Recipes

Red Chile Steak with Beans

In northern mexico, earthy, rich-tasting red chile stews represent a cornerstone of the cuisine. This satisfying fare is perfect for filling tacos, burritos and tamales.

  • Serves
    4 PEOPLE
  • prep
    20 MIN
    cook
    30 MIN
  • Skill
    1/10

Ingredients List

  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled
  • About ¼ cup (1 ounce) good-quality ancho chile powder
  • ½ to 1 teaspoon chipotle chile powder, optional
  • 1 cup beef or chicken broth
  • 1 ½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • Salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, preferably Mexican
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Pinch ground cumin
  • 3 thick slices smoky bacon, cut into ¼ inch pieces
  • 2 10-ounce ribeye, New York steak (striploin) or tenderloin steaks (1 ¼ pounds total), trimmed of excess fat, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 medium white onion, halved, sliced ¼ inch thick
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice, preferably fire-roasted
  • 1 can (15 ounces) pinto beans, drained
  • ½ cup Modelo Negra beer
  • Chopped fresh cilantro

RecipePreparation

  1. Put garlic into a small bowl and cover with water. Microwave on high (100 percent power) for 1 minute. Drain.
  2. Put garlic, chile powders, broth, vinegar, ¾ teaspoon salt, sugar, oregano, cinnamon, pepper and cumin in blender. Blend smooth, then let stand.
  3. Cook bacon in a heated large skillet over medium heat until crisp, about 10 minutes. Remove crisp bacon with a slotted spoon and set aside. Leave bacon fat in the skillet.
  4. Sprinkle steak cubes with salt. Add steak cubes to hot skillet in an uncrowded single layer. Cook, stirring and turning regularly, until browned all over, about 4 minutes. With a slotted spoon, scoop the meat onto a plate, leaving behind as much fat as possible.
  5. Add onion to the skillet and cook, stirring regularly, until richly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Scoop onto the plate with the meat.
  6. Add the chile mixture to the hot skillet. Cook, stirring constantly to prevent burning, until thickened, 3 to 5 minutes.
  7. Stir in tomatoes, beans, steak, onion and some of the bacon (reserve some for garnish). Pour beer over mixture and stir. Cook gently until steak is cooked to desired doneness, usually 2 to 3 minutes for medium-rare. Serve garnished with cilantro and the crispy bacon.