Beef Filling

@@@ This Beef filling can be used for Empanadas, Pastelitos, Alcapurrias, Pastelones, etc...


Ingredients:

• Oil -- 2-3 tablespoons
• Onion, minced -- 1
• Garlic, minced -- 2-3 cloves
• Ground beef -- 1 pound
• Paprika -- 1 tablespoon
• Cuminseed -- 1 teaspoon
• Oregano -- 1 teaspoon
• Water or stock -- 1 cup
• Raisins (optional) -- 1/2 cup
• Black or green olives (optional), pitted and chopped -- 1/4 cup
• Flour -- 1 tablespoon

Method

1. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium flame. Sauté the onions until they are translucent, 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic, paprika, cuminseed and oregano and sauté 1-2 minutes more. Add the ground beef, salt and pepper and sauté, breaking up the beef until it is cooked through, 5-7 minutes.
2. Stir in the water or stock, raisins(optional) and olives and bring to a simmer. Sprinkle flour over all and stir in well. Simmer for another 5-8 minutes, or until lightly thickened. Adjust seasoning, remove from heat and set aside to cool.

TIPS:
I sometimes used 2 tbsp of Sofrito in place of the garlic and onions and sautee it instead.
To break up the ground beef while cooking I use a potato masher..