Description
This Moist Puerto Rican Beef Stew (Carne Guisada) is a rich and flavorful comfort food classic. Tender beef simmers slowly with sofrito, spices, and hearty vegetables in a savory tomato broth. Perfect served over rice or with crusty bread for a cozy, satisfying meal.
Ingredients
2 lbs beef stew meat (such as chuck roast), cut into cubes
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup sofrito
1 cup tomato sauce
2 cups beef broth or 2 beef bouillon cubes dissolved in water
2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Season beef with salt and pepper. Brown the beef in batches to ensure a caramelized crust. Set aside.
2. In the same pot, add a bit more oil if needed. Sauté the sofrito until fragrant, about 2–3 minutes.
3. Return the browned beef to the pot. Stir in tomato sauce, beef broth, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf. Bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Cover and cook on low heat for 1.5 to 2 hours, until the beef is tender.
5. Add diced potatoes and carrots. Continue cooking for another 30 minutes, or until vegetables are soft and stew is thickened.
6. Remove bay leaf. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve hot with rice or crusty bread.
Notes
For best results, use a marbled cut like chuck roast. Lean beef won’t be as tender.
Make sure to sauté the sofrito thoroughly—it builds the flavor base.
This stew tastes even better the next day, making it perfect for meal prep or leftovers.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2.5 hours
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stewing
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: beef stew, carne guisada, Puerto Rican stew, comfort food