Venezuelan Pulled Beef Recipes

CARNE MECHADA (VENEZUELAN SHREDDED BEEF)

Steps:

• Trim the meat, if necessary, and cut it into 4 pieces. Place the pieces in a medium soup pot and cover them with water. Add 1 quartered onion and simmer for 2 hours, removing any foam that may float to the top.
• Once cooked, remove the beef from the water and let it cool slightly. (Reserve 2 c of the cooking broth.)
• Once cool enough to handle, shred the meat with two forks. Set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large sauté pan with high sides over medium heat. Add the onion, peppers, and garlic. Sauté for 4-5 min until the onions are soft.
• Add the diced tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and cumin. Mix well.
• Add the shredded meat and 2 c of the meat broth. Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 min. (If you are serving your carne mechada with rice and beans, classic Venezuelan style, go ahead a leave the meat a little brothy. If you will be using it to fill arepas or empanadas, you will want to cook it until nearly dry, stirring often so it doesn't stick.)

VENEZUELAN SHREDDED BEEF

Steps:

• Place the meat and sliced onions in a 4-quart saucepan with beef broth to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the meat is tender enough to pull apart with a fork, about 1 ½ hours. Let cool in stock. Remove meat and shred with your fingers. Strain the stock and set aside.
• In a 12-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat and brown the shredded meat, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the paprika, chopped onions, garlic, bell pepper and tomatoes. Cook, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have formed a sauce, about 20 minutes. If the mixture gets too dry, and some of the reserved stock a little at a time; the meat should be juicy. Taste for salt and pepper.