Ingredients

1 lb ground beef

1 tsp baking soda

1 small onion, finely chopped

½ green pepper, finely chopped

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

4 oz of tomato sauce

1 tbsp of raisins, soaked in water

A small handful of pimento stuffed green olives

½ tsp oregano

½ tsp cumin

Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Season the ground beef with salt and black pepper, mixing in the baking soda to retain moisture, resulting in tender meat that browns faster.

On medium/high heat, cook the onion and green pepper until the onion is translucent; remove from the pan and add the ground beef. Cook until most of the pink is gone and then add the onions and peppers back to the pan, along with the garlic, tomato sauce, drained raisins, olives, oregano, and cumin. Cook for another 10-15 minutes and then turn off the heat.

Serve with your favorite rice, adding a light touch of vinegar and olive oil.

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Picadillo is a classic in Latin America cusine and its simplicity makes it the perfect staple. It's great with a side of rice and light, fresh salad, and also makes a fantastic filling for papas rellenas, aka exploding potatoes.