Fideo

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 pound potatoes, diced
• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon Mexican oregano
• 1 pound fideo, broken into small pieces
• 2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. In a large Dutch oven heat the oil over moderate heat. Add potatoes and cook them until they are just beginning to soften, about 5 minutes.
2. Add ground beef and stir, breaking it up, until it is just browned.
3. Crush garlic, cumin and oregano to a paste in a molcajete or mortar and pestle and add the mixture to the potatoes and meat.
4. Add remaining ingredients, stirring together until well mixed.
5. Bring the contents of the pot to a simmer and cook until the fideo is soft, about 10 minutes.