Picadillo has its origins in Spain, but it has been adapted and modified over the years by Cuban cooks to suit local tastes and ingredients. Picadillo is a versatile dish that can be made with various ingredients depending on regional preferences and what’s available. The base typically consists of ground meat (often beef), onions, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, and spices, but additional ingredients such as olives, raisins, capers, slivered almonds or potatoes may be included to add depth of flavor.
Like many traditional dishes, picadillo is often associated with feelings of comfort and nostalgia. It’s a dish that many Cubans grew up eating, often prepared by their grandmothers or mothers.
We hope you enjoy this delicious Cuban dish as much as we do and that it connects you in a deeper way with our extended Cuban family. Learn how we’re helping children in Cuba at www.forwardedge.org/cuba.
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7 yrs. old
Entered the program: July 2025
Bashir lives with his grandmother and four cousins in a four-room plastered bungalow-style house with cement and dirt floors. Bashir shares a bed with his grandmother and a younger cousin. Electricity is supplied to the house but is not connected since the family cannot afford to pay for it. For lighting, they use candles or flashlights. They have an outdoor kitchen constructed of bricks and use firewood for cooking and boiling water. Water is fetched from a nearby community borehole, and when it rains, it is collected in a tank behind the house.They have their own toilet facility which is semi-constructed. The family raises some chickens and goats for food and income.
Bashir was abandoned to his grandmother's care and she is raising him along with four cousins. She is the sole provider and is unemployed. She makes a small income from the animals she raises but meeting the needs of her family is difficult.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
