Mamina’s Picadillo

From the kitchen of: TAYLOR FOX, a University of Missouri graduate with a Bachelors degree in Journalism and a Masters degree in Geography. She is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer.

This recipe is submitted in honor of her grandmother, Mamina.

Picadillo is the most comforting of Cuban foods; it is essentially seasoned ground beef served with black beans and rice. It was the food prepared by my Mamina for every family event, a key ingredient to every memory I have at home. Olives were always the biggest point of contention between us. I would pick them out of the picadillo and push them to the side of my plate. I begged her to make picadillo without them, but she insisted the olives were essential to the flavor.

It’s fitting that I found out she died while I was making dinner. My most vivid memories of her occur in the kitchen. Memories of her shuffling around in the thin house dress patterned with green leaves and sliced pink grapefruits. Memories of papery onion and garlic peels glued to the tips of her almond-shaped fingers. Memories of her shaking her hips while stirring deep cauldrons, bubbling with the smells of oregano, garlic, salt, and cumin.

When she died, I was not by her side. I was not present for her burial, and her memorial has yet to occur. Due to COVID-19, I will never again see my Mamina and I was not given the chance to say goodbye.

In my grief, I turn to food, as she would have expected. I use her mortar to smash garlic bits and follow her recipes closely. Except in my own picadillo — I left out the olives. I didn’t make picadillo until nearly a month after her death. The smells coming from my stovetop brought me to tears as I recreated the comforting smells of her perfume. The picadillo looked perfect, but when I sat down to eat, the first bite made me cry again — and then laugh. It wasn’t right, it needed the olives. In my heart I could see her pointing a bony finger into my chest, "I told you!"

She was right, don’t ever leave out the olives.

MAMINA’S PICADILLO

Makes 2-4 servings

Ingredients 

• 1 pound of ground beef

• ½ Onion, chopped

• 3 Garlic cloves, minced

• 1 Teaspoon cumin

• 2 Teaspoons Oregano

• ½ Teaspoon Paprika

• 4 Ounces of tomato sauce

• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar

• 1/3 Cup Vino Seco

• ½ Cup green olives

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Olive oil

Instructions:

Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onion, garlic, and seasonings until onion is soft, stirring occasionally.

Add ground beef and cook until browned. Add tomato sauce, apple cider vinegar, vino seco, and olives and let the whole thing simmer for 45 minutes.

Serve with a side of black beans and white rice and enjoy!