Mexican Beef Stew – Drizzle Me Skinny!

Mexican Beef Stew is a hearty, slow-cooked dish with tender items of lean beef, purple 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 a giant batch for meal prep and revel in it all through the week. For extra comforting and scrumptious meals, flick through our simple Dinner Recipes!

Why it’s best to attempt Mexican Beef Stew

When you haven’t tried Mexican Beef Stew but, listed here are a couple of the reason why it’s best to add it to your menu:

1. It’s Filling and Satisfying: Mexican Beef Stew is a kind 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 mix 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 facet of rice for them, whereas I get pleasure from 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 part simmering, the stovetop does a lot of the be just right for you. When you’re busy, that is the place a Crock-Pot can come in useful, letting you get pleasure from a well-developed stew with minimal effort.
4. Versatile and Adaptable: Among the best issues about this stew is how versatile it’s. You possibly can simply swap out substances based mostly on what you’ve obtainable. Out of kidney beans? Attempt utilizing black beans or pinto beans as a substitute. No beef? You can also make a scrumptious model with hen and even pork. The secret is to adapt the recipe to your style and pantry whereas preserving the essence of slow-cooked consolation meals.

Servings: 6

Portion Dimension:  2 cups, 480 g.

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook dinner Time: 1 hour half-hour

5 WW Factors Per Serving. You possibly can view the recipe on the WW App 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)
• Contemporary 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 mandatory. You desire 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 among 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 modify 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 facet 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 residence cook dinner brings their very own spin to Mexican Beef Stew, and listed here are a couple of methods you may make it your individual:

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 a substitute, and you’ll get pleasure from 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 totally different taste, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
3. Cuban-Impressed Variation: For a richer, barely sweeter twist, you’ll be able to attempt a Cuban-inspired model utilizing lean pork as a substitute of beef. It’s one in all my private favorites, however watch out with the factors—pork can add up shortly, and it’s exhausting to withstand going again for seconds!

Suggestions and Tips for Making Mexican Beef Stew

When you’re new to cooking this kind of stew or simply wish to be certain that it seems completely, listed here are a couple of ideas:

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 another approach. Plus, these little browned bits on the backside of the pot are essential to creating the stew’s savory base.
2. Deglaze the Pot: After eradicating the meat, while you add the tomatoes, make sure to scrape up all these browned bits from the underside of the pot. This system, referred to as deglazing, helps incorporate that concentrated taste into the stew.
3. Persistence is Key: Low and sluggish is the way in which to go together with this recipe. Plan for at the very least 90 minutes of simmering, or use a sluggish cooker for a straightforward set-it-and-forget-it meal.
4. Modify the Thickness: When you discover that the stew is simply 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: When you’re including any contemporary toppings like avocado or cilantro, wait till the stew is served.