Get ready to embark on a culinary journey that will transform your taste buds and elevate your home cooking game! This Sweet Spicy Pork Picadillo is not just another recipe - it's a vibrant Mexican-inspired dish that perfectly balances sweet, spicy, and savory flavors in one irresistible meal. Imagine tender ground pork simmered with a tantalizing blend of raisins, olives, and bold spices that will make your dinner guests beg for seconds.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 10 mins
Cuisine: Mexican
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup olives, sliced
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients by finely chopping the onion and bell pepper, and measuring out the spices and other components.
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat and add the ground pork. Break the meat into small crumbles using a wooden spoon or spatula.
- Cook the ground pork until it is browned and no longer pink, approximately 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Add the chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet, cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes until the vegetables become soft and translucent.
- Stir in the chili powder, salt, and black pepper, coating the meat and vegetables with the spices and allowing them to bloom for about 1 minute.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juice, stirring to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
- Add the raisins and sliced olives, mixing them gently into the meat mixture.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
- Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, adding more salt, pepper, or chili powder to suit your preference.
- Serve hot over rice, in tortillas, or as a standalone dish, garnishing with fresh cilantro if desired.
Tips
- Use fresh ground pork with a slightly higher fat content for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Take time to properly brown the meat - this develops deep, rich flavor foundations.
- Allow the spices to "bloom" by cooking them for a minute before adding liquids, which intensifies their aromatics.
- Don't rush the simmering process - low and slow helps meld the flavors together beautifully.
- For extra depth, consider adding a splash of red wine or a teaspoon of ground cumin.
- This dish tastes even better the next day, so don't hesitate to make it in advance!
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 279kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: 14g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 50mg
