Southwestern Braised Beef Recipes

BRAISED SOUTHWEST BEEF ROAST

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, garlic powder and oregano; rub over roast. In a Dutch oven, brown meat in oil. Remove from the pan., Gradually add broth, stirring to loosen any browned bits from pan. Stir in salsa, water and bay leaf; return meat to pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 2-1/4 to 2-1/2 hours or until meat is fork-tender., Set meat aside and keep warm. Bring pan juices to a boil. Cook, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until sauce is reduced to about 1-1/3 cups; skim fat. Discard bay leaf. Serve sauce with meat.

GRANDPA'S BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat with a thin layer of extra-virgin olive oil. Add the onions, and garlic to the hot oil and sweat them until very soft and very light caramel in color, 20 to 30 minutes. Turn off the heat and reserve.
• Heat a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add a thin layer of oil to the pan. Pat the meat dry and season very liberally with salt and pepper. Brown the meat to a deep brown all over, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Peel the potatoes and very thinly slice them lengthwise into planks. Slice the tomatoes working over a bowl to catch their juices.
• Arrange 1/2 the onions over top of the meat, season with salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon thyme. Arrange 1/2 the potatoes over the onions and dress the potatoes with a liberal drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon, salt, pepper, rosemary, and a handful freshly grated cheese. Top the potatoes with 1/2 the tomatoes and their juices, and season with salt and pepper. Scatter a few leaves of torn basil. Repeat the layers. Do not add basil to the top layer of tomatoes.
• Cover the pan and roast the meat in the oven until very tender, 4 hours. Cool and store for make-ahead meal.
• To reheat: Reheat, covered, in a preheated 325 degree F oven until warmed through, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Take off the lid of the pot, drizzle the top of the meat with oil, sprinkle with cheese, and broil to lightly crust the top. Cut down through the layers of the potatoes, tomatoes, and onions to portion the meat, serve in shallow bowls with crusty bread and pan juices.

SOUTHWESTERN BRAISED BEEF

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the chili powder, cumin, coriander, oregano, ancho chili powder, allspice and cinnamon; stir in 2 tablespoons of the oil to make a paste.
• Set aside.
• In a Dutch oven or large saucepan, heat the remaining oil over medium-high heat.
• Brown the beef in batches.
• Remove to a plate and drain the fat from the pan.
• Fry the onions and garlic over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chili powder mixture and fry until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the beef and stir for about 1 minute.
• Add the beans, 2 cups of water, tomatoes, salt and sugar.
• Bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Uncover and simmer until slightly thickened and the meat is tender, about 30 minutes.