Recipe(tried): Cuban Picadillo with Green Olives!

CUBAN PICADILLO WITH GREEN OLIVES

If you like Ropa Vieja then you may like this!

1 onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Olive oil
2 lbs ground beef
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup red wine
1 tbsp cumin
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste, divided use
water*
1 (5 1/4 oz) jar Spanish olives, coarsely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Saute onions and garlic in small amount of olive oil until tender.

Add meat and brown lightly.

Stir in the tomato sauce and mix well, add wine, cumin, and half of the tomato paste. Let mixture cook on low until most of the liquid cooks out.

Once most of liquid is gone add water to remaining tomato paste and add along with green olives. Let mixture cook on low until it has the consistency of a sloppy Joe.

It is best served over white rice Cuban style but may be eaten in a sandwich style as well. It is a wonderful dish!

VARIATIONS:
The recipe can be altered by adding:
grated carrots (saute with onion)
raisins or capers (add with green olives)
small potato cubes, pan fried (stir into finished dish before serving)

*Editor's note: Lauren - please respond to this message with the amount of water to add with the second addition of tomato paste and I'll add it to the instructions and remove this note. For anyone trying this in the meantime, I suggest 1 cup water. - Betsy