Picadillo
Picadillo (, "mince") is a traditional dish in many Latin American countries and the Philippines. It is made with ground meat (most commonly beef), tomatoes (tomato sauce may be used as a substitute), and also raisins, olives, and other ingredients that vary by region. It is often served with rice (hence it is commonly known in the Philippines as "arroz a la cubana", "Cuban-style rice") or used as a filling in dishes such as tacos, savory pastries or croquettes. The name comes from the Spanish word "picar", meaning "to mince". Picadillo can be eaten alone or incorporated into other  dishes, like tacos, empanadas, pastelón, chiles en nogada, or alcapurrias. History. Although common in Hispanic cultures before the 19th century a 19th century recipe from California for pasteles "a la argentina" is given for a filled pastry with layers of beef picadillo and chicken cooked in a green chili and onion sauce with olive oil and raisins. "Picadillo" was not always made with beef; "picadillo de ave" was a minced fowl with white sauce. "Pasteles de pollos y pichones" (chicken and squab pastry) was made as a savory pie with alternating layers of chicken and squab with a picadillo of  minced veal, bacon, ham fried in lard with onion, mushrooms, apples, artichokes, tomatoes, and a layer of seasonings. By region. Costa Rica. Costa Rican versions always include the name of the vegetable that represents the main ingredient to the dish (potato picadillo, ayote picadillo, etc.) and that is chopped and cooked with bell peppers, onions, stock, herbs and spices. It can include some type of protein but that is not essential. It is often served with tortillas or rice. Cuba. Cuban versions include peppers, onions, garlic, oregano, cumin, tomato sauce, stock, olives, raisins, and on occasion potatoes, capers, and Spanish  chorizo and is usually sauteed in olive oil and white wine, depending on the region. Cuban picadillo is served with black turtle beans and rice. Dominican Republic. In the Dominican Republic it includes peppers, onions, cilantro, garlic, tomato paste, bouillon cube, and may include olives, capers, raisins, hard-boiled egg. It is served over rice or used as a filling for pasteles, empanadas, kibbeh, and cabbage rolls. Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico it is used as a filling for empanadas, alcapurria, piononos and other fritters. It can also be served with rice and beans. The ground meat is sauteed with  annatto oil, ham, oregano, bay leaf, "recaito", tomato sauce and on occasion cumin, cheese, raisins, beans, olives, capers, potatoes, other spices and herbs. Tomato sauce acts as a glue binding the meat to all the other ingredients. This makes the meat filling more pliable. Philippines. In the Philippines, picadillo is a soupy dish traditionally made with ground beef and either potatoes or chayote. There are also drier versions of the dish. It is also called "giniling", Tagalog for ground meat. What Cubans call picadillo is known as arroz a la cubana to Filipinos. In Cuba, arroz a la cubana and  picadillo are understood as separate dishes instead of the same, with the former being rice cooked in tomato sauce and served with egg and plantain. The Philippine version is similar to normal Latino picadillo usually made with raisins, tomato sauce and diced potatoes added, but without green olives and capers, and is often served with white rice, fried plantains ("maduros" in Spanish, "saging na saba" in Filipino) on the side, and a fried egg on top. Boiled eggs are also eaten with the dish. Mexico. In Mexico, beef picadillo is a classic "antojito" of the national cuisine. The most basic  and popular set of ingredientes of picadillo in Mexico are ground beef, carrots and potatoes all cooked in a tomato sauce made from blended tomatoes, garlic and onion, usually seasoned with salt, pepper, and cumin but its preparation and ingredients can vary slightly from one region to another, for example, a mexican picadillo can also include squash or peas. Mexican picadillo is typically eaten with tortillas, tostadas or tortilla chips and usually accompanied with rice or beans also it can be used as filling for chiles rellenos, chiles en nogada, tamales or gorditas. Pork is also a popular meat to  use for picadillo in Mexico, as well as doing a mixture of pork and beef.