Cuban Picadillo: Ground Beef Stew with Tomatoes and Olives

Cuban Picadillo is an easy yet very special dish. Sweet and sour ground beef stew simmered in flavorful tomato sauce with vinegar, onions, garlic, olives and smoked paprika. You won’t believe how delicious and easy – destined to be a family favorite!

Nothing is more tempting (unless you’re a vegetarian) than ground beef with tomato sauce, in whatever form it takes. There’s some sort of magical synergy between ground beef and tomatoes that results in some of the most irresistible dishes, whether it’s chili con carne, meatloaf, sloppy joe or meaty pasta sauce.

Cuban Picadillo is one of those irresistible tomatoey ground beef dishes, with the wonderful addition of sweet and sour elements: sweet raisins, salty olives, tangy vinegar and smokey paprika.

Picadillo has been called the ultimate Cuban comfort food, but I think comfort is too mild an adjective to describe a dish with so many layers of exciting flavor. I call it amazing.

HOW TO MAKE CUBAN PICADILLO

• It all happens in one skillet
• Start by sautéing onions, garlic and green pepper in olive oil.
• When the vegetables have softened a bit add the ground beef and brown it in the pan.
• Then add tomatoes, vinegar, spices, olives and raisins.
• Simmer for 15 minutes until all of the flavors have melded.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper
• Done!

HOW TO SERVE CUBAN PICADILLO

• It’s traditional in Cuba to serve Picadillo with rice and black beans, a totally delicious combination.
• I also love this dish served over mashed potatoes. Try these delicious olive oil and garlic mashed potatoes made with no butter or cream.
• There are many other delicious ways to enjoy Picadillo. It makes a great filling for tortillas, tacos, empanadas, or burritos.
• Or how about stuffing poblano peppers with picadillo and making chiles rellenos picadillo, as they do in Mexico? Doesn’t that sound incredible?!

I hope you enjoy this tasty Cuban stew. It’s one of those great recipes that’s delicious enough for company and easy enough for weeknight dinner.

Here’s the recipe for Cuban Picadillo. As always, I’m hoping you will cook this and come back to leave a star rating and a comment. I’d love to know what you think.

Cuban Picadillo: Ground Beef Stew with Tomatoes Olives and Raisins

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews

Picadillo is a simple yet special stew made with ground beef, tomatoes and spices. It has exciting sweet, sour, salty layers of flavor, punctuated with salty olives and sweet raisins.

• Author: Panning The Globe
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 25 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Yield: 5-6 1x
• Category: Dinner
• Method: stovetop
• Cuisine: Cuban

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium yellow onions, peeled and chopped
• 4 large cloves of garlic, peeled and minced
• 1 green bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, finely chopped
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt plus more, to taste
• 1 28 ounce can imported plum tomatoes
• 5 tablespoons tomato paste (half of a 6-ounce can)
• 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1/3 cup dark raisins
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon (mild) smoked paprika
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 cup pimiento stuffed green olives
• Suggested Accompaniment: rice or mashed potatoes, black beans

Instructions

1. Heat oil over medium-high heat in a large deep skillet or dutch oven. Add onion, garlic and green pepper. Cook for 5-6 minute, until vegetables start to soften. Add beef and salt. Allow meat to brown, breaking up clumps with the end of a spatula or wooden spoon, to achieve a crumbly texture.
2. Add plum tomatoes, crushing them or tearing them into pieces with your hands as you drop them in. Pour in the plum tomato juice from the can too. Add tomato paste and stir through. Add vinegar, raisins, cumin, smoked paprika, bay leaves and olives. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the stew is slightly thickened and the flavors are melded. Remove bay leaves. Correct seasoning with salt, if necessary.
3. Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or black beans.

Notes

Nutrition Information: The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator and is not a substitute for a the advice of a professional nutritionist.

Keywords: Ground beef stew, Cuban ground beef stew