Portuguese Marinated Beef Caciola Food

CAçOILA | PORTUGUESE STEWED BEEF

Steps:

• The day before cooking, in a large bowl, coat the beef with the crushed red pepper, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• About 4 hours before you intend to sit down at the table, scatter the onion slices, parsley, garlic, and bay leaves in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Tuck the allspice and cloves in a piece of cheesecloth tied together with kitchen twine or in a tea ball and toss them in the Dutch oven. If desired, season the beef with salt. Place the beef on top and dot with the butter or lard.
• In a measuring glass or bowl, stir together the wine, tomato paste, and cinnamon and pour it over the beef.
• Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to a very gentle simmer, cover, and cook until the meat is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, turning the pieces occasionally. For a more stew-like version, keep the lid on for the duration of cooking. For a more concentrated, glaze-like sauce version, about halfway through cooking, remove the lid to let some of the liquid evaporate so the sauce can concentrate in consistency and flavor.
• Remove the bay leaves and the cheesecloth pouch or teaball. If desired, serve the caçoila with boiled white potatoes, roasted red peppers, and cooked greens. Originally published May 10, 2001.

SLOW-COOKED SPICY PORTUGUESE CACOILA

Steps:

• Place pork in a large bowl; add wine, garlic and seasonings. Turn to coat; cover and refrigerate overnight., Transfer pork mixture to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker; add onion and water. Cook, covered, on low 6-8 hours or until meat is tender. , Skim fat. Remove bay leaves. Shred meat with 2 forks. If desired, serve with a slotted spoon on bolillos.

CAçOILA (PORTUGUESE STEWED BEEF)

Steps:

• 1. One day in advance, rub the crushed red pepper over the beef roast, place in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
• 2. Layer the onion slices, parsley, garlic, and bay leaf in the bottom of a Dutch oven. Place the meat on top and dot with the butter. Mix together the wine and tomato paste and pour over the meat. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to a low simmer, and cook, covered, until the meat is very tender, 3 to 3 1/2 hours, occasionally turning the pieces to keep moist.
• 3. Serve immediately while still hot, with boiled white potatoes and roasted red peppers served alongside, if desired.

PORTUGUESE BEEF AND ONIONS (BIFES DE CEBOLADA)

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large frying pan until very hot, add the beef and fry for 2-3 minutes to seal on all sides.
• Add onion, garlic, tomatoes, parsley, and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper and heat to simmering point. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid, raise the heat, bring to the boil and continue to boil rapidly, uncovered for 5 minutes to reduce the amount of liquid. Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve hot sprinkled with fresh coriander.

CACOILA (PORTUGUESE STEWED BEEF)

Steps:

• The day before cooking, marinate meat with crushed red peppers in a plastic bag or covered dish, overnight.
• Place onion slices, parsley, garlic and bay leaf in the bottom of a large heavy Dutch oven.
• Place meat on top, dot with butter, and pour combined wine and tomato sauce over all.
• Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over very low heat for 3 to 4 hours, until meat is very tender and sauce is thickened.
• Serve with pasta, rice or boiled white potatoes.

PORTUGUESE MARINATED BEEF (CACIOLA)

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a plastic freezer bag and marinate overnight.
• Cook, over low heat, in a large skillet, Dutch oven, or crock pot until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours or 5 hours, on low, for crock pot.
• Shred meat and serve on buns, or leave pieces whole and serve with boiled potatoes and a vegetable.

PORTUGUESE CACOILA

Steps:

• Wash pork, cube and place in large pot.
• Slice onions and place in pan.
• Add all other ingredients.
• Cook at low heat for 1-1/2 hours; if mixture becomes dry, add 1 cup water and stir; DO NOT ALLOW TO DRY OUT! Continue to add small amounts of water as needed; Stir often to prevent sticking.
• Pork should be tender and break apart easily.

BEEFS PORTUGUESE STYLE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine red wine, water, garlic, chile paste, white pepper and salt. Add beef, and turn to coat evenly.
• In a large heavy skillet over medium heat, fry 3 steaks for 2 minutes on each side; Set steaks aside, and drain liquids into the red wine mixture. Repeat with remaining beef.
• Pour oil into skillet, and reduce heat to medium-low. Fry steaks for a second time, 2 minutes on each side. Drain oil, and return all steaks and marinade to the pan. Allow to boil for 2 minutes.

CACOILA (PORTUGUESE STEWED PORK)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Cut excess fat from the pork and then cut into 2-inch cubes; place meat into an oven-safe casserole that has a lid.
• In a medium bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; pour over pork in casserole.
• Gently massage wine and seasonings into the meat and cover casserole; place in oven for about 2 1/2 hours.
• You will want to periodically check that the meat to be sure it is tenderizing and that the flavors are blending in; also, be sure that all the liquid does not evaporate (you can add additional wine or water).
• Once you can easily break the meat apart with a fork, it is done.