Mock Beef Tips with Tomatoes, Bell Pepper, and Olives

This was inspired by a recipe called Spanish Steak, which I found when I was a teenager in one of my mother's housekeeeping magazines. That recipe used cubed round steak, and was baked in the oven for over an hour.

Here I substitute Gardein Beefless Tips, which are naturally tender, and cook this tasty stew on the stovetop in less than half the time.

It's every bit as tasty as the original recipe, and much healthier - 100% vegan.

Serve this hearty stew with noodles, rice, or mashed potatoes, or just lots of crusty bread to soak up the tasty sauce.

RECIPE:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
1 (9-ounce) package Gardein Beefless Tips
1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
1 green bell pepper, cut into bite-size pieces
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes (preferably petite-cut), undrained
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup pimiento-stuffed green olives, sliced

In a skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the Gardein Beefless Tips and saute for about 5 minutes, until browned on all sides. Remove the Beefless Tips from the pan and set aside.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the drippings in the skillet. Add the onion and the green pepper, and saute over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, until soft but not brown. Add the garlic, and saute for another minute or two, over medium heat, until the garlic is soft but not brown.

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaf, and salt and pepper to taste. (Go easy on the salt, as the olives that you add later will be salty.) Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes.

Uncover, add the Beefless Tips and the olives, and simmer uncovered, over medium heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until the sauce is reduced to a gravy-like consistency.

Discard the bay leaf, and serve.

-- 2-3 servings