by Doug Hartill | Mar 5, 2019 | Main Courses, Recipes
Cuban Picadillo…Anyone that has ANY Cuban blood in them can make Picadillo from scratch, it’s a known fact. It is the most basic of recipes that are simple to make, doesn’t break the bank, and is done in a matter of minutes. When I was growing up, this was one of my mom’s go-to recipes when there wasn’t a lot of time and people were hungry. I mean, how basic can you get with ground beef, olives, and tomato sauce and spices.
Origins of Picadillo
Many picadillo recipes derive from the one that Nitza Villapol put in her cookbook “Cocina Criolla,” published in 1954. Villapol, a writer and television host, was the closest thing Cuba has had to a Julia Child. Her shows were broadcast there for more than 40 years, and her cookbooks were a mainstay of Cuban home cooking from the 1959 revolution until her death in 1998.
Cortina’s first picadillo was a Villapol recipe, she said. Her mother had packed her off to Gainesville with the cookbook. “It was probably just beef and raisins then,” she said of her early attempts at the dish. “The first time, I skipped the tomatoes entirely.”
Picadillo roughly translates from the Spanish as “mince.” The dish bears some resemblance to American sloppy joes, or to hash. Some cooks use tomato sauce in the base. (Cortina’s mother, for one.) Others insist on fresh tomatoes.
Source: The New York Times
Take note, this meat is also used as a filling in several different recipes including Papas Rellenas and Empanadas. You can serve it on Potatoes, Rice, in a sandwich, or as a side dish.
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Cuban Picadillo
This is a recipe for a traditional Cuban Picadillo that doesn't break the bank and that every Cuban should know how to make.
Instructions
In a large skillet, start to brown the ground beef with the green pepper and onion.
Once browned, drain the grease from the saucepan.
Combine all the other ingredients and simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Remove that Bay Leaf and serve it up over some rice and add the cilantro and WHAM, you will be craving Mojitos and Cuban Cigars in no time.
Recipe Notes
There is a topic of hot debate among Cuban households, and that is the addition of Potatoes and Raisins to the mix. My family are Picadillo purists and those things are blasphemy. If you would like to adulterate the recipe with raisins and potatoes, be my guest. The wonderful thing about Picadillo is that it is very forgiving, so experiment away!
by Doug Hartill | Dec 28, 2018 | Recipes
One of the best things about cooking Cuban cuisine is the wide use of Pork. It is a very cheap animal to raise and perfect for the Island nation. One of the most popular ways to cook Pork is with this simple recipe for Masitas de Puerco.
Masitas de Puerco is a delicious dish that can be served as a main dish with rice, beans, and plantains. (You will find that to be the case with most Cuban dishes) or served as finger food for any fiesta. It is extremely easy to make and packed full of flavor.
Click here for the Cuban Mojo recipe.
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Masitas de Puerco
Delicious Marinated Pork Chunks. They can be served as a main dish or even as an appetizer with toothpicks.
Instructions
Start making the Mojo. A link to the recipe is found above.
Cube the pork into bite sized pieces.
Combine the Cumin and Mojo into a bowl and whisk thouroughly. Add the cubed pork chunks and add the Bay Leaves. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set in the fridge overnight.
When you are ready to cook the meal, take it out of the fridge and fry up on medium high heat. Remove the Bay leaves of course. Use the excess Mojo to cook with the Pork. When the pork is nice and brown and crispy, add the onions and cook until the onions are translucent.
Serve with Rice, Beans, and plantains or just place on a serving dish and ENJOY!
by Doug Hartill | Dec 28, 2018 | Recipes
Mojo Criollo is a staple in all Cuban households. It can be used for a variety of different things including to marinade your pork roast or used as a dipping sauce for your plantains or yuca. The strong garlic mixed with the sour citrus is a powerful and delicious combination.
This is another influence we can trace back to the Arabs into Spain. They brought the flavors of the Sour Orange with them. When Spain colonized Cuba, they brought with them that flavor. Once in Cuba, the Garlic was added.
Give it a try! You will not be disappointed.
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Mojo Criollo
Here we have a traditional Cuban dipping sauce and marinade. It is used in pretty much every Cuban dish and goes great as a dipping sauce for Plantains and Yuca.
Instructions
Peel and mash the garlic cloves using a garlic press and combine with all the other ingredients.
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by Doug Hartill | Dec 7, 2018 | Recipes
In order to make the best Mexican food, you need to start with the essentials. Don’t go out and buy those nasty tortillas you find in the store. They are filled with so many disgusting chemicals. Make them at home and for a fraction of the cost.
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Worlds Best Flour Tortillas
Stop buying those crappy chemical filled tortillas from the supermarket. Make your own in no time at all.
Instructions
Grab a large bowl and mix the Flour, Salt, and Baking Powder.
Take the shortening and crumble it into the flour mix until the flour mix becomes crumbly.
Add water and mix until the dough starts to take shape.
Throw some flour down on your counter and knead the dough until it is smooth and stretchy.
Put it in a bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let it sit for one hour.
Split the dough into 6 equal pieces and roll into a ball. If you want to make smaller taco tortillas, cut into 12 pieces.
Heat up your skillet to medium high heat.
Throw some flour on a rolling pin and roll each dough ball into a tortilla. If you want the tortillas to come out better, use a tortilla press or frying pans.
Throw the tortillas on a skillet and cook until lightly golden brown.
Pull off the tortillas and place under a towel.
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by Doug Hartill | Dec 1, 2018 | Recipes
HEY MAN, YOU KNOW I’M HALF CUBAN RIGHT?
You should see the looks I get. I am probably one of the whitest Latinos you have ever seen. I guess my 1/4 Irish and 1/4 English heritage won out on the looks department. THAT BEING SAID…Let us take a look at one of the staple appetizers in the Cuban household.
HAM CROQUETTES
They can be served with anything for any occasion. Being that they take a long time to make, it isn’t something that you can whip up in a few minutes. You need to plan to make them.
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Cuban Ham Croquettes
A classic Cuban appetizer that is a staple for any Cuban dish or party.
Instructions
Directions
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Throw the ham in a blender or food processor. Keep going until you get a total of 2 cups of pureed ham.
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Combine milk, flour, salt and pepper and set aside.
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Melt the butter in a 2 qt. pot and saute onions over medium heat until translucent.
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Add the milk mixture and stir constantly over med-hi heat until the mixture begins to thicken into a dough-like consistency.
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Remove from the heat, add the minced ham to the mixture and combined until it is thoroughly mixed.
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At this stage, you will want to transfer the “masa” to a bowl and put in the fridge to chill for several hours or put in the freezer until the masa is firm but not frozen.
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When the masa is firm enough, take a tablespoon of meat in your hands and roll it like a small hot dog and continue until you’ve made approximately 16 croquettes. If you make them small/party size, you’ll end up with roughly 30-35 of them. Place the croquettes in a container that will fit in your freezer, using a sheet of wax paper in between the stacks.
Breading and Frying
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Beat the two eggs and spread the cracker meal on a plate or shallow surface. Dip croquettes in the egg, then cracker meal, twice.
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Heat the oil in a pan or deep fryer to 375 degrees. Fry croquettes until golden brown. Transfer from pan to paper towels, to soak up excess oil.
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