Make Ahead

Spring Hill Ranch's Beef Chicana

by:
September 10, 2013
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Spring Hill Ranch's Beef Chicana
  • Serves 6-8
Author Notes

I do not really understand the connection between this absolutely wonderful plate of Southwestern comfort food and a lovely chicana...unless it is the way either one makes one feel all warm inside! But that's the name I learned this dish by, so who am I to argue? Whatever the reason, a plate of this concoction will make just about everyone here at the ranch start involuntarily salivating and asking, "Is it time to eat yet?" Serve this over a bed of rice or noodles. Or roll some of it up in a warm flour tortilla with a bit of jack cheese and shredded cabbage. freeze the leftovers for a nice surprise some rainy evening. —WileyP

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Southwestern Beef Marinade
  • 2/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 2/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 medium cloves of garlic, minced or pressed
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 tablespoons New Mexico chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
  • Spring Hill Ranch's Beef Chicana
  • 3 pounds thin-cut round or sirloin steak, about 1/2" thick
  • 1 recipe Southwestern Beef Marinade (above)
  • 2 tablespoons lard (or canola or vegetable oil)
  • 1 green bell pepper, 1/2" chopped
  • 1 medium white or yellow onion, sliced into thin strips
  • 1 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained (liquid reserved and used to adjust the texture if needed)
  • 1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
  • 1 medium clove of garlic, minced or pressed
  • 1 tablespoon New Mexico chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • Cooked rice or noodles or warm flour tortillas
  • Sour cream, grated cheese, chopped cilantro, shredded lettuce and/or salsa for garnish
Directions
  1. Southwestern Beef Marinade
  2. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
  1. Spring Hill Ranch's Beef Chicana
  2. Put your steak into the freezer for half an hour or so to make it easier to slice. Slice the steak into 1/8" thick slices, about 2-3 inches long. Marinate the beef strips with the Southwestern Marinade in the refrigerator for 1-3 hours
  3. Heat the lard in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the beef strips in batches. Combine all the beef strips, green bell pepper and onion in the pan. Pour the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce in and season with the garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Stir well. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes (stirring occasionally), then remove the lid and simmer an additional 15 minutes. Serve over rice or noodles or in warmed flour tortillas. Garnish as desired.
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4 Reviews

igor
igor October 9, 2016
this sounds delicious. and is seems like the perfect time of year for it.
 
WileyP
WileyP October 9, 2016
Igor, thanks for your comment and you're right - This is a great time of year for beef chicana. Matter of fact, I made a batch just last week and am looking forward to the leftovers soon!
If you are familiar with southwestern fare, you probably know of carne adovada, which is cubed pork in adobo (sauce). It is one of the major comfort foods around here. Well, beef chicana is also a major comfort food here, but uses beef and a somewhat different sauce/marinade.
Thanks again for the comment!
 
WileyP
WileyP October 14, 2015
You're welcome, Beejay. I've had great responses to this recipe from other sites and the folks around here would storm the kitchen if I didn't put this on the table at least once a month! Let me know how it goes.
 
beejay45
beejay45 October 14, 2015
This sounds good! Comes together fairly quickly, too. Going to give this a try. Thanks!