Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew, a dish with loads of unique flavors and textures. This stew is slow cooked to bring organic produce and incredible beef morsels to their maximum tastes. The surprise and uniqueness of this recipe come from using some dried fruits to sweeten the pot just enough to have us curious and craving!
Song of the day: "Bailando" by Enrique Iglesias.
Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew celebrates the colors and flavors of Argentina. Our food stop this month on the Eat the World recipe challenge. This dish has it all: texture, flavor, spices and a little sweetness, making each bite an adventure for our taste buds.
Carbonada Criolla??
If you would have asked me a month ago if I knew what this was, I would have answered no.
Thanks to Eat The World and traveling the world through food, via research and the internet, my questions are answered. I love this challenge. It has been such a wonderful experience and our recipe catalog has definitely grown in a most cultural way. Our bucket list also has grown with desires to see and experience places. Wouldn't it be a dream come true to travel the world, cook with different cultures, and share ideas and life stories? Imagine..........
Argentina
When I think of Argentina, I automatically imagine color, passion, tango, and of course food. Argentina is known for beef and cattle raising. This is something we have in common, as Alberta is also known for its beef and cattle farming. I wanted to showcase this similarity using our local organic products and creating this wonderful and fragrant Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew. I was quite intrigued by this dish, when researching recipes from Argentina, with the help of my lovely wife Nicoletta. In this stew, there are dried fruits combined with wonderful spices, sweet and savory, a dish of my own heart and one that would be right up my alley! One where I may add my own touches to, as usual, lol.
All aboard
As you can see in the picture, I am doing a real clean up job in the vegetable crisper of the fridge. A few ingredients bought at the farmer's market, and some from our own garden. We have all we need to make a stew that is going to be out of this world good, and have a little Argentinian flair as a bonus!
Ingredient list:
- Organic beef stewing chunks
- Garlic scapes and cloves
- Onions
- Patty pans
- Potatoes
- Yellow pepper
- Mixed dried fruits
- Corn
- Herbs: fresh oregano, basil, rosemary
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Red wine
- Vegetable stock
- and so much more!
Look at the color in this crockpot, does that not look like an Argentinian fiesta? I love the caramelization that happens with the beef chunks as they saute in the hot olive oil. In the bottom of the pan is all that flavor and natural sugars that will not be wasted. A little red wine and vegetable stock release that flavor paste right into the morsels of goodness in this stew. I love the shape of the patty pans. It offers a nice food visual and I feel like I am looking at a Fall harvest color pallet.
The jarred tomatoes we made recently as we are beginning to harvest our tomatoes from the garden. The aroma of them is purely intoxicating. I should mention, mouthwatering also. It is a really easy canning method that Nicoletta's father taught us. You just wash and cut up the tomatoes, put them in a sterilized jar and press them in. Seal the jar with the lid tightly and place in a hot water bath for about 30 minutes, with the water just over the rim of the jar. That's it! Easy, eh?!
I started the stew in a heavy cast pot then transferred it to a slow cooker as I have to go to work. Slow cookers are amazing. In goes the stew in the morning and after a hard day's work, the stew is ready for the taking when you come home.
Look how rich and rustic this stew looks. I just have to test the tenderness of the beef. My mouth is full. These beef morsels are melting on my tongue. So so good. Just another taste, lol. I better stop or it is not going to make it to the table.
Serving suggestions
The Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew is traditionally served with rice. Nicoletta made our new found recipe for oven-baked rice. I have to say that it is amazing every time. Just blend rice, water, salt, and a bit of oil in an oven-safe pot. On the stovetop bring it to a boil, then into the oven it goes. In about 20 minutes you have a fluffy and oh so tasty rice! The perfect partner to sop up all the wonderfully rich flavors of this incredible Argentinian stew!
Today we are giving you a wonderful, rustic, comforting, wholesome dish that is a perfect family dinner meal. You can use up many of those veggies lingering in your crisper. You can experience another culture through food.
