Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo
Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo balances richly seasoned ground beef with a bright tomato base, subtle warmth from cinnamon and cumin, and a touch of heat. Briny green olives and sweet raisins create a classic sweet-salty contrast that keeps each bite interesting. Serve it over rice, spooned into tacos, or alongside plantains for a comforting weeknight Dinner.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook45 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyEasy
- 1
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- 2
Add ground beef; cook, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon or spatula until it loses all its pink color, 8 to 10 minutes.
- 3
Add onion and salt; cook until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Add bay leaves, cumin, black pepper, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper; cook for 2 minutes.
- 5
Add garlic; cook for 1 minute.
- 6
Stir in crushed tomatoes, water, and red wine vinegar; cook and deglaze by scraping the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, about 3 minutes.
- 7
Add currants; return to a simmer.
- 8
Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until the beef is tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
- 9
Gently stir in olives; cover and cook 10 to 15 minutes more.
- Calories 616.16 kcal High
- Protein 33.27 g Good Source
- Carbs 27.55 g Moderate
- Total Fat 42.37 g High
- Saturated Fat 14.86 g High
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source
- Cholesterol 120.82 mg High
- Sodium 1004.61 mg High
- Fiber 6.46 g Good Source
- Sugar 14.35 g High
- Added Sugar 0.65 g Low Source
- Calcium 141.91 mg Moderate
- Iron 6.88 mg Good Source
- Potassium 710.26 mg Moderate
- Vitamin A 26.31 mcg_rae Low Source
- Vitamin C 19.15 mg Good Source
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
- Alcohol 🚫🍷
About This Recipe
Chef John's Cuban Style Picadillo is a Cuban dinner recipe made with 15 ingredients. It takes about 55 mins, serves 4, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Crushed Tomatoes, and Diced Yellow Onion. Each serving provides about 616.16 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo?
- It is a Cuban recipe made with 15 ingredients, usually served for dinner or lunch.
- What is Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Crushed Tomatoes, Diced Yellow Onion, Dried Bay Leaves. The full list of 15 is above.
- What goes well with Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo?
- Explore these Cuban side-dish recipes.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo?
- About 55 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 45 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 616.16 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Cuban-Style Picadillo easy to make?
- This recipe is rated easy, with 15 ingredients and 9 steps.
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