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Keto Moroccan Picadillo

This keto Moroccan picadillo is rich in aromatic spices, onions, tomatoes, and green olives. It’s the perfect meal for busy weeknights and is served with cauliflower rice.

It’s a Moroccan ground beef recipe that is made in under 30 minutes that’s packed with flavor.

I’m a fan of using ground beef in my keto meals because it’s a fast and easy way to bring a low-carb option to the table. Plus, it’s also economical. 

In addition to this picadillo, I have a Keto Cuban Picadillo that employs the flavor of the Caribbean. Plus, a keto Moroccan carrot salad, and keto citrus chicken that all use the flavors of Morocco. 

This low-carb Moroccan minced beef recipe is a simple dish that gets its Moorish flavor by cooking ground beef with the exotic spices of Morocco.

The warmth of paprika, cumin, turmeric, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, and Harissa paste is the basis of this very flavorful dish.

The mixture of all the aromatic spices is balanced by tomatoes, green olives, a garnish of fresh herbs, and hard-boiled eggs. 

Picadillo has its origins in Latin America and the Philippines. However, almost every country has a classic dish that uses minced meat. This is our interpretation of a Moroccan picadillo.

Why not reserve one cup of this picadillo and also make some keto beef empanadas

Be sure to also check out our collection of keto ground beef recipes and our keto Mediterranean recipes for more delicious options.

Keto Moroccan Ground Beef Recipe

Moroccan minced beef
Moroccan minced beef

To be clear, this is not a true Moroccan dish. I don’t want to offend any Moroccan food purists by making you think otherwise. This is fusion cuisine at its best.

Because it’s inspired by other classic Moroccan dishes like Moroccan beef stew or even kefta a popular minced meat street food.

In the case of kefta the ground beef is formed into patties that are wrapped around a skewer and then grilled. Although the flavors may be similar, they are distinctively different.  

You might even call this a Moroccan beef chili or minced beef recipe. It borrows the flavor of a typical Moroccan beef stew but speeds up the cooking process by using ground beef instead.

Although I have not tried it with ground lamb, I suspect it would also be amazing since these spices work perfectly for a lamb picadillo.

If you’re wondering what a keto-friendly Moroccan picadillo tastes like, well, it’s full of flavor and quite savory. It has a slightly spicy kick that comes from the harissa paste.

This dish also uses spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice that are normally used in sweet dishes here in America, but it adds a flavor depth that is unmatched in this easy picadillo dish. 

It’s a great dish when you are looking for a bit of variety with your ground beef. Not only does it come together quickly because it uses ground beef, it’s also economical. 

If you’ve never had harissa ground beef, you are in for a real treat with this recipe.

Keto Moroccan Fusion Dish

They say that necessity is the mother of inventions, which was the beginning of this flavorful dish. You see, the other day, my daughter Michelle, who also happens to know her way around the kitchen.

She was ready to make a Cuban picadillo when she realized she had run out of tomato paste. 

Instinctively, she reached for the harissa paste and thought she would give it a whirl. The next day, she came raving to me about how much she and Peter had enjoyed the swap of ingredients.

Of course, upon hearing this, I was struck with curiosity and had to try this for myself. 

That, my friend, is how this delicious keto Moroccan picadillo dish was born. Don’t you love it when you strike gold with a keto-friendly recipe out of need? 

How To Make Keto Moroccan Picadillo

Keto Moroccan picadillo is a simple dish that gets its flavor by cooking ground beef with the exotic flavors of Morocco. The warm spices as well as Harissa paste is the basis of this very flavorful dish.

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

Because of the complexity of flavors in this low-carb Moorish dish, it has a variety of spices. But don’t let that deter you from trying to make it. You see, despite all the spices, it comes together rather quickly, just like any picadillo does. 

Plus, you should not be concerned about the spiciness factor since you can completely adjust the spice level by reducing the amount of harissa paste.

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The following is a list of items to make this keto-friendly Moroccan dish. Note that the full printable recipe card is at the bottom of this page.

But you might want to keep reading to learn my detailed instructions. I’m also sharing where I get my spices since not all are created equal.

What To Serve Your Keto Moroccan Picadillo With 

Typically, a Moroccan dish like this would be served with couscous, but that’s not an option while doing keto since it is very high in carbs.

So, I serve this flavorful dish over cauliflower rice. It made the perfect canvas for this Moroccan minced meat meal. 

Keto Moroccan picadillo is a simple dish that gets its flavor by cooking ground beef with the exotic flavors of Morocco. The warm spices as well as Harissa paste is the basis of this very flavorful dish.
Keto Moroccan Picadillo With Cauliflower Rice

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The tangy and spicy flavor of harissa combined with the spices of Morocco gives this dish a depth of flavor that is unmatched.

This is why I hope you will give it a try. Once you do, remember to tag us on Instagram and Facebook.

It’s what keeps this girl encouraged to keep sharing and perfecting her recipes.

Also, check out our Amazon Store for our recommendations. You might be surprised by how many great keto options are at your disposal.

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In case you don’t know, we have authored two books for you, Essential Keto Bread and Essential Keto Desserts, both inspired by your requests over the years.

I pray these keto cookbooks will help make keto a delicious breeze for you.

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Keto Moroccan Picadillo (Gluten-Free)

Keto Moroccan Picadillo (Gluten-Free)

Yield: 12
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Keto Moroccan picadillo is a simple dish that gets its flavor by cooking ground beef with the exotic flavors of Morocco. The warm spices as well as Harissa paste is the basis of this very flavorful dish.

Ingredients

Instructions

Keto Moroccan Picadillo

Keto Moroccan picadillo is a simple dish that gets its flavor by cooking ground beef with the exotic flavors of Morocco. The warm spices as well as Harissa paste is the basis of this very flavorful dish.

  1. Boil two whole eggs, then peel, slice an set aside for garnish.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  3. Sauté the onions and garlic until the onion is translucent, around 5 minutes.
  4. Raise the heat to high and brown the ground beef making sure to break up the pieces of meat.
  5. Next add the salt, black pepper, dried oregano, cumin powder, tumeric powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder, ground allspice, ground coriander seeds.
  6. Then stir in the Harissa paste, lemon peel, diced tomatoes, olives and water.
  7. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook covered for about 15-20 minutes.
  8. Once the picadillo is cooked, check for seasonings and adjust the salt and pepper is necessary.
  9. Garnish the top of the picadillo with fresh cilantro, parsley and sliced boiled eggs.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 285Total Fat: 12.9gSaturated Fat: 3.8gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 171mgCarbohydrates: 3.8gFiber: 0.7gSugar: 1.5gProtein: 35.8g

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