Mexican Style Beef Stew
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
This hearty and flavorful beef stew is simple to make and tastes absolutely delicious. You can customize the spice level to your liking and enjoy it with rice, tortillas — or both!
How to Serve It:
Serve this stew hot, straight from the pot, or chill it overnight — many say the flavors are even better the next day. Pair it with fluffy rice, warm tortillas, or both for a complete meal.
Can You Make It Ahead?
Yes! You can prepare it ahead of time and reheat it when ready to serve.
Storage Instructions:
- Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds beef top sirloin, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ½ large onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 3 garlic cloves
- ½ teaspoon black peppercorns
- 1 tomato, chopped
- ½ teaspoon dried Mexican oregano (or regular oregano)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1½ cups beef broth
- 1 serrano pepper, peeled, seeded, and lightly roasted
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon ground paprika
- ½ cup water
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef
- Dredge the beef cubes in flour, shaking off any excess.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet and fry the beef cubes until browned on all sides.
- Prepare the Spice Mixture
- In a small dry pan (no oil), toast the cumin seeds until aromatic.
- Remove the cumin seeds and place them in a molcajete (mortar and pestle).
- Toast the serrano chili in the same pan.
- Add the garlic and black peppercorns to the cumin seeds and crush everything into a paste.
- Stir in ½ cup of water to form a smooth mixture.
- Cook the Stew
- Add the garlic-spice paste and water mixture to the pot with the browned beef cubes.
- Add the salt, oregano, paprika, onion, chili powder, cilantro, tomato, and roasted serrano pepper. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Simmer the Stew
- Pour in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 1½ hours, stirring every 20 minutes to prevent sticking.
- Finish and Serve
- Once the beef is tender and the sauce has thickened, remove it from the heat.
- Serve hot with rice, tortillas, or both. Enjoy!
This Mexican-style beef stew is rich, flavorful, and guaranteed to be a family favorite. Enjoy!