South Texas Carne Guisada Food

AUTHENTIC CARNE GUISADA

Steps:

• Brown beef well in a large cast iron dutch oven, a heavy stainless steel pot can be used with good results.
• Add onion and garlic and cook until onions are translucent.
• Add stock, chili powder, comino, salt, and pepper.
• Bring to a simmer and cook for 2-3 hours or until beef is very tender.
• In a separate skillet mix flour and oil together to form a roux.
• Cook over medium high heat until a dark beige color, about 5 minutes.
• Be careful not to let it burn.
• Carefully add roux to stewed beef.
• Be very careful because it can splatter.
• Bring back to a simmer and thicken, simmer for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
• Serve like a soft taco on flour tortillas with fresh cilantro, chopped onions, shredded cheese and sour cream for garnish.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY STYLE CARNE GUISADA

Steps:

• Cube meat (about 1"), removing all fat and gristle.
• Sear meat in oil.
• Add water and cook on medium-low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Toast cumin seeds in a small sauté skillet on medium-high until they begin to smoke slightly.
• Grind the hot cumin seeds with a mortar and pestle.
• Add oregano, ground toasted cumin, black pepper, salt and garlic to the meat.
• Add vegetables (bell pepper, onion and tomato) and continue to cook about 30 minutes.
• Add tomato sauce, chili powder and paprika.
• Continue to simmer for another 15-20 minutes.
• While the meat is simmering, heat 2 tbsp oil in a small sauté pan and add flour over medium-low heat.
• Stir the flour and oil constantly until the flour turns a light golden brown (roux).
• Add the roux to the meat and continue to simmer for about another 30 minutes.
• Serve carne guisada with rice and beans and flour or corn tortillas.
• Note: can speed the cooking time by using a pressure cooker.

SOUTH TEXAS CARNE GUISADA

Steps:

• Cut beef into ¾-inch cubes. In large nonstick skillet or stock pot, sauté beef until brown, over MEDIUM heat. Add oil and flour and toss with beef until flour is brown. Add water and spices, stirring well.
• Add beef broth and reduce heat to MEDIUM-LOW. Simmer approximately 30 minutes until beef is tender. (If sauce seems too thin, add a bit more flour to desired consistency.)
• Spoon Carne Guisada into warm flour tortillas. Garnish with sour cream, cheese and pico de gallo, as desired.

SOUTH TEXAS CARNE GUISADA

Steps:

• Cut beef into 3/4-inch cubes.
• In nonstick skillet over medium heat, saute beef until brown.
• Add oil and flour and toss with beef until flour is brown.
• Add water and spices, stirring well.
• Add beef broth and reduce heat to medium low.
• Simmer approximately 30 minutes until beef is tender.
• (If sauce seems too thin, add a bit more flour to desired consistency.) Serve spooned onto flour tortillas (like tacos).
• Garnish with sour cream, cheese and pico de gallo.

SOUTH TEXAS CARNE GUISADA

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place the beef sirloin in the Dutch oven and cook until the cubes are brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, red bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, paprika, and water.
• Continue cooking, stirring often, until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes.

SOUTH TEXAS CARNE GUISADA

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place the beef sirloin in the Dutch oven and cook until the cubes are brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and add the onion, red bell pepper, tomatoes, garlic, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, paprika, and water.
• Continue cooking, stirring often, until the meat is tender, about 30 minutes.

BEEF STEW (MEXICAN COWBOY STEW OR CARNE GUISADA)

Steps:

• Cut meat in cubes and brown in hot oil.
• Grind spices and garlic in mortar (molcajete) and add a small amount of water to pour out of the mortar.
• Add mixture from mortar, tomato sauce, and enough water to cover sauteed meat.
• Simmer for 30-40 minutes (I cook at least 2 hours).
• Blend flour and water. Stir into meat to make gravy.
• Simmer 10 minutes.
• Serve with warm flour tortillas.