Cuban Beef Picadillo
Servings: 6
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 35 minutes mins
Total Time: 45 minutes mins
author: Olivia Mesquita
course: Main Course
cuisine: Cuban
A tried and true version of Cuban Beef Picadillo! Juicy and tender, packed with flavor and made in one pan. Served with rice, this is the ultimate Cuban comfort food!
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ pounds lean ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 small red bell pepper, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ⅓ cup dry white wine, (optional)
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- 1 (14oz) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
- ⅓ cup dried currants or raisins
- ½ cup green pitted olives
- ⅓ cup chopped parsley
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet, over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef and cook, crumbling it with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 to 8 minutes . Season with salt and pepper.
Lower the heat to medium and add the onion and bell pepper, sautéing until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Then, stir in the garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Optional: pour in the white wine and cook, scraping the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits, until evaporated.
Stir in the paprika, cumin, oregano, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce and a pinch of salt and pepper.
Cover and simmer on medium-low for 15 minutes.
Add the currants (or raisins) and olives and continue cooking, uncovered, for another 10-15 minutes.
Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
Stir in the chopped parsley and serve!
Substitutions
- Beef - Use ground pork, turkey or chicken instead.
- Raisins/currants - omit if needed.
- Olives - substitute for capers or omit.
- Spices and oregano - use two packets of Sazon instead!
Storage and Reheating Instructions:
Store leftover picadillo in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 4-5 days.
Reheat in a pan, over medium-low heat, or in the microwave.
Freezing:
You can freeze picadillo for up to 3 months.
Calories: 255kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 389mg, Potassium: 689mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 794IU, Vitamin C: 25mg, Calcium: 63mg, Iron: 4mg
Author: Olivia Mesquita
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Cuban