Carne Guisada is a flavorful, slow-cooked beef stew, commonly enjoyed with warm tortillas. Here’s a traditional recipe for Carne Guisada along with instructions for making flour tortillas.
Carne Guisada
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup water
- 1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup flour (for thickening)
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions:
- Sear the Beef:
- Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add the beef cubes in batches, searing them until browned on all sides. Remove and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables:
- In the same pot, add the chopped onion and bell pepper. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Combine Ingredients:
- Return the browned beef to the pot.
- Stir in the beef broth, water, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste.
- Season:
- Add cumin, chili powder, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer:
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the beef is tender.
- Thicken the Sauce:
- In a small bowl, mix the flour with a bit of water to form a slurry.
- Slowly stir the slurry into the stew to thicken the sauce. Let it cook for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce reaches the desired consistency.
- Serve:
- Garnish with fresh cilantro.
- Serve hot with warm flour tortillas.
Flour Tortillas
Ingredients:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/3 cup vegetable shortening or lard
- 1 cup hot water
Instructions:
- Mix Dry Ingredients:
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder.
- Add Shortening:
- Add the vegetable shortening or lard and mix it into the flour using your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add Water:
- Gradually add the hot water, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead:
- Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Rest:
- Divide the dough into 12 equal portions and roll each into a ball.
- Cover the dough balls with a clean kitchen towel and let them rest for at least 15 minutes.
- Roll Out:
- On a floured surface, roll each dough ball into a thin, round tortilla.
- Cook:
- Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat.
- Cook each tortilla for about 1-2 minutes on each side, or until brown spots appear and the tortilla puffs slightly.
- Keep Warm:
- Transfer the cooked tortillas to a clean towel and cover to keep warm until ready to serve.
Enjoy your homemade Carne Guisada with warm flour tortillas!
