Sweet Potatoes with Cuban-Style Beef Picadillo

A hearty and flavorful dish combining tender baked sweet potatoes topped with Cuban-style picadillo made with seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, dried cherries, olives, and capers. This unique fusion combines the sweetness of potatoes with savory Latin American flavors.

4 servings
1 hr 7 min

Ingredients

  • 4 medium medium sweet potatoes
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • ½ cup finely chopped onion
  • 2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 12 ounces 90-percent-lean ground beef
  • ¼ cup dry sherry
  • ¾ cup canned crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ cup dried cherries, roughly chopped
  • ¼ cup pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced in rounds
  • 1 tablespoon capers
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • to taste cilantro leaves

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Heat oven to 425°. Pierce potatoes all over with a fork and place on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet; bake until tender, 50 minutes. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Cook onion until soft, 4 minutes. Add garlic, cumin and cinnamon; cook, 1 minute. Add beef and cook through, 5 minutes. Add sherry and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, cherries, olives, capers and salt; reduce heat and simmer, 5 minutes; stir in chopped cilantro. Slice open potatoes and mash insides with a fork; divide beef mixture and cilantro leaves among potatoes.

    67 min