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Puerto Rican Picadillo Recipe

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4.2 from 73 reviews

Puerto Rican Picadillo is a traditional seasoned ground beef dish, simmered with sofrito, bell peppers, olives, raisins, and a medley of spices. This flavorful and comforting meal offers a perfect balance of savory and sweet notes, commonly served over white rice. It can be prepared using stovetop, slow cooker, or Instant Pot methods to suit your preference and kitchen equipment.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • Adobo, to taste (see notes)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • ½ green bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ red bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ yellow bell pepper, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons garlic, minced
  • 4 tablespoons sofrito
  • 1 packet Sazon seasoning (about 12 grams)
  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 14 oz tomato sauce
  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • ⅓ cup pimento stuffed olives, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, chopped

Instructions

  1. Season the beef: Sprinkle adobo seasoning over the ground beef evenly and mix well to ensure the meat is flavorful from the start.
  2. Sauté vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, green, red, and yellow bell peppers, and minced garlic. Cook until the onions become translucent and the peppers soften, about 4-5 minutes.
  3. Add sofrito: Stir in the sofrito and continue cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant and some oil starts to separate from the mixture, enhancing the flavor.
  4. Cook ground beef: Add the seasoned ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up as you stir. Cook until browned and no pink remains, about 7-10 minutes.
  5. Add spices and tomato sauce: Mix in the Sazon seasoning, oregano, cumin, and pour in the tomato sauce. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
  6. Simmer with olives and raisins: Add sliced olives, raisins, and chopped cilantro along with a little water (around ¼ cup). Cover the skillet and let it simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the meat is well cooked and oil starts to separate on top. Taste and adjust adobo or salt as needed.
  7. Serve: Spoon the picadillo over cooked white rice and enjoy a hearty Puerto Rican meal.
  8. Alternate Crock Pot method: After browning beef with onions, bell peppers, and garlic in a skillet, transfer everything to a slow cooker. Add sofrito, Sazon seasoning, oregano, cumin, tomato sauce, and a little water. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Add olives and raisins during the last hour.
  9. Alternate Instant Pot method: Using the sauté function, cook onions, garlic, and bell peppers in oil until translucent. Add seasoned beef and brown well. Stir in sofrito, Sazon, oregano, cumin, tomato sauce, and ¼ cup water. Seal lid and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Use natural or quick release before opening.

Notes

  • Adobo seasoning typically contains garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper; adjust to taste for salt levels.
  • Sazon seasoning enhances flavor with coriander, cumin, annatto, and garlic. One packet is approximately 12 grams.
  • Adjust water quantity slightly if the mixture becomes too dry during simmering.
  • This dish is traditionally served over steamed white rice.
  • For added richness, some cooks like to add a small amount of tomato paste or diced potatoes, but these are optional.
  • Raisins add a subtle sweet contrast; omit if you prefer a fully savory profile.
  • Author: Madelynn
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Find it online: https://allyumcooks.com/puerto-rican-picadillo-recipe/