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1
In a skillet with lid, cook the meat using the oil to prevent sticking.
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2
Brown over high to medium high heat on all sides so it gets cooked most of the way through before adding the next ingredients.
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3
When meat is mostly cooked through, add chopped onion and diced green bell or pasilla pepper.
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4
Let meat, onions and pepper cook together, turning all occasionally to cook on both sides and to distribute heat evenly across ingredients.
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5
Let meat and veggies saute together for 3 or 4 minutes.
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6
When meat, onions and pepper are pretty well soft and blended, add the Mexican spices listed in the ingredient list above, and also add the garbanzo beans.
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7
Before covering, put in two tablespoons of water to let the spices steam in when you cover the skillet.
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8
Reduce heat a little to medium low and cover the skillet.
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9
Let all simmer together until the spices are steamed into the meat and veggies.
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10
Occasionally lift lid and stir all the ingredients around with a spatula and turn meat and veggies over so the spices coat both sides and cook into it.
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11
After about 5 minutes, open lid and add tomato sauce with the sugar dissolved into it.
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12
Stir tomato sauce into the other ingredients to coat and blend.
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13
Cover and reduce heat to low simmer.
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14
Heat over low heat or the tomato sauce may burn.
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15
Simmer at least 5 -10 minutes or more.
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16
If stew is too thin, make a slurry of the masa harina and 2/3 cup water and stir in slowly mixing around.
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17
You may need to temporarily turn up the heat to make it thicken but be careful not to burn the tomato sauce by turning up too high.
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18
Stir until you see the stew thicken, Then cover and reduce heat and leave alone until it is served.
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19
In the meantime, prepare the garnishes.
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20
If you like cilantro, I strongly recommend making that a part of the garnish for the finished stew.
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21
Don't add fresh cilantro while cooking as this makes it turn bitter.
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22
Wait until the dish is served and sprinkle over the top with optional other garnishes.
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23
Lemon juice also adds to the flavor as a garnish.
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24
I suggest serving this stew over rice and accompany with the lemon juice, chopped cilantro and.
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25
whatever else you want to put on it.
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26
Enjoy!
