Description
Cuban picadillo dances with savory ground beef and olives, bringing hearty comfort to your dinner table in just one skillet. Serve alongside white rice for a classic meal that feels like a warm hug from Havana.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can black beans
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- ½ cup onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons raisins
- 2 tablespoons green olives
Additional Ingredients:
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the surface looks shimmery and hot.
- Toss ½ cup diced onions into the skillet and sauté for 3-4 minutes until they turn translucent and soft.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 30 seconds until your kitchen fills with a fragrant aroma.
- Crumble 1 pound ground beef into the skillet, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon.
- Cook the beef for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and meat is completely browned.
- Drain any excess fat from the skillet to keep your dish from becoming greasy.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon ground cumin over the meat, stirring thoroughly to distribute evenly.
- Pour ¼ cup tomato sauce into the skillet and mix completely with the seasoned meat.
- Stir in 2 tablespoons raisins and 2 tablespoons chopped green olives, cooking for 2 minutes to blend flavors.
- Drain the liquid from 1 can of black beans and gently fold them into the meat mixture.
- Reduce heat to low and let the skillet simmer for 5 minutes, allowing all ingredients to meld together.
- Taste and adjust seasonings if your palate desires more flavor.
- Remove from heat and serve piping hot directly from the skillet.
Notes
- Choose lean ground beef to reduce excess grease and create a cleaner flavor profile.
- Drain the fat carefully after browning the meat to keep the dish from becoming too oily.
- Toast the cumin briefly in the pan before adding other spices to enhance its deep, warm flavor.
- For a lighter version, swap beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles to make the recipe more diet-friendly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-19 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Latin American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg