Cuban Picadillo con Moros y Cristianos, Pickled Red Onions and Simple Green Salad (includes complimentary surprise dessert)

This Thursday at Ragna’s Table, we journey to Cuba with a dish that’s close to my heart and full of soulful flavor: Cuban Picadillo served alongside Moros y Cristianos, pickled red onions, and a simple green salad.

Picadillo is a beloved Cuban classic — a hearty blend of ground beef and pork simmered with tomatoes, olives, capers, and warming spices, sometimes brightened with the subtle sweetness of raisins. This savory dish is rich in protein and packed with iron and zinc, vital minerals for energy and immune support. It tells a story of heritage, comfort, and home-cooked love.

Moros y Cristianos — black beans and white rice cooked together — bring a nourishing balance of complex carbohydrates, plant-based protein, and fiber that supports digestive health and sustained energy. The black beans are also a great source of antioxidants and essential micronutrients.

Pickled red onions add a refreshing tang and crunch, delivering gut-friendly enzymes and vitamin C that help brighten the palate and aid digestion. The simple green salad rounds out the plate with fresh, crisp greens providing vitamins A, C, and K, along with fiber to support overall health.

This menu holds a special place in my memories of traveling to Cuba as an adult with my parents. I remember packing a suitcase full of essentials and taking taxis to remote areas, then walking the dusty roads and sharing what we had with the incredibly warm, hospitable people we met. In places where there was often so little in terms of material goods, there was so much in kindness and spirit. People would invite us in for a cup of coffee, eager to give back whatever they could. Renting a scooter to explore, I was enchanted by the colorful rooftops and the welcoming smiles and waves of locals sitting outside their homes — gestures of generosity that needed no translation.

Made with mostly organic ingredients and a focus on whole, nourishing foods, this meal is a heartfelt tribute to Cuban culture — designed to nurture both body and spirit, and to bring you a taste of the warmth and generosity I experienced on my travels.