Picadillo

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef (or pork, or a mixture of beef and pork)
• 1 clove garlic, crushed (or ¼ tsp garlic powder)
• 1 T capers, minced
• 2 oz ham, minced (Gray omits this because: so much meat)
• 1 oz bacon, chopped
• 6 seedless olives, chopped
• ½ cup tomato purée
• 1 cup sofrito base
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp dried oregano (Gray has also used marjoram)
  • 2 T butter
  • 3 T of seedless raisins (optional)

To Prepare

1. Fry the bacon in a pot over medium heat until the fat is rendered. Discard the fat.
2. Add the butter and ham. Brown the ham, then add the sofrito base, garlic, oregano, olives, capers, and tomato sauce. If you use raisins, add them too. Cook for 3 minutes.
3. Add the beef and salt. Mix well and cook uncovered over medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

To Serve

Ladle over steamed rice.