InkBlog

The "Three Guys from Miami" are brothers-in-law Jorge Castillo, Glenn Lindgren and Raul Musibay. Here's what they have to say about picadillo:

Jorge: "A picadillo is a type of hash. Picadillo literally means "minced meat." However, in Cuba it's a dish made with onions, green pepper, tomatoes and spices."

Glenn: "In a Cuban household, picadillo is the equivalent of several American home-style favorites: sloppy Joes, Hamburger Helper and homemade spaghetti — all things that a mom can prepare simply and inexpensively for her family."

Jorge: "Picadillo will never be considered a gourmet dish."

Raul: "But never mind, I love it! It's great served over rice or in a sandwich!"

Here's how to make their recipe:

Ingredients

2 cups diced onion

2 cups seeded and finely chopped green bell pepper

Olive oil to sauté

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 pounds ground beef or ground round

3 tomatoes, peeled, seeded, and chopped

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 cup chopped green olives

1/3 cup raisins

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional

Cuban or French bread

butter

1. Sauté onion and green pepper in olive oil in a large frying pan.

2. Sauté about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened, then add the garlic and ground beef.

3. Mash the onion and green pepper into the sautéing meat and cook until the meat is browned, about 5 minutes.

4. Put everything in a crockpot set to low heat.

5. Add the tomatoes, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, oregano, olives and raisins.

6. Cover and let simmer in the crockpot for an hour or two or more. The longer it simmers, the better the flavor!

7. Salt and pepper to taste.

8. Serve hot over white rice or:

9. Cut a loaf of Cuban or French bread lengthwise, but not completely through — like you would for a hoagie. Generously butter the inside — top and bottom. If you like, toast the bread lightly on a skillet. Stuff the bread with plenty of picadillo to make a great picadillo sandwich!

Serves 8

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