Mexican Beef Stew – Drizzle Me Skinny!

Mexican Beef Stew is a hearty, slow-cooked dish with tender items of lean beef, crimson kidney beans, and a wealthy assortment of greens, all simmered slowly in a tomato-based sauce. This filling and satisfying stew is bursting with Latin-American flavors. 

This 5-Level Weight Watchers beef stew is simple and so versatile. It’s a household favourite, so make an enormous batch for meal prep and luxuriate in it all through the week. For extra comforting and scrumptious meals, flick thru our simple Dinner Recipes!

Why you must strive Mexican Beef Stew

In the event you haven’t tried Mexican Beef Stew but, listed here are just a few explanation why you must add it to your menu:

1. It’s Filling and Satisfying: Mexican Beef Stew is a type of meals that fills you up with out making you’re feeling overly stuffed. Regardless of utilizing lean beef and a comparatively small quantity of potatoes, the mixture of beans and greens makes this dish hearty sufficient to maintain you full for hours. On days after I know I’ve a busy schedule forward, I’ll make a big batch on Sunday, and it by no means fails to fulfill.
2. Nice for Meal Prep: As I discussed, this stew is ideal for making forward of time. It really will get higher the longer it sits, so leftovers are a dream. Simply retailer it within the fridge, and it’s able to warmth and serve everytime you want it. It’s a dish I depend on when household visits, because it’s simple to make in bulk. I serve it with a aspect of rice for them, whereas I take pleasure in it by itself with a squeeze of lime and a few tomato slices.
3. Sluggish-Cooking Magic: Whereas the prep work is minimal, Mexican Beef Stew does require some persistence. The slow-cooking course of is what makes the meat melt-in-your-mouth tender, and permits all of the flavors to meld collectively. Don’t let the cooking time scare you away, although—when you’ve browned the meat and began every thing simmering, the stovetop does a lot of the give you the results you want. In the event you’re busy, that is the place a Crock-Pot can turn out to be useful, letting you take pleasure in a well-developed stew with minimal effort.
4. Versatile and Adaptable: Among the best issues about this stew is how versatile it’s. You may simply swap out substances primarily based on what you will have obtainable. Out of kidney beans? Attempt utilizing black beans or pinto beans as an alternative. No beef? You can also make a scrumptious model with hen and even pork. The secret’s to adapt the recipe to your style and pantry whereas preserving the essence of slow-cooked consolation meals.

Servings: 6

Portion Measurement:  2 cups, 480 g.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 1 hour half-hour

5 WW Factors Per Serving. You may view the recipe on the WW App right here. (WW login required.)

Elements:

• 1 ½ lbs (680 g) lean beef, cubed (suggest utilizing chuck roast or high spherical)
• 1 tsp salt (6 g)
• ½ tsp black pepper (1 g)
• 1 tsp floor cumin (2 g)
• 1 tsp olive oil (5 mL)
• 2 medium potatoes, cubed (about 2 cups or 300 g)
• 2 giant carrots, sliced (about 1 ½ cups or 200 g)
• 1 ½ cups cooked kidney beans (255 g)
• 4 medium tomatoes, grated (about 2 cups or 400 g)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste (30 g)
• 4 cups beef broth or water (960 mL)
• Recent cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
• Lime wedges (for serving)

Directions:

1. Season the Beef: Begin by seasoning your beef cubes with salt, pepper, and floor cumin. Toss the meat within the seasoning to make sure each piece is coated. I like to recommend utilizing a lean minimize like chuck roast or high spherical, which turns into tender after sluggish cooking however doesn’t have extra fats.
2. Brown the Beef: In a big pot or Dutch oven, warmth 1 teaspoon of olive oil over medium-high warmth. As soon as the oil is sizzling, add the meat cubes in a single layer. Brown the meat on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcrowd the pot—brown the meat in batches if crucial. You need a good sear to lock within the flavors and create a golden-brown crust.
3. Sauté the Greens: As soon as all the meat is browned, take away it from the pot and set it apart on a plate. Add the sliced carrots and cubed potatoes to the identical pot. Sauté them within the beef drippings for about 5 minutes, stirring sometimes. This step helps construct the flavour because the greens soften and decide up a few of the browned bits left by the meat.
4. Add Tomatoes and Kidney Beans: After the greens have softened barely, add the grated tomatoes, tomato paste, and kidney beans to the pot. Stir properly, ensuring to scrape the underside of the pot to include all these flavorful bits from the meat and veggies. Let the tomatoes cook dinner down for about 5 minutes till they begin to thicken.
5. Mix and Simmer: Return the browned beef to the pot, together with any juices. Pour within the beef broth (or water) till the meat, greens, and beans are totally submerged. Stir to mix.
6. Sluggish-Cook dinner: Convey the stew to a boil over medium-high warmth, then cut back the warmth to low. Cowl the pot and let the stew simmer gently for 1 hour half-hour, or till the meat is tender and the greens are totally cooked. Stir sometimes to stop sticking, and regulate the seasoning as wanted, including extra salt or cumin if desired.
7. Serve: As soon as the stew is thick and flavorful, take away from warmth. Serve in bowls with a sprinkle of contemporary cilantro on high and lime wedges on the aspect for a shiny, tangy end. If desired, you’ll be able to serve the stew over rice for a heartier meal.

Variations and Substitutions for Mexican Beef Stew

Each dwelling cook dinner brings their very own spin to Mexican Beef Stew, and listed here are just a few methods you can also make it your personal:

1. Decrease Factors: For a lighter model that also packs all the flavour, I usually swap out beef for hen. Use skinless, boneless hen breasts and cut back the quantity of potato to only one. Load up on carrots and peppers as an alternative, and you’ll take pleasure in a wholesome, 2-point model of this stew with out lacking out on its comforting flavors.
2. Bean Substitutes: Kidney beans are conventional on this recipe, however black beans or pinto beans can simply be used for a special style and texture. Every number of bean brings a barely completely different taste, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
3. Cuban-Impressed Variation: For a richer, barely sweeter twist, you’ll be able to strive a Cuban-inspired model utilizing lean pork as an alternative of beef. It’s one in all my private favorites, however watch out with the factors—pork can add up rapidly, and it’s laborious to withstand going again for seconds!

Suggestions and Tips for Making Mexican Beef Stew

In the event you’re new to cooking any such stew or simply need to be certain that it seems completely, listed here are just a few suggestions:

1. Get a Good Sear on the Beef: Don’t skip this step! Browning the meat over excessive warmth caramelizes the floor and creates a depth of taste that merely can’t be achieved some other means. Plus, these little browned bits on the backside of the pot are essential to growing the stew’s savory base.
2. Deglaze the Pot: After eradicating the meat, if you add the tomatoes, remember to scrape up all these browned bits from the underside of the pot. This method, referred to as deglazing, helps incorporate that concentrated taste into the stew.
3. Persistence is Key: Low and sluggish is the best way to go along with this recipe. Plan for no less than 90 minutes of simmering, or use a sluggish cooker for a simple set-it-and-forget-it meal.
4. Alter the Thickness: In the event you discover that the stew is just too thick, don’t hesitate so as to add a bit extra broth. If it’s too skinny, let it simmer uncovered for a bit longer till it reaches your required consistency.

Add Toppings Final: In the event you’re including any contemporary toppings like avocado or cilantro, wait till the stew is served.