Carne con Habichuelas

Think of Carne con Habichuelas as Carne con Papas’s green-bean-loving cousin! This Cuban classic swaps out hearty potatoes for fresh, crispy green beans, giving it a bright and vibrant twist. This dish is perfect for when the seasons change from summer to fall. It’s a great way to use up fresh summer green beans and turn them into fall comfort food. The tender beef and flavorful sofrito are still the stars of the show, making it a truly satisfying meal.

Braised meats are a staple in Cuban cuisine. When we were a household of 13, there was always a simmering pot of something delicious on the stove! This one is definitely a favorite!

I know what you’re thinking, I don’t have time to cook something for hours on the stove. Well, you don’t have to. This recipe can easily be adapted for the Instant Pot. Keep reading for directions below.

Instructions for Carne con Habichuelas

1. Prepare the beef. – Cut beef into bite sized pieces and season with salt and pepper. Dust the beef with flour. Brown the beef on all sides.

2. Make sofrito sauce. – Sauté onions and peppers and garlic. Add wine, tomato sauce and beef broth. Stir in seasonings to combine.

3. Braise the meat. – Add the beef back into the sofrito sauce and let simmer until completely tender.

4. Add green beans. – When the meat is tender add in the green beans and cilantro. Continue to cook until fork tender. Serve over a bed of white rice.

Alternative Cooking Methods

Pressure Cooker – Cut down the time using a pressure cooker or an Instant Pot. Use the sauté function to brown the beef and sauté the vegetables. Add all of the ingredients except for the green beans and cilantro. Cook on high for 30 minutes and let the pressure release. Add in the green beans and cilantro. Set cooker for another 3-4 minutes to cook the beans.

Slow Cooker – In a frying pan brown the beef and sauté the vegetables. Transfer the beef and vegetables to a slow cooker. Add in the rest of the ingredients except for the green beans and cilantro. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Add in the green beans and cilantro during the last 30 minutes of cooking time.

Craving More Cuban Comfort? Try These Braised Dishes

• Ropa Vieja – Cuba’s national dish of tender shredded beef and vegetables.
• Fricasé de Costillitas (Baby Back Ribs Fricassée) – Succulent baby back pork ribs that have been marinated in a vibrant marinade and then cooked in a delicate sofrito sauce.
• Fricase de Pollo (Chicken Fricassee) – Chicken and potatoes come together in this classic Cuban comfort favorite.

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Carne con Habichuelas

Author: Noelle Cooking Method: braised Cuisine: Cuban Courses: Main Dish

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time 15 mins Cook Time 2 hrs Rest Time 10 mins Total Time 2 hrs 25 mins

Servings: 6

Best Season: Fall/Winter

Description

Carne con Habichuelas is a hearty Cuban dish featuring tender chunks of beef braised in a flavorful sofrito. Simmered with green beans until perfectly cooked, this classic comfort food is best enjoyed over a bed of fluffy white rice.

Carne con Habichuelas (Beef with Green Beans)

Servings

• 1 ¹⁄₂ lb Chuck Roast

• 2 tbsp Flour

• 1 tsp Kosher Salt

• 1 tsp Black Pepper

• 4 tbsp Olive Oil

• 1 Onion (diced)

• 1 Green Bell Pepper (diced)

• ¹⁄₃ cup Fresh Garlic Cloves (measured before smashing)

• ¹⁄₃ cup Vino Seco (white wine)

• 8 oz Goya Tomato Sauce

• 2 cup Beef Broth

• 1 tbsp Cumin

• 2 Bay Leaves

• 1 tsp Salt

• ¹⁄₂ tsp Black Pepper

• ¹⁄₄ tsp Bijol

• ¹⁄₄ cup Cilantro (finely chopped)

• 3 cup Green Beans (trimmed and cut into 2" pieces)

Carne con Habichuelas Instructions

Brown the Beef

1. Cut the chuck roast into 1 to 1 1/2-inch pieces. Season with salt and pepper, then dust each piece in flour.

1. Heat a Dutch oven or a large pot over medium heat. Add the olive oil and heat until shimmering. Brown the beef in batches, ensuring each piece is cooked evenly on all sides. Remove the browned beef and set aside on a plate.

1. Add the onions and bell peppers to the Dutch oven. Season with salt and pepper. Once the onions begin to soften and turn translucent, add the crushed garlic.

1. Deglaze the pot with the vino seco. Scrape up any bits that have stuck to the pan. 

   If you don't have vino seco use a white wine that you would enjoy drinking.

1. Stir in the tomato sauce and the beef broth. 

1. Add the cumin, bay leaves, salt, pepper, and Bijol. Cook for 5 minutes to combine the flavors.

1. Return the reserved browned beef to the Dutch oven. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for about 1.5 hours, or until the beef is incredibly tender and falls apart easily.

1. Once the beef is incredibly tender, add the green beans and cilantro to the Dutch oven. Increase the heat to medium and cook until the green beans are tender. 

2. Serve the flavorful Carne con Habichuelas over a bed of fluffy white rice.

Keywords: beef,braised beef, green beans, vegetables, carne, habichuelas