Victor's 1959 Cafe - Picadillo and Creole Sauce

Recipe courtesy Niki Stavrou, owner of Victor's 1959 Cafe in Minneapolis, MN.

Show: Diners, Drive-ins and DivesEpisode: Big Flavor

Rated: 5 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (5)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(5)

Cook Time:
1 hr 30 min
Level:
Intermediate
Yield:
4 to 6 servings

Times:

Prep: 25 min
Inactive Prep: --
Cook: 1 hr 30 min
Total:: 1 hr 55 min

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Ingredients

Creole Sauce:

1 #10 can tomato sauce*
1 #10 can, filled with water*
5 garlic cloves, chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup chopped oregano leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 bay leaves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Picadillo:

1 pound ground beef
3 cups Creole Sauce
4 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 bay leaves
1 cup diced potatoes, skin on
3/4 cup green olives
2 tablespoons capers (include a little bit of the juice)
3/4 cup raisins
* #10 can is approximately equal to 5 (28-ounce) cans

Directions

Creole Sauce:

In a large saucepan, start with tomato sauce and water. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 30 minutes or until all the flavors have blended to your liking. You'll have extra sauce to use for other recipes!

This is a versatile sauce that can be used for use with rice and pasta dishes, eggs, meats, fish, or even as a dipping sauce.

Picadillo:

In a large pan, brown the beef first, drain, then put back into the pan. Add the creole sauce, and stir on medium to low heat until it simmers. Add remaining ingredients and simmer on low heat, stirring regularly, for about half an hour to 45 minutes. Serve with rice and black beans.

This recipe was provided by professional chefs and has been scaled down from a bulk recipe provided by a restaurant. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe, in the proportions indicated, and therefore, we cannot make any representation as to the results.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Victor's 1959 Cafe - Picadillo and Creole Sauce
Rebekah Bemidji, MN 10-29-2009
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My first taste of Cuban food!
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

This is simmering on the stove right now and it is amazing!! I had never used capers before and am a litlle scared but my... taste test was awesome. I obviously scaled the sauce down. I used one 28oz can tom. sauce. 1/4 of the onion and peppers, one garlic clove and so on. You still end up with extra sauce but not a ton. I did end up adding more sauce to the meat, I did 4c. instead of 3. Must try!Read more
recipe Victor's 1959 Cafe - Picadillo and Creole Sauce
Brian Saint Peter, MN 07-22-2009
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measurements? really, I want to know
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I tried the lunch version of this at the restaurant, and it was very good. I'd like to make it, but, as a previous commenter... asked, are the proportions correct for the sauce? Does it really require 5 X 28 oz. of tomato sauce in proportion to the other ingredients? No way do I need that much sauce, and no way will I make that much. My rating is based on what I had at the restaurant. I would have liked it to be a bit spicier (on the other hand, this is Minnesota, after all), but it was still very good, and I'm looking forward to making it - without having to make a restaurant-sized volume of the sauce.Read more
recipe Victor's 1959 Cafe - Picadillo and Creole Sauce
Eric Bloomington, IN 06-08-2009
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measurements?
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Is this the correct amount of tomato sauce 5 28oz cans?? has anyone made a smaller batch? thanks, Eric in Indiana
recipe Victor's 1959 Cafe - Picadillo and Creole Sauce
Ron Southampton, PA 11-11-2008
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Awesome grub
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

Saw this episode on TV lastnight, and came looking for the recipe... glad I did, and THANK YOU, Niki, for sharing this with... us. Well worth the side trip to the grocery store for olives, capers and raisins. If this is representative of Cuban food, then I sure hope we lift the embrago soon so I can travel there.Read more
recipe Victor's 1959 Cafe - Picadillo and Creole Sauce
Ana Baltimore, MD 10-10-2008
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good, good, good
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

comfort flavors combined with the unique flavors from the spanish olives and the raisans that give it a wonderful balance in... taste.Read more