Gentle Peruvian Beef Seco with Lima Beans and Loche Squash

Name: Gentle Peruvian Beef Seco with Lima Beans and Loche Squash
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 95 min
Total time: 120 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: peruana
Ingredients: 1.5 lb beef stew meat, cubed; 2 cups cooked lima beans; 2 cups loche squash, small diced; 1 1/2 cups red onion, finely chopped; 1 tbsp garlic, minced; 3 tbsp ají amarillo paste; 2 tbsp ají panca paste; 1/3 cup blended cilantro; 1 cup chicha de jora; 2 cups beef broth; 3/4 cup carrot, small diced; 1/2 cup green peas; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1 leaf bay leaf; 2 tbsp vegetable oil; 1 1/4 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1 tbsp lime juice; 4 cups cooked white rice

An original Peruvian-inspired stew featuring beef simmered slowly in a fragrant cilantro, ají amarillo, and chicha de jora sauce, served with creamy lima beans and diced loche squash for sweetness and a silky texture.

25 minPrep

95 minCook

120 minTotal

4Servings

Dairy-FreeHigh Protein

Ingredients

Adjust servings

700 g beef stew meat, cubed (without exceso of grasa)
400 g cooked lima beans (pueden ser fresh or ya cocidos)
300 g loche squash, small diced (si no se consigue, usar calabaza tipo kabocha)
180 g red onion, finely chopped
15 g garlic, minced
45 g ají amarillo paste
30 g ají panca paste
80 ml blended cilantro (licuado with a poco of agua)
250 ml chicha de jora
500 ml beef broth
100 g carrot, small diced
80 g green peas
2 g ground cumin
1 g dried oregano
1 unit bay leaf
30 ml vegetable oil
8 g salt (or to taste)
2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
15 ml lime juice
600 g cooked white rice (for servir)

Nutrition facts

per serving

610 kcal

Calories

38 g

Protein

45 g

Carbs

28 g

Fat

9 g

Fiber

36 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

Sulfites

Instructions

1
Season the beef with 4 g (about 3/4 tsp) of the salt, black pepper, and cumin. Let it rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
2
In a wide pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Brown the beef in batches for 6 to 8 minutes until nicely colored. Remove and set aside.
3
In the same pot, add the red onion and cook for 5 minutes until translucent. Stir in the garlic, ají amarillo paste, and ají panca paste, and cook 3 more minutes, stirring so the pastes lose their raw taste.
4
Add the blended cilantro, carrot, dried oregano, and bay leaf. Cook for 2 minutes. Pour in the chicha de jora and let it simmer gently for 2 minutes to bring the flavors together.
5
Return the beef to the pot and add the beef broth. Mix well, cover partially, and cook over low heat for 60 minutes, until the beef is tender.
6
Add the loche squash and cooked lima beans. Cook 15 minutes more, stirring gently so the beans do not break apart. For a thicker sauce, lightly mash a few squash cubes against the side of the pot.
7
Stir in the green peas, the remaining salt, and the lime juice. Cook 5 additional minutes until the peas are tender and the sauce is glossy and lightly thickened.
8
Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove the bay leaf. Serve the gentle beef seco piping hot with cooked white rice.
9
If you want to keep the rice warm, cover it and hold it in a 200 °F / 95 °C oven for up to 15 minutes before serving.

Chef tips

Browning the beef well at the beginning builds depth in the stew. Do not raise the heat too much during the slow simmer; a gentle bubble keeps the beef juicy and prevents the lima beans from falling apart.

Substitutions

You can replace loche squash with kabocha or butternut squash. If chicha de jora is unavailable, use half mild lager and half water. Lima beans can be swapped for cooked canary beans, though the final flavor will be different.

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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