Go Back
–+ servings

Puerto Rican Picadillo

Puerto Rican Picadillo is homey, cozy food. It's not fancy, but it's incredibly flavorful and a staple of many Puerto Rican homes.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

Sofrito
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • ⅓ red bell pepper diced (approximately ½ cup)
  • ½ medium yellow onion diced (approximately ½ cup)
  • ⅓ green bell pepper diced (approximately ½ cup)
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 4-5 sprigs cilantro chopped
Picadillo
  • 1 small tomato chopped (approximately ½ cup)
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon adobo
  • 1 teaspoon salt* (based on a salt-free adobo)
  • 2 small potatoes chopped in ½ inch cubes (optional)
  • ¼ cup green olives stuffed with pimento chopped
  • ¼ cup raisins chopped (chopping is optional)

Equipment

  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Large, heavy pan such as a dutch oven or cast iron plan

Method
 

Make Sofrito
  1. In a large pan, heat olive oil at medium heat. Add onions and green and red bell pepper and sauté for approximately 5 minutes, until onions begin to become translucent and vegetables begin to soften. Add garlic and cilantro and stir until just fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Complete Picadillo
  1. Turn heat up to medium-high. Add tomato and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add ground beef, adobo, and salt, and cook beef until it browns.
  2. Add potatoes and ½ cup water. Turn heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes to allow potatoes to cook. Test potatoes to make sure they are tender when poked with a fork. If water cooks down before potatoes are cooked, add an additional ½ cup of water.
  3. Uncover and test potatoes with a fork to make sure they are tender. If they need additional cooking time, simmer covered for an additional 5 minutes. Add green olives and raisins, stirring to incorporate and simmering until excess moisture evaporates. Taste and add salt as desired.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!