Easy Homemade Beef Mechado

👉Ingredients:

↪️1 kg beef chunks

↪️⅓ cup soy sauce

↪️Juice of ½ lemon

↪️Ground black pepper (to taste)

↪️5 cloves garlic, minced

↪️1 medium onion, sliced

↪️2 carrots, cut into chunks

↪️2 medium potatoes, cut into chunks

↪️1 large green bell pepper, sliced

↪️Cooking oil

↪️180g tomato sauce

↪️1 beef broth cube

↪️1 Thai chili (optional for spice)

↪️4 bay leaves

↪️Water

👉Instructions:

✅️1. In a bowl, combine beef, soy sauce, lemon juice, and black pepper. Mix well and marinate for at least 1 hour.

✅️2. Heat oil in a pan. Sauté garlic and onion until fragrant. Add the marinated beef and cook for a minute. Add the bay leaves and leftover marinade. Stir, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

✅️3. Pour in tomato sauce and 2 cups of water. Add the beef broth cube and chili. Stir, cover, and cook for 40 minutes to 1 hour or until beef is tender. (Add more water as needed.)

✅️4. Add carrots and potatoes; cook until tender. Then add the bell pepper and simmer until the sauce thickens.

👉3 Quick Tips for Perfect Mechado:

🔸️1. Use beef with some fat (like chuck or brisket) for a richer, more tender result.

🔸️2. Let it rest 10 minutes before serving so the flavors settle beautifully.

🔸️3. Serve with rice to soak up that delicious, savory sauce!