Beef Braised in Tomatillo sauce

This is a 40 minute meal. While your brown rice is steaming, you can prepare a hearty and satisfying dish.  Any of you who have eaten at my house know I make this dish often. It can be prepared with many different cuts of beef, pork, chicken or fish. This dish, braised ground beef in tomatillo sauce is tangy and flavorful. The tomatillo, Physalis philadelphica, is a member of the tomato family and also referred to as the 'green tomato'.  It is a staple in Mexican dishes. Here is the recipe:   

Tomatillos with husks

Ingredients for tomatillo sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Lasater ground beef
• 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
• 6 Medium tomatillos, fresh & quartered (be sure to remove outer paper husk)
• 1 small onion or ¼ of large onion, peeled and cut into two pieces
• 1 Clove garlic, peeled and cut into two pieces
• ¼ Jalapeno, use tip exclude seeds 
• 1 Cup fresh cilantro
• 2-3 Cups stock or water
• ½ Winter squash, peeled and chopped into bite size pieces
• 1 Cup peas or green beans
• 1 Cup carrots, thickly sliced
• Salt & Pepper

Handled Strainer

Directions:
In blender place broth, tomatillos, onion, garlic, cilantro, & jalapeno. Blend thoroughly.
Set aside, have handled strainer (colander) on hand ready to use.
Heat deep saute pan with lid, then add olive oil.
Place ground beef in pan and brown. Be sure to break it up small pieces.
Using handled strainer, pour blended tomatillo mixture through strainer over ground beef.
Using spatula press mixture through handled strainer.
Add chopped vegetables, salt & pepper.
Place lid on pan and bring to a simmer.
Maintain simmer for approximately 30 minutes or until root vegetables are tender.