Picadillo a la Criolla

Name: Picadillo a la Criolla
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Cuban
Ingredients: 500g ground beef; 1 onion, diced; 1 green bell pepper, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 can crushed tomatoes (400g); 1/3 cup green olives, halved; 2 tbsp raisins; 2 tsp cumin; 1 tsp oregano; 2 tbsp olive oil; Salt and pepper

Picadillo (pee-kah-DEE-yoh)

Cuban Ground Beef Hash

⏱ Prep Time 10 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 412 kcal

A savory-sweet ground beef hash simmered with tomatoes, olives, raisins, and cumin — a quick, flavorful weeknight staple of Cuban home cooking.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 30.0g

Carbs 28.0g

Fat 20.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Equipment Needed

large skillet wooden spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: shallow bowl

Garnishes: cilantro

Accompaniments: white rice, maduros, black beans

Ingredients

500g ground beef
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 can crushed tomatoes (400g)
1/3 cup green olives, halved
2 tbsp raisins
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Instructions

1
Heat oil in a large skillet. Sauté onion, bell pepper, and garlic until softened, about 5 min.
2
Add ground beef, breaking it up. Cook until browned, 6-8 min.
3
Stir in cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
4
Add crushed tomatoes, olives, and raisins. Simmer 15-20 min until thickened.
5
Adjust seasoning. Serve over white rice with fried plantains.

💡

Did You Know?

The combination of olives and raisins in picadillo represents the sweet-savory balance that defines Cuban cuisine — a marriage of Spanish and Caribbean flavors.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

large skillet
wooden spoon

Garnishing

cilantro

Accompaniments

white rice, maduros, black beans

The Story Behind Picadillo a la Criolla

Picadillo arrived in Cuba with Spanish colonizers who brought their tradition of minced meat dishes. Cuban cooks added the signature olive-raisin combination, creating a flavor profile unlike any Spanish original. It became the quintessential home-cooking dish, affordable enough for daily meals yet flavorful enough for company.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed weeknight dinner 📜 Origins: Spanish colonial adaptation

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