Photo of Mexican Beef Stew in Red Chili-Garlic Sauce by WW

Mexican Beef Stew in Red Chili-Garlic Sauce

10
Points® value
Total Time
1 hr 10 min
Prep
35 min
Cook
35 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Moderate
The chili-garlic sauce is so good that you'll want to scoop it up with the stew's potatoes.

Ingredients

Dried ancho pepper

4 pepper(s), stems removed and seeds shaken out

Garlic

8 clove(s), large, do not peel

Canned chipotle peppers

1 tbsp(s), chopped

Olive oil

2 tsp(s)

Onion

1 large, chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)

Canned tomato paste

2 tbsp(s)

Uncooked lean beef round

24 oz, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes

Carrots

2 large, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces (about 1 cup)

Uncooked red potato

12 small, new, scrubbed but not peeled, halved

Cumin seeds

½ tsp(s)

Ground cinnamon

¼ tsp(s)

Table salt

½ tsp(s)

Water

2 cup(s)

Instructions

  1. Cut open ancho chilies with kitchen scissors so they lay flat. Place a large skillet over medium-high heat and toast chilies, pressing them flat with a spatula, for 30 seconds per side. Place chilies in a large bowl with water; set aside.
  2. Add garlic to same skillet and roast in its skin, letting skin blacken, turning as needed, about 4 to 5 minutes.
  3. Remove chilies from water and reserve liquid.
  4. Place soaked chilies, chipotle, peeled garlic and 3/4 cup of reserved water in the bowl of a blender. Blend on high, pulsing on and off, to make a smooth sauce. (Add more water as necessary to make a loose sauce.) Set aside until ready to use.
  5. Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook until onions begin to brown, about 3 to 5 minutes. Add tomato paste and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more. Pour ancho-garlic sauce over onions and stir to combine. Add beef, carrots and potatoes and stir.
  6. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Remove cover and stir. If stew seems dry, add a 1/4 cup more water. Season with cumin, cinnamon and salt. Stir, reduce heat to low, place cover back on and cook until potatoes and carrots are tender, about 10 to 15 minutes more. Yields 1 1/2 cups per serving.