Why not make tonight Argentinian night, dust off that slow cooker, and celebrate the color, passion, and spice of this culture with our recipe for Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew! Truly, a tango of the senses!
Divie'rtete! (Enjoy!).
Song of the day: "Bailando" by Enrique Iglesias.
PrintCarbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew
Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew, a dish with loads of unique flavors and textures. This stew is slow cooked to bring organic produce and incredible beef morsels to their maximum tastes. The surprise and uniqueness come from using some dried fruits to sweeten the pot just enough to have us curious and craving!
- Total Time: 6 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 800 g stewing beef
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 small walla walla onions, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 garlic scapes, chopped
- 6 small patty pans, sliced
- 1 yellow pepper, diced
- ¾ cup cooked and shucked corn
- 2 potatoes (red and yellow), cubed
- 4 dried apricots, chopped
- 2 dried prunes, chopped
- sprig of fresh rosemary
- 3 fresh basil leaves
- sprig of fresh oregano
- sprig of fresh parsley
- pinch of salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, red chili flakes
- 780 ml of stewed tomatoes
- 1 small glass of red wine
- 2 cups vegetable stock
- 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large cast pot drizzle in olive oil, toss in stewing beef, fresh herbs (oregano, rosemary, parsley), and saute until beef chunks start to brown and bits begin to stick to the bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes.
- Add in onions, patty pans, potatoes, peppers, garlic scapes and minced garlic, red chili flakes. Stir well.
- Add in dried apricots and prunes and simmer for a couple of minutes.
- Pour in a little red wine and vegetable stock and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Toss in tomatoes and basil, stirring frequently.
- Season with salt, pepper, onion powder, paprika. Stir again to make sure bits are not sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Pour in red wine and vegetable stock and let simmer on low heat for another 10 minutes.
- Transfer to a slow cooker on low heat setting and cook for about 5-6 hours. When finished, sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley.
Ready to serve!
Notes
- Stew can be served with rice, or even some rustic bread or cornbread, your choice!
- You can substitute any vegetables you may have in the fridge.
- If you do not have a slow cooker leave stew in the cast pot and place in a 280 degree F oven for about 4-5 hours.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours 25 minutes
- Category: Meat and poultry
- Method: slow cooking
- Cuisine: Argentinian
Keywords: Carbonada Criolla, stew, Argentinian, corn, potatoes, stewed potatoes, patty pans, garlic scapes, onions, yellow peppers
Check out all the wonderful Argentinian dishes prepared by fellow Eat the World members and share with #eattheworld. Click here to find out how to join and have fun exploring a country a month in the kitchen with us!
Margaret: Red Chimichurri Sauce
Tara: Milanesa a Caballo (Argentinian Milanesa on Horseback)
Amy: Argentinian Chimichurri Sauce
Juli: Revuelto Gramajo
Camilla: Matambre with Chimichurri
Wendy: Chipas
Claudia: Argentinean Tamales
Loreto and Nicoletta (us!): Carbonada Criolla, Argentinian Beef Stew
Evelyne: Alfajores, Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies
When I am not cooking, I enjoy playing musical instruments, singing, writing. I have learned over the years to live in gratitude and enjoy the moment.
Camilla at Culinary Adventures says
What a great mix of sweet and savory flavors. Thanks for sharing. I'll definitely give it a shot soon.
Thank you, sweet and savory demands good balance and this dish does that, not too sweet and not too savory it's just right, lol Sounds like goldilocks and the three bears. We would love to hear your feedback on this stew!
Happy cooking!
Ciao Loreto
Evelyne says
Oh true you do have the meat 'country' connection! The stew looks so amazing and colorful indeed. The fruits almost remind me of a Moroccan tagine. And I have to try that oven baked rice. Great dish for the month!
Hi Evelyn, yes it does resemble a tajine but I think there was alot of middle eastern influence in South America. Yes try the oven baked rice it is so percise and delicious!
Thank you!
Have a great week!
