Carne en su Jugo (Meat in its Juices)

5 from 3 votes

Carne en su Jugo (Meat in its Juices)

Carne en su Jugo ("Meat in its Juices") is a Mexican stew of tender beef simmered in a savory tomatillo broth with crispy bacon and comforting pinto beans.

Prep Time10

Cook Time50

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: beef roast

Servings:

Calories: 312kcal

Author: Mike Hultquist

Ingredients

FOR THE VERDE SAUCE

1 pound tomatillos husked and quartered 1 medium white onion, finely chopped
2 jalapeno peppers chopped
2 serrano peppers chopped (optional, for extra spicy)
4 cloves garlic minced
Salt to taste
1 cup fresh cilantro chopped (divided)

FOR THE CARNE en su JUGO

6 slices bacon chopped
1½ pounds beef chuck or stew meat sliced into bite-sized pieces (or use flank steak)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
3-4 cups low-sodium beef broth use 4 cups for soupier
2 cups cooked pinto beans
Juice of 1 lime
For Garnish: Fresh chopped cilantro, diced white onion, sliced radish, lime wedges, crumbled queso fresco, sliced avocado

Instructions

Prepare the Tomatillo Sauce. Add the tomatillos, serrano, jalapeno, garlic, garlic, salt, and half of the cilantro to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Set aside.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook the chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside on a paper towel-lined plate. Leave the rendered fat in the pot.
Season the beef pieces with salt, black pepper, and ground cumin.
Increase the heat to medium-high and add the seasoned beef to the pot with the bacon fat. Sear 2-3 minutes per side until browned on all sides.
Pour in the blended tomatillo verde sauce and beef broth. Stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes, or until the beef is tender to your liking. You can simmer longer if desired.
Stir in the cooked pinto beans and half of the crispy bacon. Simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
Stir in the remaining chopped cilantro and lime juice. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
To Serve. Ladle the stew into bowls. Garnish with the reserved crispy bacon, chopped cilantro, diced onion, sliced radishes, crumbled queso fresco, and sliced avocado. Serve with lime wedges on the side.

Notes

Nutritional information estimated without garnish.

Simmering time can vary based on the cut of beef used, and also on the size of your cuts. Simmer up to 2-3 hours if needed for very tender beef.

Nutrition