Description
Carne Guisada is a hearty and flavorful beef stew made with tender chunks of stew meat simmered in a rich, spiced tomato gravy. This comforting dish features aromatic onions, bell peppers, garlic, and a blend of cumin and chili powder, perfect for serving alongside rice and warm tortillas.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 3 pounds stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 large onion or 2 small ones, chopped
- 1 medium green bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 large roma tomatoes, diced
Spices & Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons cumin, ground
- 1½ teaspoons chili powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 cube beef bouillon
Other Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil or vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour (or more for thicker gravy)
- 3–4 cups beef broth, low sodium
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Sear the beef: Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the stew meat in batches to avoid overcrowding and brown on all sides for a few minutes. Once browned, remove the beef and set aside.
- Cook the veggies: In the same skillet, add the remaining oil if needed. Sauté the chopped onions, green bell pepper, garlic, and diced tomatoes until they soften and become fragrant, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the spices: Stir in the salt, black pepper, ground cumin, chili powder, tomato paste, and crumbled beef bouillon cube. Mix well to evenly coat the vegetables with the spices.
- Start the gravy: Sprinkle the all-purpose flour over the vegetables and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to cook out the raw flour taste. Gradually add 3-4 cups of low sodium beef broth while stirring to avoid lumps and create a smooth gravy base.
- Add the beef and cook: Return the seared beef to the skillet, making sure it’s submerged in the gravy. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 1.5 hours until the beef is tender and the gravy thickens.
- Garnish and serve: Taste the beef guisada and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with freshly chopped cilantro and serve hot alongside steamed rice and warm tortillas.
Notes
- For a thicker gravy, add additional flour sprinkled over the veggies before adding broth.
- Beef broth quantity can be adjusted depending on the desired consistency of the stew.
- Slow simmering the beef ensures maximum tenderness and flavor absorption.
- This dish pairs well with warm corn or flour tortillas and Spanish rice.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day once flavors have melded.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mexican
