This Beef Stew is full of flavor, filling and comforting. The recipe is easy to follow and perfect for a winter meal.
Colombians love Estofados. We make them with chicken, fish, beef and pork served over white rice to soak the delicious sauce. This Beef Stew in Tomato Sauce (Estofado de Res) is very rich, with the tomato sauce base adding a sweetness to the dish.
This dish is a bowl of pure dish comfort loaded with flavor. Best of all, it's easy to put together and you don't need a lot of ingredients.
Ingredients You Need to Make this Recipe
You'll find the printable recipe card below with exact amounts and directions.
- Beef: Use a good quality beef.
- Oil: I recommend using canola or vegetable oil
- Flour: All purpose flour
- Vegetables: Garlic, onion, carrots and potatoes
- Spices and seasoning: Salt, tomato sauce, cumin and bay leaf
Tips to Make this Beef Stew
I recommend using a chuck roast to make beef stew and cutting the pieces at home. I don't like to use pre-cut stew meat sold at the stores, sometimes is not the best quality.
If the beef stew isn’t as thick as you’d like, just simmer it on the stove until it reaches the right consistency. Cooking over low heat will allow the flavors to blend together and make the beef tender. Make sure you cook it for about 1 hour or until the meat is soft.
How to Store Beef Stew
To store transfer the leftover stew to an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove.
More Stew Recipes to try
Sudado de Albóndigas (Meatball Stew)
Sudado de Pollo (Chicken Stew)
Guisado de Camarones (Shrimp in Creole Tomato Sauce)
Beef Stew in Tomato Sauce Recipe (Estofado de Res)
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless beef for stew cut into 2” x 2” cubes
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 cup chopped white onion
- 2 large carrots slice crosswise
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups beef stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ¼ teaspoon cumin powder
- 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into small chunks
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic and cook for about 4 minutes or until the onions are translucent.
- Coat the beef chunks with the flour and add to the pot, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.
- Add the tomato sauce, beef stock, bay leaf, salt, cumin powder and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low, cover and let it cook for about 1 hour and 10 minutes or until the meat is tender.
- Add the potatoes and carrots. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots are tender.
- Serve with white rice.
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
The cumin is a great addition to the beef stew! Wonderful flavors!
Anonymous
Ii like colombian food
Sophie
Yum, I make this dishes as this one a lot, especially in winter time!
Your version looks great! Yum Yum Yum!
Anna
I miss to cook this dish, we have something similar. I use red wine in mine. It looks delicious.
Victor
I bought some cumin spices a while back to make some Mexican dishes, since then, I haven't used cumin a lot. Thanks for the recipe, I'll consider it cooking it next time
Felisha
Made this last night. I just did it a little different. I put all the ingredients in a crock pot and let it slow cook for 8 hours. I didn't have any potatoes, so I just used 2 cups of frozen mixed vegetables instead. Everything cooked for the same amount of time. I served it with white rice too. Fantastic recipe, as usual. 🙂
Erica
Felisha ,
Thank you for you feedback.
The way you made this recipe sounds delicious!
Alan Bowman
Hi Felisha/Erica from Spain
Meat, here, seems to always be tough so using a slow-cooker to cook it slowly for a long period is a great way of making it more tender. Instead of using potatoes, I often use dumplings popped into the pot about an hour before serving so that they are light and fluffy.
Sapuche
This looks so hearty and delicious. I'm bookmarking it to try soon! I also appreciate knowing that this can also be used with other types of meat!
John
Hi Erica,
As I am maried with a Colombian wife but unfortunately live separately by circumstances,
I love to cook Colombian meals and want to try everything what I tasted before!
I tried your recipe and served it to my mother and best friend.
You know what happened, they finished the whole casserole , nothing was left after dinner!
Your website is just perfect, do not mind the grammar, you are doing fine!
John
Erica
Hi John,
Thank you so much for the feedback and for the very nice comment!
AYANNA
Thanks for the great recipe. I will be trying it soon. I am half Colombian but never got to experience the culture at all. Now that I have grown I am more curious and want to know more about it. The food culture etc.
Angela
This is the ultimate comfort food! I bet the cumin and bay leaf are delicious. Thanks for posting!
MariaElena
I grew up loving my Mom's beef stew but it doesn't compare to this. I followed the directions exactly and it was perfect. The meat was so tender and the next time I am going to make a double batch for more leftovers.
JAIME
se ve facil la receta ahora vere si tengo exito en la elaboracion gracia x la receta.
Marisol
OMG...I'm so glad I came across your site!! Your Colombian recipes are great!! They are very similar, if not almost identical to my mother's cooking, which I believe it's because she is also from Antioquia, Medellin. I'm off at college and there are days I miss my mother's Colombian cooking and I hate to call her and bother her all the time asking how to make stuff. I've been looking for a recipe on pasteles de pollo but have yet to find one. My mother says she's never made them before so I don't know if maybe they aren't common in Medellin. Thank you so much for posting your recipes! They are awesome!
Felipe su
I all read make the Beef Stew in Tomato Sauce an i was greate stuff
Lynneytte
Thank you, this was delicious!!!
grace
my favorite part of this would be the potatoes, as they've soaked up all that delicious broth! 🙂
Anonymous
What kind of tomatoe sauce do you use?
Erica Dinho
Your favorite canned tomato sauce.
Anonymous
I made this last night and was so happy with how it turned out. Absolutely delicious!
Stephanie Osmani
Make this lot's over the winter days! Add extra Cumin:)
VANESSA A
I LOVE THAT THIS HAS THE NUTRITION FACTS!
THANKS FOR ADDING THEM =]
Alan Bowman
Re-reading this recipe, the chunks of beef sound rather large. Did you mean 2cm x 2cm rather than 2 inch by 2 inch. I am making this in the slow cooker for tomoroow's lunch.
Erica Dinho
You can cut the meat to your own taste.