Stewed round steak is a traditional preparation with its roots in Latin American home cooking, especially in countries like Mexico, Colombia, and Venezuela. This dish utilizes an economical and lean cut of beef, commonly known as "round steak," which is cooked slowly to achieve a tender texture and a deep flavor.
In different Latin American countries, this same cut and preparation can have various names: in Mexico, it is simply known as "bistec enchilado" or "stewed steak," while in Colombia, it might be called "sobrebarriga guisada" when prepared similarly, although using slightly different cuts and techniques. In Venezuela, they often call it "carne en salsa" or "meat stew." The technique of stewing meat, that is, cooking it slowly in liquid with vegetables and seasonings, is a tradition dating back to the colonial era that combines indigenous and Spanish influences, resulting in hearty and flavorful dishes.
How to prepare Stewed Round Steak
To begin, season the meat with half of the salt and the peppers.
Dust it with flour on all sides to help brown it and thicken the sauce at the end.
Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or another large, heavy pot over medium-high heat, add the meat, and sear it well on all sides to seal in the juices.
Remove the meat and discard all but one teaspoon of the oil to utilize the residual flavor.
Add half of the onions, bell peppers, and celery, along with the other half of the seasonings, and the broth or water.
Stir well to mix all the ingredients and reduce the heat to the lowest possible setting.
Return the meat to the pot and cover it with the remaining vegetables so they cook along with the meat.
Cover the pot and let it cook until the meat is very tender, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Serve the meat sliced, with rice on the side and the sauce on top to enjoy all the concentrated flavors.
When you try this recipe with other types of meat, be sure to adjust the cooking times accordingly—let tenderness be your guide.
For more flavorful meat, try inserting garlic slivers before cooking so it infuses during the stewing.