Loreto
Mae says
That looks delicious! The recipe looks like an interesting combination of ethnic foods from the multi-cultural European immigrants to Argentina. The use of dried fruit (I think) was introduced by Middle-Eastern immigrants from Lebanon and other locations.
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thank you Mae, I can see that about the introduction of fruits by the nmiddle eastern influence, it works so well in this stew adding just enough sweetness to make it so delicious.
Cheers!
Loreto
Claudia says
Your photography is great, makes everything looks so inviting. I'm looking forward to trying this version of beef stew with the unique herbal and fruit elements, and corn!
Thank you, photography can be hard especially when we are trying to capture the essence of the dish. For me I wanted to give that sense of comfort yet capture colors of the turning season. I loved the depth of flavor in this stew and love when I am at work and thinking of the stew simmering slowly in that slow cooker, thinking about how wonderful it will be to walk into the house filled with those mouth watering aromas!
Have a great day Claudia!
Ciao for now!
Loreto
Wendy Klik says
What a delicious way to eat a rainbow and I love stews and soups that help me to clean out the refrigerator.
Hi Wendy, so true these dishes and recipes are great. With mottos like ares waste not want not we are pl;eased to use up anything in the fridge. Love when at the end of the week the fridge is looking kind of minimal. A blank canvas ready to filled with what the markets will bring! Thanks for commenting!
Happy cooking!
Loreto
Tara says
I had never heard of this stew either! It looks incredible and I love all those flavors.
Thank you Tara. Thanks to colaberations and passion to culture and food as in this Eat the world. Our horizons are brightened and our recipe library growing. Loved reseaching and making this carbonada.
Cheers!
loreto
Margaret@Kitchen Frau says
Dried fruits! Wow! I can see how they would add a whole new flavour dimension to a stew. It looks hearty and flavourful and quite unique. Just the thing for a winter's meal (coming up way too soon!) with the delicious Alberta beef. I love that you can make it in a slow cooker.
Thank you Margaret. Yes the dried fruit is amazing and reminds me of the middle eastern Tajine recipes. I remeber having a dish at the Milan Food expo. It was a curried lamp and had fresh apricots stewed in the sauce so flavorful and the aroma. This stew is exactly as you described it Hearty! Sad to see winter so soon but this dish helps take those chills off!
Havee a greaat week and Happy Cooking!
Loreto
Gina says
Looks delicious! Could I make this in an instant pot?
★★★★★
Yes you can! 🙂
It will work out just fine and I am sure it will be tender and so so delicious!
EA The Spicy RD says
This looks amazing, and I love how you cleaned out your fridge to make this stew. I've eaten Argentinian food before at a restaurant here in San Diego, but I've never made it before. Thanks for this delicious new recipe~I can't wait to try it!
★★★★★
You are very welcome. I hate wasting food and hence why I love minestronis, soups and bakes not to mention stews. Throw in slow cooking and you have a dish that is waiting for you to enjoy when you come home! I don't think we have an Argentinian restaurant in Edmonton but luckily we love cooking culturally!
Can't wait for you to try this one.
Thanks for commenting!
Loreto
Jackie @ The Seaside Baker says
Wow this looks incredible! It looks like it is so full of flavor and depth!
Thank you! It really is packed with flavor!
Jenna says
Wow! This stew sounds so flavorful and the Eat the World challenge seems so fun. Definitely putting this on my must make list
Thank you Jenna. This one will definately be a hit if you like stew. It has a nice ethnic twist and the sweet component of the apricots and prunes add such richness and depth to the dish. I love Eat the World challenge, it is beautiful to learn about culture through food, not to mention delicious!
Cheers!
Loreto
Kelly says
When do you add in the dried apricots?
Hi Kelly add the apricots and prunes after you have tossed in the onions, garlic, and chili flakes. and just before you add in the wine and vegetable stock. I had forgotten to put it in the instructions but it is edited now. Thanks for the heads up!
Cheers!
Loreto