Description
Carne Guisada is a classic, hearty beef stew featuring tender chunks of beef simmered in a flavorful tomato and spice-infused gravy. This comforting dish is slow-cooked until the meat is melt-in-your-mouth tender, making it perfect for serving alongside rice and warm tortillas for a satisfying meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Oil
- 3 pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil, divided
Vegetables
- 1 large onion or 2 small ones, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 large roma tomatoes, diced
Seasonings and Broth
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cube beef bouillon
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or more for thicker gravy)
- 3-4 cups low sodium beef broth
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Sear the beef: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stew meat cubes and brown them thoroughly on all sides. Once browned, remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
- Cook the vegetables: In the same skillet, add the remaining oil if needed, then sauté the chopped onion, green bell pepper, minced garlic, and diced roma tomatoes until they are softened and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the spices: Stir in the salt, black pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, tomato paste, and beef bouillon cube. Mix well so the vegetables are evenly coated with the spices and tomato paste.
- Start the gravy: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the sautéed vegetables, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Gradually pour in the beef broth while stirring until the gravy thickens and becomes smooth.
- Add the beef and cook: Return the browned stew meat to the skillet with the gravy mixture. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer gently for about 1.5 hours, or until the beef is tender and flavorful.
- Garnish and serve: Taste the stew and adjust the seasoning if needed. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro. Serve the Carne Guisada hot alongside rice and warm tortillas for a complete meal.
Notes
- For a thicker gravy, add more flour gradually until the desired consistency is reached.
- If beef broth is unavailable, you can substitute with water and additional bouillon cubes, but adjust salt accordingly.
- Slow simmering allows the flavors to meld and the meat to tenderize perfectly; avoid rushing this step.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
- Serve with warm tortillas or over white rice to enjoy the rich gravy fully.
