Cuban Picadillo with Olives and Raisins
Dinner · Main Dishes
Cuban Picadillo with Olives and Raisins
A savory ground-beef skillet with onion, green pepper, tomato, olives and raisins. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens, then serve with separately cooked rice or your choice of sides.
- Prep
- 15 minutes
- Cook
- 55 minutes
- Total
- 1 hour 10 minutes
- Serves
- 6 servings
Bring it to the table
About this recipe.
A savory ground-beef skillet with onion, green pepper, tomato, olives and raisins. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens, then serve with separately cooked rice or your choice of sides.
Before you start
Gather your ingredients.
Check your pantry before you begin. Full quantities and serving adjustments are in the recipe card below.
See the ingredient checklist
- 3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 medium Yellow Onion (diced)
- 1 Green Bell Pepper (diced)
- 2 cloves Garlic (large, minced)
- 2 tsp Oregano (dried)
- ½ tsp Salt (plus more only to taste)
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
- 1½ lbs Ground Beef ( (ground chuck or ground sirloin))
- 1 8-oz can Tomato sauce (can)
- ¼ cup White Wine (dry)
- 1/4 cup Water
- ½ cup Green Olives (pimiento-stuffed, drained and halved)
- ⅓ cup Raisins
Build the flavor in stages
Soften the onion and pepper first, then brown the beef before adding tomato, wine, olives and raisins. A gentle simmer brings the sauce together without drying it out.
Serve it your way
Rice is a familiar accompaniment, but vegetables or another side work too. Prepare sides separately; their ingredients and cooking times are not included below. This version includes both raisins and white wine.
The cooking plan
How to make Cuban Picadillo with Olives and Raisins.
Heat the oil in a large deep skillet or heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and green pepper and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring, until softened. Add the garlic and oregano and stir for 30 seconds without browning the garlic.
Add the ground beef and break it into small pieces with a spoon. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring, until browned and at least 160°F. Carefully spoon off excess fat if needed. Stir in the measured salt and pepper.
Stir in the tomato sauce, white wine, water, drained olives and raisins. Bring to a gentle simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits.
Reduce the heat to low and partially cover. Simmer for 35–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors come together. Add a small splash of water if it becomes dry before the simmering is complete.
Taste before adding more salt because the olives and tomato sauce may already provide enough. Serve hot with separately cooked rice, vegetables or another side. Rice and side dishes are not included in the recipe quantities or timing.
Let’s cook
The full recipe.
Check off ingredients as you get them ready.
Changing servings? The ingredient list scales automatically. Adjust quantities named in the steps to match, and choose pans and cooking times for your batch.
Cuban Picadillo with Olives and Raisins
A savory ground-beef skillet with onion, green pepper, tomato, olives and raisins. Simmer gently until the sauce thickens, then serve with separately cooked rice or your choice of sides.
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Ingredients
3 Tbsp Vegetable Oil- 1 medium Yellow Onion diced
- 1 Green Bell Pepper diced
- 2 cloves Garlic large, minced
- 2 tsp Oregano dried
- ½ tsp Salt plus more only to taste
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
- 1½ lbs Ground Beef (ground chuck or ground sirloin)
- 1 8-oz can Tomato sauce can
- ¼ cup White Wine dry
- ¼ cup Water
- ½ cup Green Olives pimiento-stuffed, drained and halved
- ⅓ cup Raisins
Equipment
Equipment images are illustrative. Exact products may vary.
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large deep skillet or heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and green pepper and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring, until softened. Add the garlic and oregano and stir for 30 seconds without browning the garlic.
- Add the ground beef and break it into small pieces with a spoon. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring, until browned and at least 160°F. Carefully spoon off excess fat if needed. Stir in the measured salt and pepper.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, white wine, water, drained olives and raisins. Bring to a gentle simmer, scraping the bottom of the pan to release any browned bits.
- Reduce the heat to low and partially cover. Simmer for 35–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors come together. Add a small splash of water if it becomes dry before the simmering is complete.
- Taste before adding more salt because the olives and tomato sauce may already provide enough. Serve hot with separately cooked rice, vegetables or another side. Rice and side dishes are not included in the recipe quantities or timing.
Nutrition
Notes
Timing: The listed cooking time includes softening vegetables, browning beef and the 35–40-minute simmer; it is longer than the simmer alone.
Olives and raisins: Drain the olives before adding. This version includes raisins for a sweet contrast; picadillo variations differ by cook and household.
Wine: White wine is part of this version. Simmering does not guarantee that all alcohol is removed.
Storage: Refrigerate promptly in shallow containers at 40°F or below and use within 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months for best quality. Reheat leftovers to 165°F. Check sauce and olive labels for allergens.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Questions about this recipe.
What gives this picadillo its sweet and salty flavor?
Pimiento-stuffed green olives bring briny flavor, while raisins add sweetness to the tomato and ground beef mixture. Taste after simmering before adding more salt because the olives and tomato sauce already contribute seasoning.
Is rice included in the recipe?
The recipe card makes the picadillo. Cook rice separately if you want to serve it alongside; rice is not included in the ingredient quantities or cooking time.
How thick should the sauce be?
Simmer gently with the pan partially covered for 35–40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens around the beef. If it dries out too soon, add a small splash of water and continue simmering.
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