Cuban Picadillo served with a side of rice and beans makes a flavorful, quick ground beef dinner—ready in about 30 minutes from prep to plate.
While flipping through some old IDEAS magazines, I found a Picadillo recipe that I adapted slightly. The ingredients caught my attention—especially the idea of serving it with rice and beans as part of the dish.
I discovered many versions online; most are served with rice and beans, though some suggest using the Picadillo as a filling for empanadas or tacos. My daughter mentioned right away that she thought it would make a great filling.
This dish is savory, slightly sweet, and nicely spiced. It took me about 30 minutes total. I used two green chilies, but you can adjust the heat to suit your taste.
More ground beef recipes you might like:
- Week Night Curry and Rice
- Layered Pasta Dish
- Mushroom and Beef Filled Pancakes
Cuban Picadillo
Cuban Picadillo
Linda Nortje
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Ingredients
BEEF:
- 2 TB Olive Oil (extra-virgin)
- 1 Onion, chopped
- 2 t Fresh Garlic, crushed
- 450 g Lean Ground Beef (1 pound)
- 2 Green Chilies, finely chopped (adjust to taste)
- 1 Red Bell Pepper, chopped
- 1 can (410 g) Chopped Tomatoes
- 10–15 Black Olives, pitted and roughly chopped
- 3 TB Seedless Raisins
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- 2 t Sugar
RICE:
- 1 can (410 g) Red Kidney Beans, rinsed and drained
- Cooked White Rice, about 6 cups
TO SERVE:
- Fresh Parsley, arugula (rocket), or basil to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Saute the onion and garlic in the olive oil until softened. Add the ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add the green chilies, red bell pepper, and chopped tomatoes. Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Stir in the black olives, raisins, salt, pepper, and sugar. Mix well and simmer another 10 minutes over medium-low heat.
- Combine the rinsed red kidney beans with the cooked white rice and serve alongside the Picadillo.
Notes
- Serve the Picadillo with the rice and beans and garnish with fresh parsley, arugula, or basil if you like.
- Nutrition values exclude the rice and beans.
LINDA
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Nutrition value, where given, is not always accurate. Please check your ingredient labels for exact figures.