Carne Mechada with Arroz con Gandules

Ingredients

• For the Carne Mechada:
• 1 ½ lbs flank steak or chuck roast 🥩
• 4 cups beef broth 🍲
• 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• 0.5 onion, diced 🧅
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced 🌶️
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced 🌶️
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
• 1 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
• 1 cup tomato sauce 🍅
• 0.5 cup crushed tomatoes 🍅
• 0.5 tsp cumin
• 0.5 tsp smoked paprika 🌶️
• 0.5 tsp oregano 🌿
• 0.5 tsp black pepper
• 0.5 tsp salt 🧂
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 0.5 cup green olives, sliced 🫒
• 1 tbsp capers (optional) ✨
• 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped 🌿
• For the Arroz con Gandules:
• 1 cup long-grain white rice 🍚
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth 🍲
• 0.5 cup canned or fresh gandules (pigeon peas) 🫘
• 1 tbsp olive oil 🫒
• 0.5 onion, diced 🧅
• 2 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
• 1 tbsp sofrito 🌿
• 1 tbsp tomato sauce 🍅
• 0.5 tsp sazón (with annatto) ✨
• 0.5 tsp oregano 🌿
• 0.5 tsp salt 🧂

Instructions

1. 11️⃣ Cook the Beef
2. 2In a large pot, bring beef broth to a boil. Add the flank steak and simmer for 2-3 hours until tender. Remove from broth, shred with two forks, and set aside.
3. 32️⃣ Sauté the Aromatics
4. 4In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Sauté until soft and fragrant. 🌿🔥
5. 53️⃣ Build the Sauce
6. 6Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, and crushed tomatoes. Add cumin, paprika, oregano, black pepper, salt, and Worcestershire sauce. Let simmer for 10 minutes. 🍅✨
7. 74️⃣ Combine & Simmer
8. 8Add shredded beef, olives, and capers (if using). Stir well, cover, and let simmer for 15-20 minutes, allowing flavors to meld. 🌿🔥
9. 95️⃣ Cook the Arroz con Gandules
10. 10In a pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onions, garlic, and sofrito. Add tomato sauce, sazón, oregano, and salt. Stir well.
11. 11Add rice and cook for 1-2 minutes. Pour in chicken broth and gandules, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice is tender. 🍚🔥
12. 126️⃣ Serve & Enjoy
13. 13Plate the Carne Mechada alongside the Arroz con Gandules. Garnish with fresh cilantro and enjoy! 🍽️✨