steak with Onion Sauce)
Picadillo Cubano Recipe (Cuban Ground Beef Dish)
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon of ground oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 5 garlic cloves crushed
- Salt and pepper to your taste
- 1 cup of tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
- 1 cup of white wine
- ½ cup of stuffed Spanish olives cut in half
- ⅓ cup of raisins
Instructions
- Place a large sauce pan on medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
- Add the beef and brown, stirring occasionally, then add the cumin, oregano, bay leaf, onion, bell pepper, garlic and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes more.
- Add the tomato sauce, white wine, olives and raisins. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove the bay leaf and serve over plain white rice.
Nutrition
Calories: 814kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 41gFat: 59gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 30gTrans Fat: 3gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 449mgPotassium: 955mgFiber: 3gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 383IUVitamin C: 31mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 6mg
