Sancocho is a rich, flavorful stew packed with a variety of meats and starchy vegetables.
Servings : 12servings
Prep Time 10 minutesmins
Cook Time 1 hourhr
Total Time 1 hourhr15 minutesmins
Ingredients
For the Stew
3teaspoonssea salt
1teaspoonfreshly ground black pepper
1teaspoonsmoked paprika
2teaspooncumin
2teaspoonsdried oregano
¾poundcubed beef stew meat,like chuck roast
¾poundpork tenderloin,cubed
½poundsmoked pork sausage,cut into 1 inch slices
2tablespoonsavocado oil
1smallred onionfinely chopped
1smalljalapenoseeded and finely chopped (optional)
1red bell pepper,finely chopped
3clovesgarlic,finely chopped
¼cupchopped fresh parsley
¼cupchopped fresh cilantro
9cupschicken stock
1largesweet potato,cubed
1 ½cupscubed waxy potato,like Yukon Gold
2green plantains,pealed and cut into 1 1/2 inch slices
2corn cobs,quartered
1cupbutternut squash cubes,pealed, seeded
For Serving
2avocados,sliced
½cupchopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
In a small bowl, mix together the sea salt, ground black pepper, smoked paprika, cumin, and dried oregano.
Season the pork and beef with the seasoning mixture.
Heat the avocado oil over medium-high heat in a large, heavy-bottomed soup pot.
Add the beef, pork, and smoked pork sausage and stir to brown the meat on all sides. Do not crowd the pan. Brown in batches if you need to. Just add all of the meat back to the pot before continuing to the next step.
Once the meat has browned, add the red onion, jalapeno, red bell pepper, garlic, fresh parsley, and fresh cilantro. Sauté until fragrant, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil.
Turn the heat to low and allow the stew to simmer for 20 minutes while you cut up the veggies.
Add the sweet potatoes, waxy potato, and plantains and simmer for 20 minutes.
Add the corn and the butternut squash and simmer for 15 minutes or until all the veggies are tender.
Remove from heat, divide the stew into bowls, top with avocado slices and cilantro, and serve.
Chuck Roast: For beef stew, there is no better cut of meat than chuck. For the best tender flavor, get a chuck pot roast and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks.
For the smoked pork sausage, I use Andouille Sausages.
Do not crowd the pan when browning the meat because it will not sear properly. Cook it in batches if you need to.
Timing is everything. It may be tempting to add all of the veggies at the same time, but you will end up with soggy butternut squash and corn. Follow the recipe and go step by step.
Be patient. Depending on the size of your veggies, they may take a bit longer to cook. Give everything a test with a fork, and let the stew simmer for a bit longer if the veggies are not softened yet and if the beef is not fall-apart tender.
Protein. Sancocho often has up to 7 different kinds of meat in it, and you can make Sancocho with chicken or, if you are feeling adventurous, it is the perfect dish to experiment with meats such as lamb, goat, or oxtail. Some Sancocho recipes include seafood. Try adding shrimp or another favorite shellfish. Just note that you will want to add the seafood at the end of the recipe (when the veggies are almost done cooking) instead of at the beginning.
Try different veggies. You can use a number of starchy veggies. Try kabocha squash instead of butternut squash or yucca in addition to or instead of plantain.
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.