Carne con Papas en Salsa Roja (Beef and Potatoes in Red Chilli Sauce)
Melting chunks of beef and soft potatoes simmered in smoky red chilli sauce. Scoop it up with warm tortillas.
Made with Red enchilada sauce and Corn tortillas from masa harina. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time2 hr 15
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £3.24 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Heat the oil in a large heavy pan over a high heat. Brown the beef in two batches for about 4 minutes each, until deeply coloured, and lift out.
8 min - 2
Lower the heat to medium. Cook the onion and garlic for 4 minutes until soft.
4 min - 3
Return the beef. Add your ready made red enchilada sauce (see the base recipe), the water and the salt. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover and cook for 1 hour 15 minutes, until the beef is nearly tender.
75 min - 4
Add the potatoes, cover again and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are soft and the beef is meltingly tender. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon.
30 min - 5
Taste and adjust the salt. Warm your ready made corn tortillas (see the base recipe) in a dry pan for 30 seconds a side.
- 6
Serve in bowls with the warm tortillas, coriander and lime wedges.
Tips
- Brown the beef in batches. Crowding makes it steam and turn grey.
- Keep the simmer very gentle. A hard boil toughens the beef.
- If the sauce is thin at the end, simmer uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through.
Questions
Which cut of beef is best?
Chuck steak, shin or brisket. These cuts have plenty of connective tissue that melts during slow cooking. Avoid lean steak, which dries out.
Can I cook this in a slow cooker?
Yes. Brown the beef, then cook everything except the potatoes on low for 7 hours. Add the potatoes for the last 2 hours.
More made with red enchilada sauce
Arroz a la Tumbada (Veracruz Seafood Rice)
GFDFEFEnchiladas Placeras (Plaza Style Enchiladas with Potato and Carrot)
GFEFNFCordero Estofado en Chile Rojo (Braised Lamb in Red Chilli Sauce)
DFEFNFHuaraches con Bistec y Frijoles (Beef Steak Huaraches)
EFNFDouble check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.