Mexican · beginner
Mexican Spiced Beef Picadillo With Sweet Plantains
A comforting Mexican skillet meal featuring ground beef simmered with aromatic spices, tomatoes, green olives, and raisins, served alongside soft caramelized sweet plantains.
- PREP TIME
- 15 min
- COOK TIME
- 25 min
- SERVES
- 4
Good things
start in the kitchen.
LET’S MAKE IT
Step by step
- 01
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sliced plantains and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and tender. Transfer plantains to a warm plate.
- 02
In the same skillet, add the ground halal beef and cook over medium-high heat for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain excess liquid if necessary.
- 03
Push the meat to one side of the skillet and add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, diced yellow onion, and minced garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- 04
Stir in the ground cumin and dried Mexican oregano, tossing with the beef and onion mixture for 1 minute to bloom the spices.
- 05
Add the crushed tomatoes, chopped green olives, and golden raisins. Stir well, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 10 minutes until the sauce thickens and flavors meld.
- 06
Return the cooked plantain slices to the skillet or serve them alongside the savory spiced beef picadillo.
A LITTLE KITCHEN KNOW-HOW
Simmering Picadillo
Cooking seasoned ground meat gently in a seasoned tomato base allows dry fruit and salty olives to balance each other while building deep flavor.
Notes from the kitchen
- Choose plantains with skin that is mostly yellow with dark spots for the perfect balance of sweetness and firmness.
- If Mexican oregano is unavailable, standard dried oregano works as a suitable substitute.
- Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by Mexican; regional versions vary.
- Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.
