Description
Moist Puerto Rican Beef Stew – A rich, tender halal Carne Guisada-style beef stew loaded with potatoes, sofrito, tomatoes, and warm Puerto Rican seasonings, perfect for cozy weeknights and served over white rice.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs halal beef stew meat, cut into chunks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- ½ green bell pepper, diced
- ½ red bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp sofrito
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 medium potatoes, cubed
- 1 carrot, sliced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- Optional: ½ cup olives or ¼ cup capers
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add beef and brown on all sides.
- Add onion, peppers, and garlic. Sauté for 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Stir in the sofrito and cook for 1 minute.
- Add tomato sauce, beef broth, oregano, cumin, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir well.
- Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 1½ hours.
- Add potatoes, carrots, and olives if using. Continue simmering for another 45–60 minutes until beef and vegetables are very tender.
- Stir in fresh cilantro, taste, and adjust seasonings.
- Serve warm over white rice.
Notes
- Best when allowed to rest 10 minutes after cooking for flavors to meld.
- Can be made in a slow cooker: brown beef, then combine with remaining ingredients and cook on low 6–8 hours or high 3–4 hours.
- To keep it gluten-free, ensure tomato sauce is gluten-free and olives/capers are gluten-free.
- Leftovers refrigerate for 3–4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- Adjust salt after olives are added, as they contribute saltiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop simmer
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 440
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: Moist Puerto Rican Beef Stew, Carne Guisada, Puerto Rican beef stew, halal beef, sofrito beef stew, island flavors, comfort food