Ground Beef Shells (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
01 -
Generous pinch of salt and black pepper.
02 -
3 cloves of finely chopped fresh garlic.
03 -
3 cups of unboiled small conchitas pasta.
04 -
6 plump Roma tomatoes cut into quarters.
05 -
3/4 cup of diced white onion.
06 -
3 bay leaves for added aroma and flavor.
07 -
1/2 cup rich tomato sauce.
08 -
1/2 cup chicken broth for moisture.
09 -
3/4 cup frozen diced carrots.
10 -
A little under a teaspoon of ground cumin.
11 -
Half a teaspoon of dried oregano.
12 -
1 1/2 pounds of lean ground beef.
13 -
4 tablespoons of your favorite olive oil.
14 -
Optional: A sprinkle of red chili flakes.
15 -
Optional: Finely diced jalapeños for heat.
# Instructions:
01 -
Warm some olive oil in a large pot on medium heat.
02 -
Toss in ground beef and cook it until it’s no longer pink.
03 -
Sprinkle salt and pepper onto the cooked beef.
04 -
Add uncooked pasta shells, the garlic, and tomatoes to the mix.
05 -
Add chicken broth and a good amount of tomato sauce.
06 -
Sprinkle cumin over the mixture and stir everything together.
07 -
Turn the heat lower and let it gently cook for 20 minutes.
08 -
Include oregano, some carrots, and bay leaves during this step.
09 -
Keep simmering for another 15 minutes until the pasta softens.
10 -
Put in the onions and let it go for just 5 more minutes.
11 -
Serve with white rice if you like.
# Notes:
01 -
Feel free to swap in ditalini or acini di pepe pasta if you'd like.
02 -
Throw in extra veggies like chopped bell peppers or sweet corn.