My first bite of Guiso (also called Guisado) was nearly life changing. I had to go home and try making it myself. This is one of my favorite meals, especially once the weather gets cooler on a lazy Sunday. The smokey flavor of the chiles coats the rich, tender beef topped with sweet potatoes, avocado, lime and cilantro. It brings me so much joy.
What is Guiso?
Guiso simply translates to “stew”. It seems to be a very broad name for the dish. If it’s braised, and homey, they call it Guiso. This recipe is diced beef stew meat braised in a red chile sauce. I like to serve mine with rice, roasted sweet potatoes, avocado, lime, onion and cilantro. It’s a comfort food that’s loaded with complex flavors. This recipe is Whole 30, Paleo and Gluten Free. It can also be Keto if you opt for low carb fixings like avocado, cauliflower rice, radish and cilantro.
Beef I use lean diced stew meat for this recipe. You want the meat in uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
Spices Guiso is a heavily spiced stew. Use your favorite dark chili powder, which is normally ancho or a blended powder. I use a dark, sweet and smokey chili powder called San Antonio Dark Chili Powder or Bolsa Chili Powder, which you can get at Central Market, HEB or Penderys. Sweet Smoked Paprika adds great depth while cumin adds an earthy, warm and citrusy note to the dish.
Onions, Peppers & Garlic Onion and garlic add aromatics to this stew. Jalapenos add a fresh and spicy pop. We don’t think this recipe is too spicy, only containing two jalapeños. But you may sub green bell peppers for the jalapeños if you have a low heat tolerance.
Tomato Paste Tomato paste adds a richness and sweetness while also thickening the sauce. There are no actual tomatoes in the dish.
Sweet Potatoes These are the perfect addition to the stew. Their sweetness and soft texture compliment the dish very well. To roast sweet potatoes, cut them into 1/2- 3/4 inch pieces, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them at 400F for 25-30 minutes or until tender.
Rice Rice soaks up all of the great flavors in the stew. We typically don’t serve it with rice unless we are cooking for a larger group.
Toppings Avocado, cilantro, lime, red onion and radish are all great toppings for this stew. You can even add a crumbly white cheese such as Cotija, Feta or Queso Fresco as an optional garnish.
Pressure Cooker To make this recipe in the pressure cooker, start the recipe on the high sauté setting. Cook the recipe accordingly. Once you add the broth or water, cover with the lid, turn the knob to seal mode and turn the pressure on high for 25 minutes. It will take about 8 minutes to start the pressure cooking. After it cooks for 25 minutes, let the pressure cooker release naturally for 10 minutes and then you can release manually, being careful not to burn your hand with steam. Stir and season to taste.
Paleo & Whole 30 This recipe is both Paleo and Whole30 if you use Coconut Aminos. You can top if with sweet potatoes, avocado, radish, red onion, cilantro and lime.
Keto & Low Carb Make this recipe Keto by using Soy Sauce, rather than coconut aminos. Also, serve with cauliflower rice, avocado, radish and cilantro. You can even top it with feta, cotija or queso fresco!
Gluten Free This recipe is naturally Gluten Free.
Make our Pitcher of Margaritas or Pineapple Margaritas to go with this Guiso. If you like this recipe, try our Best Bowl of Chili or Pork Carnitas.
Recipe
Guiso
This beef stew is loaded with warm, smokey flavor and perfect for a nice cool evening.
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 3 lbs. Beef Stew Meat, cut into 3/4 inch cubes
- 1 1/2 tsp. Kosher Salt, plus more to taste
- 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 Onion, small diced
- 2 Jalapeños or one Bell Pepper, small diced
- 3 Cloves of Garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp. Dark Chili Powder
- 2 Tbsp. Cumin
- 2 Tbsp. Smoked Paprika
- 3 Tbsp. Tomato Paste
- 2 Tbsp. Coconut Aminos or Soy Sauce
- 2 Cups Broth or Water
- Roasted Diced Sweet Potatoes, Rice or Cauliflower Rice, for serving
- Cilantro, Avocado, Lime and Radish as Garnish
Directions
- Step 1 In a dutch oven on medium heat, add oil and brown the meat on all sides. Add spices, salt and pepper and saute for a few minutes. Then add onion, garlic and jalapeno and saute for a few minutes. Add the tomato paste and coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and saute until the tomato paste and spices caramelize, about five minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups of broth or water and bring to a simmer.
- Step 2 Cover and let cook on low for 2- 2 1/2 hours or until beef is tender and stew has thickened. Season to taste and add more broth if needed. Serve with roasted sweet potatoes, rice or cauliflower rice. Top with avocado, cilantro, lime and radish.
About the Author
Lauren is a classically trained, professional chef. A culinary school graduate, she has spent time working organic farms in the Italian countryside and was the pastry/sous chef at a high profile restaurant in Dallas prior to becoming a full-time personal chef. Her cooking style is often referred to as “rustic.” Being a personal chef, she is not bound by a single type of cuisine and has had the opportunity to experiment with hundreds of regional recipes from all over the world.
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