Description
Carne Guisada is a comforting Tex-Mex braised beef stew featuring tender cubes of beef simmered in a flavorful tomato and green chile sauce. This hearty dish combines aromatic spices like cumin, chili powder, and paprika with vegetables such as bell peppers and onions. Perfect served with warm tortillas, rice, or mashed potatoes, it’s ideal for a satisfying family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef stew meat (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 medium onion (chopped)
- 1 green bell pepper (chopped)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cups beef broth
- 1 (10 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (undrained)
- 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Sear the Beef: Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef stew meat in batches and sear it until browned on all sides. This browning will develop rich flavor. Remove the browned beef and set aside.
- Sauté the Vegetables: Reduce the heat to medium. In the same pot, add the chopped onion and green bell pepper and sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Create the Roux Base: Add tomato paste to the vegetables and cook for 2 minutes to deepen the flavor. Then sprinkle in the flour, stirring constantly and cooking for another minute to form a roux which will thicken the sauce.
- Combine and Season: Return the seared beef to the pot. Add ground cumin, chili powder, paprika, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat the beef and vegetables evenly with the spices.
- Add Liquids and Simmer: Pour in the beef broth and the undrained can of diced tomatoes with green chiles. Add the bay leaf for flavor. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Braise the Beef: Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let the stew gently braise for 1 ½ to 2 hours. Cook until the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened to your liking.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the bay leaf from the stew before serving. Serve hot alongside warm flour tortillas, rice, or mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
Notes
- Serve with warm flour tortillas, rice, or mashed potatoes for a satisfying meal.
- For extra richness and depth of flavor, add a splash of beer along with the beef broth when simmering.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors deepen.
- To make gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
