[hj]

Flautas Made with Shredded Beef

2 pounds boneless beef chuck. . . . cut into 2-inch pieces
2 onions. . .1 sliced … 1 minced
3 garlic cloves. . . 1 left whole . . . 2 minced
1 tsp. salt
2 T. olive oil
1/2 cup prepared tomato sauce
1 fresh jalapeno chile. . or to taste.. seeded ... chopped (wear rubber gloves ...chile will burn your skin anywhere you touch later)
¾ tsp. ground cumin powder
black pepper
12 (7-inch) corn tortillas. . . warmed... (see note) *
Vegetable oil. . . for frying flautas
3 cups shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce

Accompaniments: Shredded Cheddar Cheese Guacamole - sour cream - your favorite salsa

In a large saucepan. . . combine beef. . sliced onion. . .whole garlic. .. 1 tsp. salt - enough water to cover.
Bring to a boil. . . lower the heat. . simmer. .covered partially until the beef is tender.. about 11/2 to 2 hours.
Let the beef cool in the broth … drain . .. reserving 1/3 cup of the broth.

Using 2 forks.. shred the beef . . set aside.
Heat the oil in a large skillet over moderately low heat. Cook the minced onion and garlic. . . stirring occasionally. . until softened. Add: the beef- tomato sauce- chili- cumin-reserved broth- salt- pepper. . . simmer… stirring.. until thickened. .. about 3 to 5 minutes. Let the beef filling cool.

Working with 1 warmed tortilla at a time. . keeping the others covered with a kitchen towel. . spread about 2 rounded tablespoons of the filling down the center of each tortilla. .. roll up the tortillas-enclosing the filling. . . secure the ends closed with wooden picks. Keep the rolled tortillas covered with plastic wrap. The flautas may be prepared up to this point 2 hours in advance and kept covered tightly with plastic wrap and chilled.

Pour enough oil into a straight-sided skillet to reach about 1/2-inch up the sides. Heat the oil over moderately high heat until it is hot but not smoking. Fry the flautas in batches… turning them.. until crisp. .. about 2 minutes. Transfer them with tongs to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Spread the lettuce on a platter or divide it among 6 plates. . . arrange the flautas on it… top them with cheese- guacamole-sour cream- salsa.

Note**: To warm tortillas in the oven: Stack 6 tortillas at a time. . wrap each stack in foil. Heat the tortillas in the middle of a preheated 325 degrees F. oven for 5 minutes. (If the tortillas are very dry to begin with. . pat each tortilla between dampened hands before stacking them.) Alternatively..to warm them in a microwave oven: Stack 6 tortillas at a time. .. wrap each stack in a microwave-safe plastic bag - and heat in a microwave oven at high power for 30 seconds to 1 minute. . . or until they are heated through and pliable.
hj