Delicious Latin Beef Stew (Carne Guisada) Recipe

Today, I share a hearty and flavorful Latin beef stew that brings me back to my childhood.

This comforting dish, which serves about five people, is a symphony of tender beef, fresh vegetables, and a delicious sauce, making it perfect for a cozy family dinner or a special gathering with friends.

The key to this stew lies in its ingredients, including light beer.  Traditional beef stew doesn’t usually have carrots and celery, but I love adding those to add extra vegetables and flavour.

The slow-cooking process then allows each flavour to mix beautifully.

Our Latin beef stew starts with the essential layers of flavour: scallions, garlic, cilantro, carrots, and celery, which provide a robust base for the stew. Ripe tomatoes add a touch of sweetness and acidity, balancing the sauce’s richness.

A generous sprinkle of cumin infuses the dish with its warm, earthy notes.  

With the beer, bay leaf, and potatoes, all mixed and simmered slowly, this stew transforms into a deliciously tender and deeply satisfying meal, best enjoyed with a side of warm rice. 

As the stew simmers on the stove, the beef becomes tender, the vegetables release their natural sweetness, and the sauce thickens, creating a symphony of flavours that will be a hit at your home.

Why do we use beer in a beef stew recipe?

Using beer in a beef stew recipe serves several culinary purposes:

• Flavour Enhancement: Beer adds depth and complexity to the stew’s flavour profile. Depending on the type of beer used, it can introduce notes of malt, hops, and subtle sweetness, which can complement the savoury taste of beef and vegetables.
• Tenderizing Meat: The acidity in beer helps to tenderize the beef as it cooks, breaking down tough muscle fibres and resulting in a more tender final dish.
• Richness and Body: Beer contributes to the stew’s overall richness and body. The liquid helps create a thicker, more cohesive broth as it reduces and mingles with the other ingredients.
• Aromatics and Aroma: Beer can enhance the aromatic qualities of the stew, adding to the overall sensory experience with its unique scents that combine with the herbs, spices, and other aromatics in the dish.
• Balance and Contrast: The slight bitterness from hops in beer can balance the sweetness of ingredients like carrots and onions, creating a more balanced flavour profile.

Note: Consider the type and characteristics when choosing a beer for your stew. A dark beer, like a stout or porter, will add robust, rich flavours, while a lighter beer, like a lager or ale, will add more subtle, nuanced flavours. For this recipe, we suggest using a light beer.

Delicious Latin Beef Stew (Carne Guisada) Recipe

Delicious Latin Beef Stew (Carne Guisada) Recipe

Yield: 5

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes

Delicious Carne Guisada or Latin Beef Stew Recipe, easy to make and filled with veggies and tender chunks of beef, simmered in beer and spices.

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Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 3/4 cup scallions, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 medium size carrots, diced
• 2 stalks of celery, diced
• 2 small tomatoes, diced
• 2 tbsp cilantro, minced
• 1.5 lb beef stew meat, cut into small chunks
• 1/2 cup of light beer
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 bay leaf
• 10 oz baby red potatoes, quartered or halved

Instructions

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat.
2. Add scallions, garlic, carrots and celery to the pot, and sauté for about 2 - 3 minutes.
3. Add the tomatoes, cilantro, and salt. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the beef to the pot and stir.
5. Add the beer, water, cumin, and bay leaf.
6. Cover and simmer on low heat for 1 hour, or until the beef is cooked and tender.
7. Add potatoes and cook for about 25 minutes until tender.
8. Serve over warm rice.
9. Enjoy!