Chef John’s Picadillo

Jun 03, 2023June 3, 20230 4
Chef John's Picadillo, a classic Latin American dish with sweet and savory flavors
in Beef

Prep

10 min

Cook

40 min

Ready In

50 min

Level

Easy

Rating

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars
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Ingredients

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

Nutrision Information

Servings Per Recipe
6
Calories
390
Sugar
12g
Fat
25g
Chef John's Picadillo is a classic Latin American dish that is enjoyed throughout the region. Each country has its own spin on the recipe, but the dish typically features ground beef cooked with a variety of aromatics, spices, and sweet and savory ingredients. Chef John's version adds currants or raisins for a touch of sweetness and green olives for a salty, briny flavor. The dish is typically served over rice and is perfect for a hearty and satisfying meal.

Instructions

1.Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2.Add ground beef, onions, salt, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper, cooking until the beef is browned and the onions are soft.
3.Add garlic and cook for an additional minute, then add red-wine vinegar and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated.
4.Add crushed tomatoes, water, currants or raisins, and green olives.
5.Reduce heat to low and let simmer for 30 minutes.
6.Remove bay leaves before serving.

PROS

Chef John’s Picadillo is packed with savory and sweet flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.

The recipe is easy to follow and can easily be scaled up to feed a crowd.

CONS

This dish can be high in fat depending on the ground beef you use.

It is also relatively high in sodium due to the added salt and olives.

HEALTH & BENEFITS

While not the healthiest dish out there, Chef John’s Picadillo does contain some health benefits.
The tomatoes provide lycopene, which is known to be an antioxidant with cancer-fighting properties.
The olives contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, and the dish is high in protein.

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