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Ground Turkey Picadillo

Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Big Kids Plate
Toddler Plate

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Why we love it:

Picadillo is the type of dish I adore - it can be found in many different countries (usually Latin America and the Philippines) - and it’s really different depending on where you are. It’s also pretty humble and inexpensive to make, tastes delicious, and leftovers are perfect. You could add other veggies to this, use any type of meat you have, serve with tortilla chips or just enjoy with a fork.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Basmati Rice (White)
  • 2 cups Water (plus more to taste)
  • 112 teaspoons Kosher Salt (divided)
  • 1 pound Green Beans
  • 1 Yellow Onion
  • 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
  • 112 pounds Ground Turkey
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • 2 Tablespoons Chili Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Ground Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Red Wine Vinegar
  • 1 cup Green Olives, Pitted
  • 14 cup Sunflower Seeds
  • 14 cup Golden Raisins

Cooking Instructions

  • 1. RICE

    Combine the rice and water in a small pot with a fitted lid. Stir in a ½ teaspoon of salt per cup of rice (ex. 1 cup of rice and ½ teaspoon salt). Bring the water to a boil and stir it well, then turn to lowest possible heat. Cover and steam for 17 minutes. When time is up, stir and turn off the heat. Let the rice sit for another 5 minutes.

  • 2. GREEN BEANS

    Trim the stem end of the green beans. Place beans in a stovetop steamer basket and add an inch of water, cover and steam until they’re bright green and tender.

    If you don’t have a steamer, you can use a large pot with a lid, and add the green beans plus 1 inch of water. Cover and boil for about 3 - 5 minutes or until the beans are tender, then drain.

    You could also roast them on a baking sheet at 350 for about 6 - 7 minutes.

  • 3. TURKEY

    Mince the onion. Melt the butter in a large sauté pan then add the onion and cook for 1 - 2 minutes. Add the turkey and use a spatula to break it up finely. When it’s mostly no longer pink, about 4 minutes, add the tomato paste and all of the spices (chili powder, cumin, oregano). Add the remaining salt. Stir well and add about 1 - 3 Tablespoons of water to help the spices coat the turkey. Stir in the red wine vinegar and cook for 2 minutes.

  • 4. OLIVES

    Drain the olives and coarsely chop. Stir them into the pan with the sunflower seeds and raisins.

  • 5. SERVING

    Serve a mound of rice topped with the turkey picadillo. Green beans on the side can be seasoned with a pinch of salt and butter to taste.

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Substitutions

  • PALEO:
    use cauliflower rice
  • TURKEY:
    ground chicken, beef, pork
  • WHITE RICE:
    use brown rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
  • OLIVES:
    omit or add diced mushrooms or capers
  • SUNFLOWER SEEDS:
    sliced almonds, pepitas, or sesame seeds all add color and crunch
  • SERVING:
    great with warmed tortillas or tortilla chips

Kid Friendly Version

Big Kids Plate
Toddler Plate

How to Tweak This Recipe for Kids:

  • When browning the beef, reduce spices if that’s necessary. Separate out some cooked and sauced meat before adding the raisins, capers, olives
  • Serve with plain rice and green beans on the side
  • Offer some olives or raisins in a separate pile

For Toddlers

  • Mash some meat and rice together, even using a knife to mince it up - this makes a nice consistency
  • Trim green beans into small lengths
  • Offer chopped olive and raisins if they’re big enough
  • Serve with fruit and bread

For Choosy Eaters

  • Form some of the meat into a little patty or meatball if that’s a familiar shape, and sauté or roast
  • Serve with plain white rice, a vegetable that works for them and some fruit or bread

Prep Ahead & Use It Up

  1. Cook the rice
  2. Cook the picadillo – it tastes great reheated a day or two later. It also freezes very well
Rate this recipe:
6 votes, average: 4.00 out of 56 votes, average: 4.00 out of 56 votes, average: 4.00 out of 56 votes, average: 4.00 out of 56 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5 (6 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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