Honduran Beef in Jocote, Sweet Pepper and Cilantro Sauce with Roasted Yuca

Name: Honduran Beef in Jocote, Sweet Pepper and Cilantro Sauce with Roasted Yuca
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 70 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Hondureña
Ingredients: 1.5 lb beef steak, sliced into strips or thin cutlets; 9 oz ripe jocotes; 1.75 lb peeled yuca in chunks; 10.5 oz ripe tomatoes; 1 cup red bell pepper; 1 cup white onion; 1 tbsp minced garlic; 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, chopped; 1/3 cup sour orange juice; 3 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 tsp ground annatto; 1/2 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1 cup beef broth or water; 1 3/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp butter

An original Honduran-inspired dish featuring seared beef steak covered in a sweet-tangy sauce of ripe jocote, tomato, sweet pepper, and cilantro, served with roasted yuca that is golden outside and tender inside.

25 minPrep

45 minCook

70 minTotal

4Servings

Gluten-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g beef steak, sliced into strips or thin cutlets (preferiblemente posta or lomo of res)
250 g ripe jocotes (without semilla)
800 g peeled yuca in chunks (fibra central retirada si es gruesa)
300 g ripe tomatoes (approx. 2 medium)
150 g red bell pepper (in strips or cubes)
160 g white onion (en pluma fina, divided)
12 g minced garlic (divided)
20 g fresh cilantro, chopped (divided)
80 ml sour orange juice (divided)
45 ml vegetable oil (divided)
4 g ground annatto (for color and sabor)
2 g ground cumin
1 g dried oregano
240 ml beef broth or water (for the sauce)
10 g salt (ajustar to taste)
2 g black pepper (ajustar to taste)
14 g butter (for terminar the yuca)

Nutrition facts

per serving

472 kcal

Calories

33 g

Protein

31 g

Carbs

23 g

Fat

4 g

Fiber

27 g

Net carbs

Approximate nutritional information. Estimated from the recipe’s ingredients and amounts, using standard reference nutrition values. It may vary with brands, sizes and cooking method. For guidance only; not a substitute for medical or dietary advice.

Allergens

Dairy

Instructions

1
1. Preheat the oven to 220 °C / 425 °F. Place the yuca in a pot with enough water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook over medium heat for 18 to 20 minutes, until just tender but not falling apart. Drain well.
2
2. Transfer the drained yuca to a baking tray. Toss with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, the butter, and a pinch of black pepper. Roast at 220 °C / 425 °F for 20 to 25 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden around the edges.
3
3. While the yuca roasts, marinate the beef with 2 tablespoons sour orange juice, half of the minced garlic, the cumin, oregano, annatto, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Let rest for 15 minutes.
4
4. For the sauce, place the jocotes, tomatoes, and half of the bell pepper on a skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Roast for 8 to 10 minutes, turning them, until lightly charred and softened. Let cool slightly.
5
5. Blend the roasted jocotes, tomatoes, roasted bell pepper, 1/3 of the onion, the remaining half of the garlic, 2 tablespoons cilantro, the rest of the sour orange juice, and the beef broth or water until you get a thick, smooth sauce.
6
6. Heat 1 tablespoon vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear the beef for 2 to 3 minutes per side, in batches if needed, until browned but not overcooked. Remove and keep covered.
7
7. In the same skillet, add the remaining tablespoon of vegetable oil and sauté the rest of the onion with the remaining bell pepper for 4 minutes. Pour in the blended sauce and cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Adjust with the remaining salt and more black pepper to taste.
8
8. Return the beef to the skillet and cook 3 to 4 minutes more over medium-low heat so it absorbs the sauce without toughening. Stir in the remaining fresh cilantro at the end.
9
9. Serve the beef hot with plenty of jocote sauce, alongside the freshly roasted yuca.

Chef tips

If the jocotes are very tart, add 1 or 2 extra tablespoons of tomato to round out the flavor. Do not cook the beef too long after returning it to the sauce so it stays juicy.

Substitutions

You can substitute jocote with firm red plums if unavailable, though the flavor will be less traditional. Yuca can be replaced with roasted malanga. If preferred, use parsley instead of cilantro, but the taste will change.

What I used to make it

Generic kitchen tools that work for this recipe. You don’t need to buy anything to make it.

Illustrative image
Ninja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
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Illustrative image
Cosori Pro LE 5 Qt Air Fryer
Browning and baking with little oil
- Browns food with very little oil
- Handy for vegetables, chicken and reheating
- Check the basket capacity
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Illustrative image
TempPro TP19H Digital Thermometer
Checking doneness of meat and chicken
- Checks doneness of meat and chicken
- Quick reading
- Clean the probe after each use
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