Description
Hearty carne guisada from Puerto Rico blends tender beef with rich, aromatic spices. Savory slow-cooked stew delivers comfort and authentic flavor for those who crave traditional island cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (900g) beef stew meat, cut into bite-sized chunks
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 2 medium tomatoes, diced (or 1 cup canned diced tomatoes)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tbsps vegetable oil
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth or water
- 2 tbsps all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsps water (for slurry)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp oregano
Instructions
- Seasoning: Thoroughly coat beef chunks with salt, pepper, and spices, ensuring comprehensive flavor penetration.
- Searing: Heat vegetable oil in a heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat, then brown meat in batches to develop a rich, caramelized exterior, creating a flavor foundation.
- Aromatic Base: In the same pot, sauté onions, green bell peppers, and garlic until translucent, then add diced tomatoes and tomato paste to build a robust sauce.
- Spice Infusion: Sprinkle cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, and oregano into the vegetable mixture, stirring to distribute spices evenly and intensify the dish’s complexity.
- Liquid Integration: Return browned beef to the pot, pour in beef broth, and use a wooden spoon to scrape accumulated browned bits, maximizing flavor depth.
- Slow Transformation: Reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and allow the stew to simmer gently, transforming tough meat into tender, succulent morsels while periodically stirring to prevent sticking.
- Sauce Refinement: Create a flour and water slurry, gradually incorporating it into the stew while stirring continuously to achieve a velvety texture and desired consistency.
- Final Touch: Uncover the pot, reduce sauce to intensify flavors, then garnish with fresh cilantro and serve alongside steamed rice, warm beans, or soft tortillas.
Notes
- Optimize Meat Selection: Choose chuck roast or beef stew meat with excellent marbling for maximum tenderness and rich flavor profile.
- Control Searing Temperature: Maintain medium-high heat during meat browning to develop deep caramelization without burning, creating complex taste layers.
- Manage Liquid Consistency: Adjust beef broth quantity based on desired sauce thickness, using flour slurry strategically to prevent over-thickening or creating gluey texture.
- Enhance Flavor Depth: Allow slow simmering for minimum 1.5-2 hours, which breaks down meat connective tissues and allows spices to fully integrate, resulting in more intense and harmonious taste experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 660mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 70mg