Description
Carne Guisada is a flavorful Tex-Mex braised beef stew made with tender chunks of beef slow-cooked in a rich tomato and beef broth sauce, infused with spices like cumin, chili powder, and smoked paprika. This comforting dish is perfect served with warm tortillas, rice, or mashed potatoes and garnished with fresh cilantro.
Ingredients
Scale
Beef and Seasonings
- 2 pounds beef stew meat (such as chuck), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes (with juice)
Liquids and Thickener
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour mixed with 2 tablespoons water (optional, for thickening)
Garnish
- Chopped cilantro for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef in batches and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes per batch. Remove the beef and set aside to prevent overcrowding the pot.
- Sauté Vegetables: In the same pot, add the chopped onion and green bell pepper. Sauté until softened, approximately 4 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Add Spices and Tomato Paste: Stir in tomato paste, ground cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, black pepper, and salt, coating the vegetables evenly with the spice mixture.
- Simmer the Stew: Return the browned beef to the pot. Pour in beef broth and canned diced tomatoes with their juice. Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover the pot, and reduce heat to low. Let it cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the beef becomes fork-tender.
- Thicken the Sauce (Optional): If a thicker sauce is preferred, stir in the flour-water mixture during the last 10 minutes of cooking. Continue simmering to allow the sauce to thicken.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with chopped cilantro if desired. Serve hot with warm flour tortillas, over rice, or alongside mashed potatoes.
Notes
- Serve with warm flour tortillas, over rice, or alongside mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors meld.
- For added heat, stir in a diced jalapeño along with the onions.
- To keep the dish gluten-free, omit the flour or substitute with a gluten-free thickener.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
