Carne Mechada Food

CARNE MECHADA (VENEZUELAN SHREDDED BEEF)

Steps:

• Trim the meat, if necessary, and cut it into 4 pieces. Place the pieces in a medium soup pot and cover them with water. Add 1 quartered onion and simmer for 2 hours, removing any foam that may float to the top.
• Once cooked, remove the beef from the water and let it cool slightly. (Reserve 2 c of the cooking broth.)
• Once cool enough to handle, shred the meat with two forks. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan with high sides over medium heat. Add the onion, peppers, and garlic. Sauté for 4-5 min until the onions are soft.
• Add the diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and cumin. Mix well.
• Add the shredded meat and 2 c of the meat broth. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 min. (If you are serving your carne mechada with rice and beans, classic Venezuelan style, go ahead a leave the meat a little brothy. If you will be using it to fill arepas or empanadas, you will want to cook it until nearly dry, stirring often so it doesn't stick.)

VENEZUELAN SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• Cut the meat into 4 pieces.
• Place beef broth in a large pot over medium-high heat. At first boil, add the meat and cook for 15 minutes. Taste the broth and add more salt and pepper, if necessary. Cover and let it cook for about 2 - 3 hours, or until the meat is fully cooked and tender. As the meat cooks, check the broth levels and add more if needed (the broth should always cover meat).
• When the meat is tender and fully cooked, carefully removed it from the pot, place it on a plate, and let it cool. Reserve broth (about 3-4 cups).
• Once the meat is cool enough, sheared using two forks or your hands, remove and discard big pieces of fat, if any.
• Add the oil to a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the onion and pepper and sauté for 3-5 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Then add garlic and let it cook for 1 more minute.
• Stir in shredded beef and mix to combine well.
• In a medium bowl, combine tomato paste, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, oregano, and reserved beef broth; mix well until everything is well combined. Add this mixture to the meat. Add the bay leaves, cover, and cook for 20 -25 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been consumed. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt and/or pepper, if necessary.
• Serve hot with white rice, black beans, and fried plantains if desired.
• Cut the meat into 4 pieces. Season the beef with salt and pepper to taste. Add beef to a slow cooker.
• Combine ½ cup beef broth, tomato paste, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cumin, and dried oregano in a mixing bowl. Add mixture to the slow cooker.
• Add onion, peppers, garlic, and bay leaves. Mix to combine.
• Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours.
• When the time is over, and the meat is tender, remove meat for the slow cooker. Once the meat is cool enough, sheared using two forks or your hands, remove and discard big pieces of fat, if any. and toss to coat with the juices
• Return shredded meat to the cooker and toss to coat with the sauce. Discard bay leaves.
• Serve hot with white rice, black beans, and fried plantains if desired.
• For pressure cooker instructions, check out my Instant Pot Venezuelan Shredded Beef recipe.

CARNE MACHACA

Steps:

• In a large, heavy pan with a lid, over medium heat, sauté onions, Ro-tel, red chili flakes, Tabasco, black pepper and cumin, adding a little water only as needed to keep the mixture from sticking.
• Stir frequently, cooking until the onion is translucent and tender.
• Add tomatoes with their liquid and stir well.
• Cook for 3-5 minutes.
• There won't be much liquid at this point.
• Add beef.
• Reduce heat to simmer, cover pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-1/2 hours or until beef is thoroughly tender.
• When beef has cooled, refrigerate overnight.
• The next day, shred beef pieces, using fingers.
• Skim and fat from cooking juices and return beef to pan.
• Reheat over low heat and serve.

CARNE DESMECHADA (SHREDDED FLANK STEAK)

Steps:

• Boil flank steak, potato, and salt in a covered pot till steak is fully cooked.
• When done, drain and shred the steak (I do this by hand).
• Preheat oil in a large skillet over med heat.
• When oil is heated, place all ingredients (except ketchup) in oil and sauté until the onion is translucent.
• If desired, stir in a little ketchup to give it a little kick.
• Serve with hot rice.

PUERTO RICAN CARNE MECHADA RECIPE - (3.2/5)

Steps:

• Clean the meat. Cut holes through the meat from both ends lengthwise, making sure they meet in the middle. Mix stuffing ingredients and stuff meat all the way through hole. Mix marinade ingredients and marinate the meat, covered, in the refrigerator, overnight. Add oil and bay leaf to the pot and over high heat, brown the meat on all sides. Lower heat to medium and add the braising ingredients. Place in slow cooker and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours. Add potatoes and cook on high 1/2 hour more or until the potatoes are tender. Remove meat to cutting board and tent with foil. Add cornstarch to braising liquid and bring to a boil. Reduced liquid by half. Serve meat sliced in 1/2-inch thick slices on platter surrounded by potatoes and covered with braising liquid.