Skinnytaste > Main Ingredient > Beef Recipes > Bisteces a la Mexicana (Mexican Style Beef Stew)

Bisteces a la Mexicana (Mexican Style Beef Stew)

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Bisteces a la Mexicana is a flavorful Mexican-style beef stew that cooks on low heat with tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, herbs and spices.

Mexican Beef Stew
Bisteces a la Mexicana (Mexican Beef Stew)

I make Colombian beef stew all the time (Carne Guisada) but wanted to try a Mexican version. Mexican beef has similar ingredients but uses jalapenos, which Colombian beef stew never uses. In Colombia, this dish is usually served with rice and potato or yucca. In Mexico, they serve it with rice and tortillas, plus pickled jalapeno on the side. You make also like this Carnitas recipe, if your prefer pork.

Mexican Beef Stew with a ladle.

What does “Bistec a la Mexicana” mean?

In Spanish, “bistec” means steak, and “a la Mexicana” means that the dish will have the colors of the Mexican flag, which it gets from the tomatoes, white onion, and jalapenos.

I made this recipe from the cookbook Nopalito: A Mexican Kitchen (affil link) by Gonzalo Guzmán and Stacy Adimando. This book highlights “100 recipes for regional Mexican food from the popular San Francisco restaurant” of the same name. There’s so many delicious recipes in this cookbook that I can’t wait to try. Everything from Toasted Corn with Crema, Tamales, and Queso Fresco to cocktails and agua frescas.

Here’s an excerpt from the authors about this bistec recipe:

“Because in my village, and other smaller villages in Mexico, beef was scarce and expensive, you would rarely if ever serve a whole steak. That is why Bisteces a la Mexicana is traditionally cut into small pieces, perfect for sharing. As with many large-batch meat dishes in Mexican culture, this one is meant to be scooped up with tortillas – or, better yet, tortillas filled with a little white rice and eaten with your hands.”

I really loved how this Mexican beef stew turned out. To make it mild I removed the seeds and membrane from the jalapeno, so it wasn’t spicy, which was perfect for Madison. If you like it hot, just leave the seeds in or use serrano peppers.

sirloin for beef stewhow to make Mexican Beef Stewhow to make Mexican Beef StewMexican Beef StewBistecas a la Mexicana

More Mexican Recipes You’ll Love:

Skinnytaste Simple promo banner

Bisteces a la Mexicana (Mexican Style Beef Stew)

4.89 from 44 votes
4
Cals:227
Protein:24
Carbs:5.5
Fat:11.5
Bisteces a la Mexicana is a flavorful Mexican-style beef stew that cooks on low heat with tomatoes, jalapenos, onion, and Mexican herbs and spices.
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: Mexican
Bistecas a la Mexicana
Prep: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 1 hour 55 minutes
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1 cup

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds top sirloin, diced into 3/4 inch cubes
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large white onion, sliced 1/4 inch thick sliced, halved (2 cups)
  • 4 jalapenos, stemmed and sliced (remove seeds for mild, leave in for spicy)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 2 cups petite diced tomatoes and their juices, from 2 cans
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Optional for serving:

  • warm soft corn tortillas
  • cooked rice
  • pickled jalapenos

Instructions

  • Season the beef with salt and let it sit 1 hour.
  • In a large cast iron pan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat. When hot add the meat and cook, stirring 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Add the onion, jalapeno, oregano, and cumin, and cook, stirring occasionally until the vegetables are tender, 10 minutes.
  • Reduce heat to low, add the tomatoes and cook, covered stirring every 5 minutes to prevent sticking, until the meat is tender, about 45 minutes. Add the cilantro.
  • Divide the meat and serve family style with warm tortillas, rice and pickled jalapeno on the side, if desired.

Last Step:

Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 cup, Calories: 227 kcal, Carbohydrates: 5.5 g, Protein: 24 g, Fat: 11.5 g, Saturated Fat: 4 g, Cholesterol: 52 mg, Sodium: 465 mg, Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 3 g

Categories: