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Peruvian Beef and Cilantro Stew
Seco de carne is a classic Peruvian meat and vegetable stew, and a perfect contender for cooking in an Instant Pot, either quickly under pressure or using the slow-cooker function. Fresh cilantro is a defining flavor of the dish. We blend an entire bunch of cilantro with jalapeños, a stand-in for harder-to-find Peruvian chilies, then stir in the puree at the very end so both the flavor and color remain bold and bright. Use a crisp, quaffable beer that will play nicely with the other flavors in the stew. Serve with rice and beans.
6
Servings
Tip
Don’t be afraid to use the tender stems of the cilantro, discarding only the thick, fibrous pieces. The stems contain a lot of flavor and will break down when blended.
FAST: 1¼ hours
Slow: 7¾ to 8¾ hours
40 minutes active time
Ingredients
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4
tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
-
1
medium red onion, chopped
Directions
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01On a 6-quart Instant Pot, select Normal/Medium Sauté. Heat 2 tablespoons oil until shimmering, then add the onion, bell pepper and ½ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin and all but 2 tablespoons of the jalapeños; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds. Add the beer and vinegar, then scrape up any browned bits. Stir in the carrots and beef, then distribute in an even layer.
Reviews
October 16, 2025
Delicious!
I read that Peruvians make this dish with chicken too and I didn’t have beef on hand. Used chicken thighs instead of beef and followed all the instructions except adjusted timing to 12 min on pressure cook. Was extremely good over rice!
February 23, 2023
Loved it
I made this stew in the pressure cooking mode. It tastes fresh and delicious. I used Sapporo beer. I didn't have any fresh hot peppers, so I used a spoonful of jarred aji amarillo paste. I will make this again.
August 31, 2022
Beautiful.
There’s a good deal of prep work involved, but it’s absolutely worth it! It’s nice to look at, which one normally wouldn’t say about a stew. I’ve made it twice and will do so again.
February 23, 2023
Serviceable stew
This is good hearty soup. I thought with all the jalapeños it would be spicier, but it was a bit bland.
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Where’s the head note about the beer?