How To Make Cuban Picadillo {Recipe}

Indulge in the easy yet deeply flavorful Cuban picadillo, combining ground meat, spices, tomato paste, and a touch of sweetness. Pair this comforting dish with Tiana Major9's soulful "Collide" for a symphony of flavors and emotions that create a perfect harmony on the palate and in the heart.

Related Cuban Inspired Recipes:

• Cuban Turkey Sloppy Joes
• Cuban Inspired Oxtail and Grits
• Avocado Salad

Classic Cuban one-pan dish that’s perfect for a quick, 30-minute weeknight no fuss dish. Full of savory and aromatic ingredients this dish also makes for great, easy leftover ideas. 

This dish is a beautiful collision of briny olives, meaty ground beef, and an herbaceous tomato based sofrito. They were meant to be together.

What is picadillo?

Picadillo is a traditional dish in many Latin American countries as well as the Philippines. It’s basically a one-pan dish akin to a ground beef hash. Regardless of regional variations, in a nutshell it is ground beef simmered in tomato based sauce. It will feature a combination of ground beef, tomatoes (or tomato sauce), and olives. Other common ingredients include raisins, potatoes, capers, peppers, onions, and garlic. 

Cuban Picadillo Ingredients

The beauty of this dish is you’re likely to have most of the ingredients on hand and can find worthy substitutes if not. You can also easily tweak it to fit your specific tastes. However this is a briny dish, so if that’s not your thing you might want to skip this one. 

Ground beef is the star. But feel free to use ground turkey if you prefer to opt for a non-beef option. I had ground venison on hand and used it for this recipe. The briny olives and capers tame the gaminess very well.

For The Sofrito

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Red onion diced
• Cubanelle pepper
• Garlic cloves
• Diced tomatoes
• Fresh herbs medley basil, oregano, parsley, etc.
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the picadillo

• Olive oil
• Yellow onion
• Bell pepper
• Tomato paste - I prefer to add tomato paste over sauce since it has a richer, more intense flavor. If you chose to add tomato sauce instead you might need to adjust seasoning to make up for some of the flavor
• Garlic cloves
• Ground cumin
• Smoked sweet paprika
• Dried oregano
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• Bay leaves
• Dry white cooking wine
• Ground beef
• Pimento stuffed olives
• Capers

How To Make This Picadillo Recipe

Step 1: Make the sofrito

Step 2: Saute the onions, peppers, and garlic

Step 3: Add ground meat and remaining ingredients

Serving Suggestions

In Cuba, picadillo is often served with rice with a fried egg on top. I like to use a coconut ginger rice or yuca fries. You can never go wrong with black beans

What To Serve With Picadillo

Cuban picadillo is a flavorful and comforting dish that pairs well with a variety of sides. Here are some options to serve alongside Cuban picadillo:

1. White Rice: A classic choice to soak up the delicious sauce of the picadillo.
2. Black Beans: Another staple of Cuban cuisine, served either as a side dish or mixed into the picadillo.
3. Plantains: Fried ripe plantains (maduros) or savory plantain chips (tostones) add a delightful contrast.
4. Yuca: Boiled or fried yuca makes a starchy accompaniment.
5. Moros y Cristianos: Also known as "Moors and Christians," this is a dish of black beans and rice cooked together.
6. Avocado Salad: Cubed avocado, tomatoes, onions, and cilantro dressed with lime juice and olive oil.
7. Cuban Bread: Soft, crusty bread perfect for dipping into the sauce.
8. Tostones: Crispy, flattened and fried green plantains.
9. Fried Eggs: Place a fried or poached egg on top of the picadillo for added richness.

These sides complement the flavors of the picadillo while offering a variety of textures and tastes to round out the meal.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are some substitutions and variations for Cuban picadillo:

1. Meat Substitutions:
   • Ground Beef: Traditional choice for picadillo, but you can also use ground turkey, chicken, pork, or a combination.
   • Chorizo: Adds a spicy and smoky flavor to the dish.
2. Vegetable Additions:
   • Bell Peppers: Red, green, or yellow peppers add sweetness and color.
   • Olives: Green or black olives provide a briny flavor.
   • Capers: Adds a tangy and salty element.
   • Peas: Adds sweetness and texture.
3. Spices and Seasonings:
   • Cumin: Essential for the classic Cuban flavor profile.
   • Oregano: Adds a herbaceous note.
   • Paprika: Smoked or sweet paprika for depth of flavor.
   • Cinnamon: Adds a subtle warmth, especially popular in some versions of picadillo.
   • Chili powder: Adds slight heat
4. Liquid Base:
   • Tomato Sauce: Instead of using fresh tomatoes, you can use tomato sauce for a smoother sauce.
   • Beef or Vegetable Broth: Adds richness to the sauce.
   • Wine or Vinegar: For acidity and depth of flavor.
5. Sweeteners:
   • Raisins: Traditional in many Cuban picadillo recipes, adds sweetness and texture.
   • Pineapple: Chopped pineapple can add a tropical sweetness.
   • Brown Sugar or Honey: For a touch of sweetness in the sauce.
6. Heat Level:
   • Jalapeños or Hot Peppers: Add chopped spicy peppers for heat.
   • Hot Sauce: Stir in your favorite hot sauce for extra kick.
   • Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Sprinkle for a mild heat.
7. Garnishes:
   • Fresh Herbs: Cilantro or parsley for freshness.
   • Lime Wedges: Squeezing fresh lime juice over the finished dish adds brightness.
   • Diced Onions: Raw onions provide a sharp contrast.

Can Picadillo Be Made Vegan?

Yes indeed. Just follow the same steps as the regular recipe with a few simple changes.

1. Feel free to substitute any vegan ground meat or better yet, go with jackfruit in place of the ground beef. 
2. In my vegan version I added potatoes at the vegetable sauce step
3. Add raisins just before the simmering step.

Leftover Ideas

The best thing about picadillo besides its simplicity is the fact that it’s so economical. Not only are most of the ingredients common and fairly cheap, but you can stretch the recipe pretty far and get so many different uses out of it. I intentionally make a bigger batch than needed just for leftovers. Picadillo is perfect in: 

stuffed bell peppers

tacos

quesadillas

Empanadas

nachos

Key Cooking Tips

• Make a sofrito ahead of time and use as base flavor in this dish. You can certainly make good picadillo without it and most recipes don’t call for it, but I highly recommend it to take the dish to that other level of the game.
• Sofrito will keep refrigerated for 5 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
• I like briny food and with the gamey venison upped the brininess in the dish. For less of a briny taste eliminate the capers. But if you like brine like me, feel free to add some of that olive juice.
• The entire dish can be made ahead if you prefer. The flavors actually blend even more after sitting.
• For a more filling, heartier version dice some potatoes and add them at the sauce step

For other Cuban Inspired dishes try these:

Cuban Sloppy Joes

Cuban Spicy Ketchup

Make This Cuban Style Picadillo Recipe

Adding sofrito to Cuban picadillo elevates the dish to new heights of flavor and authenticity. The aromatic blend of onions, peppers, garlic, and herbs creates a rich base that enhances the savory notes of the meat and the sweetness of the tomatoes.

Whether served over rice or with traditional sides like plantains or black beans, picadillo with sofrito is a delicious representation of Cuban culinary heritage, bringing warmth and comfort to every bite.

If you make this Cuban picadillo recipe or any other from the site, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. Definitely take a photo of the dish and be sure to tag #foodfidelity so that I can see them.

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