Beef Mechado

Estimated cooking time: 1 hour

Mechado Ingredients:

• 1 kilo of beef cut into chunks
• 1/8 kilo of pork fat cut into strips
• 4 onions, peeled and quartered
• 5 medium potatoes, quartered (optional: fried)
• 1 medium sized carrot, sliced in 1/2" sections
• 2 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 cups beef stock or 2 bouillon cubes dissolved in water
• 3 bay leaves (laurel leaves)
• 1/4 -cup vinegar
• 2 cups tomato sauce or 1/2 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup soy sauce
• salt & pepper to taste

Mechado Cooking Instructions:

• Cut an incision on the beef chunks and insert a pork strip in the middle (mitsa)
• In a casserole, combine the beef (with the fat), tomato sauce, soy sauce, bay leaves and beef stock. Bring to a boil and simmer until the beef is almost tender
• Add the vinegar and let boil for a minute or two
• Add the potatoes, onions, carrot, and bell pepper
• Let simmer until potatoes and carrots are cooked - occasionally stir to thicken sauce
• Serve hot with white rice

Beef Mechado Cooking Tips:

• Pressure cook the beef with the beef stock for faster cooking time.
• Fry the potatoes before adding to the casserole.
• Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil and stir when the mechado dish is almost done for added flavor.