Let’s break it down:
🇲🇽 Chile Colorado Plate (with Rice & Beans)
What is Chile Colorado?
A Mexican dish made with tender chunks of beef simmered in a rich red chile sauce, made from dried chiles like guajillo, ancho, and sometimes pasilla. “Colorado” refers to the deep red color (“colored” in Spanish), not the state!
Ingredients for Chile Colorado:
For the beef:
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2 lbs beef chuck, cut into 1-inch pieces
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1 tbsp oil
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Salt & pepper
For the red chile sauce:
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3 dried guajillo chiles
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2 dried ancho chiles
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2 garlic cloves
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½ onion
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1 tsp cumin
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1 tsp oregano
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2 cups beef broth (plus more if needed)
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Salt to taste
Instructions:
1. Make the red chile sauce:
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Remove stems and seeds from chiles. Toast them lightly in a dry skillet (just until fragrant, 30 seconds per side).
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Simmer chiles in water for 10–15 min until softened.
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Blend soaked chiles with garlic, onion, cumin, oregano, and 1½ to 2 cups beef broth until smooth. Strain if needed for smoothness.
2. Brown the beef:
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In a pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high. Season beef with salt and pepper, then brown in batches. Set aside.
3. Simmer it all:
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Return beef to the pot. Pour in red chile sauce. Add a little more broth if needed to cover the beef.
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Simmer 1.5 to 2 hours, covered, until beef is melt-in-your-mouth tender. Stir occasionally.
Sides for the Plate:
Mexican Rice (Easy Version):
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1 cup long-grain rice
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2 tbsp oil
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¼ onion, finely chopped
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2 cups chicken broth
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2 tbsp tomato sauce or 1 diced tomato
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Salt & garlic powder to taste
Cook rice in oil until lightly golden. Add rest of ingredients, simmer covered 20 minutes.
🫘 Refried Beans:
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Use canned pinto beans or homemade
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Mash with a little oil or lard, season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt
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Add water or bean liquid to desired consistency
To Plate It:
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Scoop some rice, a spoonful of beans, and pile that rich, saucy Chile Colorado next to them.
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Garnish with cilantro, lime, or a side of warm tortillas or cornbread.
Want to kick it up a notch with cheese on the beans or sour cream drizzle? Or maybe do a slow cooker version of the Chile Colorado? I got you.