Chef John’s Picadillo

Description

A Cuban creation, picadillo is one of the world’s great ground meat dishes. I went with beef, but you can add some pork and/or chorizo. Serve it with rice.

Ingredients

  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds ground beef (85% lean)
  • 1 cup diced yellow onions
  • 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
  • 3 cups crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ cup water
  • ¼ cup currants or raisins
  • ½ cup sliced pimiento-stuffed green olives, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break up into small pieces with a spoon or spatula as it browns. Cook until meat completely loses its pink color
  2. 8 to 10 minutes. Add diced onion and salt. Cook until onions turn translucent
  3. about 5 minutes. Add pepper
  4. cumin
  5. cinnamon
  6. bay leaves
  7. and cayenne pepper. Cook 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
  8. Stir in red wine vinegar
  9. crushed tomatoes
  10. and water. Cook a few minutes while deglazing pan. Add currants; bring back to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until meat is tender
  11. 15 to 20 minutes.
  12. Gently stir in sliced olives; cover and cook another 10 to 15 minutes.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 45 mins

Total Time: 55 mins

Servings: 4

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