
Colombian Flank Pot Roast in Dark Beer and Plum Sauce with Arracacha Mash and Warm Cabbage Salad
An original Colombian-inspired dish: slow-cooked flank pot roast until fork-tender, finished in a glossy dark beer, plum, and hogao sauce, served with silky arracacha mash and a warm cabbage salad with scallions and lime.
Ingredients
- 900 g beef flank pot roast (en a sola piece)
- 8 g salt (divided)
- 2 g black pepper (freshly ground)
- 30 ml vegetable oil (divided)
- 120 g scallions (chopped, partes blancas and verdes separadas)
- 150 g white onion (finely chopped)
- 15 g garlic (chopped)
- 300 g plum tomatoes (pelados and chopped)
- 2 g ground cumin
- 2 g annatto or paprika
- 355 ml dark beer
- 500 ml beef broth
- 100 g prunes (boneless, chopped)
- 20 g grated panela
- 2 unit bay leaves
- 700 g arracacha root (pelada and en trozos)
- 30 g butter
- 120 ml milk (hot)
- 300 g green cabbage (finely tajado)
- 30 ml lime juice (freshly squeezed)
- 15 g fresh cilantro (chopped)
Nutrition facts
per serving
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
Instructions
- 1
1. Season the beef flank pot roast with 4 g (3/4 tsp) of the salt and the black pepper. Let it rest for 10 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
- 2
2. In a wide pot or heavy casserole, heat 15 ml (1 tbsp) of vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Brown the beef for 4 to 5 minutes per side until nicely colored. Remove and set aside.
- 3
3. In the same pot, add the white parts of the scallions, the white onion, and the garlic. Cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the plum tomatoes, ground cumin, and annatto or paprika, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring, until a thick hogao forms.
- 4
4. Stir in the dark beer, beef broth, prunes, grated panela, bay leaves, and the remaining 4 g (3/4 tsp) salt. Mix well and let it come to a gentle boil for 2 minutes.
- 5
5. Return the beef to the pot, cover, and cook over low heat for 1 hour and 45 minutes, turning halfway through, until very tender. If you prefer the oven, transfer the covered pot to a preheated oven at 325°F / 160°C for the same amount of time.
- 6
6. Meanwhile, place the arracacha in a pot with enough water and a pinch of salt. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes until very soft. Drain well.
- 7
7. Mash the hot arracacha with the butter and hot milk until smooth. Adjust salt to taste and keep warm over very low heat or covered.
- 8
8. In a large skillet, heat the remaining 15 ml (1 tbsp) vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the green cabbage and cook for 3 minutes. Stir in the green parts of the scallions and sauté for 2 more minutes. Add the lime juice and half of the fresh cilantro, mix, and remove from the heat.
- 9
9. When the beef is ready, remove it from the sauce and slice into portions. Discard the bay leaves. If you want a thicker sauce, simmer it uncovered for 5 to 8 minutes over medium heat until slightly reduced.
- 10
10. Serve a base of arracacha mash, top with the beef, spoon over the dark beer and plum sauce, and add the warm cabbage salad on the side. Finish with the remaining fresh cilantro.
Chef tips
For an even silkier texture, let the beef rest in the sauce for 10 minutes before slicing. The prunes add deep sweetness without making the dish cloying.
Substitutions
You can replace arracacha with cassava or baby yellow potatoes for the mash. If panela is unavailable, use brown sugar. Dark beer can be replaced with non-alcoholic malt beverage for a milder version.
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 imageNinja Professional BL610 Blender
Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Smoothies, sauces and soups
- Easy-to-wash jar
- Check the power and jar size
Illustrative imageCosori 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
Illustrative imageTempPro 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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