Easy Cuban Picadillo

Name: Easy Cuban Picadillo
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Yield: 4 servings.
Ingredients: 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean); 1 small green pepper, chopped; 1/4 cup chopped onion; 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce; 1/2 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives; 1/4 cup raisins; 1 tablespoon cider vinegar; 2 cups hot cooked rice; Fresh cilantro leaves, optional

My girlfriend gave me this delicious recipe years ago. I’ve made it ever since for family and friends, and they all love it. My daughter loves to take leftovers to school for lunch the next day. —Marie Wielgus, Wayne, New Jersey

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 small green pepper, chopped
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup sliced pimiento-stuffed olives
1/4 cup raisins
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 cups hot cooked rice
Fresh cilantro leaves, optional

Directions

In a large skillet, cook and crumble beef with pepper and onion over medium-high heat until no longer pink, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, raisins and vinegar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until raisins are softened, 5-6 minutes.
Serve with rice. If desired, top with fresh cilantro to serve.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup beef mixture with 1/2 cup rice: 363 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 683mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2-1/2 starch, 1 fat.

Originally published as Picadillo in Healthy Cooking October/November 2009

Reviews

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Susana

Feb 27, 2018

I added garlic, bay leaf, cumin and a can of drained black beans. It was great!!!
recipehound54

Aug 6, 2017

Like some other reviewers, I didn't think that a recipe this easy could taste this good. I was wrong! My husband and I both loved it. Flavorful but not overpowering. I might use a dash of red pepper flakes next time I make this dish but it stands well as written. I used 93% lean ground beef so there was no fat to drain off. Supper can be ready, start to finish, in half an hour!
Yo-meggie

Sep 21, 2016

I was kinda skeptical because this looked so easy and didn't have additional spices... but it was a big hit! I added additional veggies like jalape?o, garlic and green tomato cuz I could. The only thing I would change would be to add more raisins. This was bangin'.
ahmom

Jul 7, 2013

Very good! I don't know why I was afraid to make this for years!
MsKudzu

Sep 15, 2012

Tried this for the first time yesterday. Loved it. I added a little garlic powder and crushed red pepper flakes. Served it with brown rice. Will definitely make this again.
KKandRyansMom

Oct 28, 2011

Loved it! Definitely a keeper to make over and over again!
lxc283

Sep 7, 2011

This is a great recipe to add to rotation. Debated about adding the raisins, but glad I did, very tasty. I don't digest green peppers well so I didn't add them, and I didn't think to add different color peppers as previous users. I tasted the mixer once ready, but I added the following: a pinch or 1/4 tsp of cumin, a packet of clear Sazon, then some cracked pepper, & sea salt (didn't add as much olives as recipe called for). Taste was even more enhanced. I also added a half a (tomato) can or 4oz. of water to loosen up the gravy a bit. Since we had rice yesterday, I accompanied this mix with real mashed potatoes. I served it sort of shephard pie style, just not baked. I'm thinking of making this with mashed yuca next time, yummy. Husband loved this new recipe :)
Gabrielle Schroader

Aug 31, 2010

This is one of our favorites now. The flavor combination of the olives and raisens sounded odd to me, but it is actually quite good. I also add colored peppers and usually serve it with brown rice.
kristiracines

Mar 22, 2010

This is really, really good for such simple ingredients. I was expecting it to be rather boring but it is great. It is now in my regular rotation. I have used different colored peppers, and yellow and red onions, all with good results.