Season 12 - Dinner / S12D07
Carne Guisada with Yucca and Cilantro Sauce
Story
Back when Don Luis was just a boy, his abuela used to say, *“Mijo, no hay tristeza que un buen guiso no cure.”* She’d spend hours over the stove, humming old boleros while tender beef simmered in sofrito and love. One chilly evening, when young Luis scraped his knee chasing a kite, she made Carne Guisada with steamy yucca and a cilantro drizzle so fresh it tickled your nose. The pain vanished with the first bite. Now, decades later in his rustic kitchen—with that signature jean and leather apron proudly on—Don Luis brings that same warmth to your screen. One forkful of this dish, and you’ll feel the abrazo (hug) of a whole generation. 💚 Time & Nutrition
Ingredients
- For the Carne Guisada 🍖
- 1½ lbs beef stew meat, cubed 🥩
- 2 tbsp olive oil 🫒
- 1 small onion, diced 🧅
- 0.5 green bell pepper, diced 🫑
- 3 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
- 0.25 cup sofrito 🥄
- 1 tbsp tomato paste 🍅
- 1 tsp ground cumin 🌿
- 1 tsp oregano 🌿
- 2 cups beef broth 🥣
- 1 bay leaf 🍃
- Salt & pepper to taste 🧂
- For the Yucca 🌱
- 1½ lbs frozen or fresh yucca (cassava), peeled and chopped
- Salt to taste 🧂
- Water to boil 💧
- For the Cilantro Sauce 🌿
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 garlic clove
- 2 tbsp lime juice 🍋
- 0.25 cup olive oil 🫒
- Pinch of salt 🧂
Instructions
- 1Brown the beef: In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add beef cubes and sear on all sides until golden. Set aside. 🔥
- 2Sauté aromatics: In the same pot, add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook until soft. Add sofrito and tomato paste. Stir well.
- 3Build the stew: Return beef to pot. Add cumin, oregano, beef broth, and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. 🍲
- 4Simmer low and slow: Cover and cook on low for about 1½ hours, until beef is fork-tender.
- 5Boil the yucca: In a separate pot, boil yucca in salted water for 20–25 minutes or until tender. Drain and remove the stringy core if needed. 🥔
- 6Blend the sauce: In a blender, combine cilantro, garlic, lime juice, olive oil, and salt until smooth and bright green. 🌿💚
- 7Serve: Plate the tender yucca, top with saucy Carne Guisada, and drizzle with cilantro sauce. ¡Buen provecho! 😋
About the narrator
Don Luis · A character for three generations
Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.
Read our mission →