Venezuelan Carne Mechada

5 from 12 votes

Venezuelan Carne Mechada

This is authentic Venezuelan shredded beef. Perfect for our national dish "Pabellón Criollo", and also to fill arepas and empanadas, or serve with cachapas.

Prep Time15

Cook Time1 15

Shredding30

Total Time2

Course: Beef, Main Course

Cuisine: Venezuelan

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free

Keyword: carne mechada recipe, how to make carne mechada, how to make Venezuelan carne mechada, Venezuelan carne mechada recipe, Venezuelan shredded beef, Venezuelan shredded beef recipe

Servings: people

Calories: 262kcal

Ingredients

To cook the beef

3 pounds skirt beef
4 green onions
½ yellow onion
2 bay leaves
8 black peppercorns
8 cups water

To make the stew

5 cups beef broth resulting from the beef cooking
4 cups tomatoes diced or ground
2 cups onion ground
1 ½ cups red bell pepper ground
4 garlic cloves minced
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons cumin
¼ cup Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
3 teaspoons coarse sea salt

Instructions

Cut the beef into 2 inches-wide strips.
Place onion and green onions in the bottom of a pot, and place the beef pieces on top.
Cover the beef with abundant water.
Add black peppercorns and bay leaves.
Bring to boil uncovered on high heat.
Reduce the heat, cover, and cook at medium-low heat until the beef turns completely brown, about 20-30 minutes.
Take out the beef and reserve it.
Strain the beef broth. Discard the solids.
Let the broth completely cool down. Once a layer of fat is formed on top of the broth, take it away with a spoon and discard it.
Wearing disposable cooking gloves, proceed to shred the beef manually.
Put the shredded beef in a a saucier or large saucepot, add broth, tomatoes, ground onions, red bell pepper, garlic, bay leaves, cumin, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, and stir well.
Bring to a boil on medium-high heat, and cook for 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat, cover, and cook at medium-low heat for about 20 minutes.
Stir, reduce the heat, and simmer, uncovered, for 20-30 minutes.

Notes

If there is any leftover beef broth, freeze it for future use.

Nutrition