Description
Hearty carne guisada brings Mexican comfort to your table with tender beef simmered in rich, spicy sauce. Warm flour tortillas complement this classic dish, inviting you to savor each delicious bite of traditional southwestern comfort.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 3 pounds (1.36 kilograms) stew meat
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder or 3 cloves garlic, minced
Vegetables and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon oil (lard, bacon grease, or vegetable oil)
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 small green bell pepper, diced (optional)
- 3 tablespoons tomato sauce or 1 large tomato, diced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup water or chicken stock
Instructions
- Sear beef chunks and diced onions in hot oil until meat develops rich, caramelized exterior and onions turn translucent.
- Incorporate tomato sauce, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper, thoroughly coating meat with aromatic spices.
- Dust meat mixture with flour, gently stirring to create a light, even coating that will help thicken the sauce.
- Pour liquid stock gradually while continuously stirring to prevent flour from clumping and ensure smooth consistency.
- Bring liquid to rolling boil, then reduce heat to low, covering pan to allow meat to braise and tenderize slowly.
- Simmer for approximately 90 minutes, periodically checking meat’s tenderness and liquid reduction.
- Taste and calibrate seasoning profile, adding more salt or spices if needed for balanced flavor.
- Transfer tender, rich stew into serving dish, accompanying with warm flour tortillas, steamed rice, or creamy mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Enhance meat tenderness by choosing chuck or round cuts with good marbling for maximum flavor and softness.
- Use low and slow cooking method to break down tough meat fibers, creating melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich depth.
- Consider adding dried chiles like guajillo or ancho for authentic Mexican complexity and subtle smoky undertones.
- Substitute beef with chicken or pork for dietary variety while maintaining the classic stew preparation technique.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 1600 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg