Carne en su Jugo (Jalisco Beef and Bean Broth)
Thin strips of beef and crisp bacon in a tangy tomatillo broth with pot beans, finished with radish, onion and coriander.
Made with Salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa) and Frijoles de la olla (pot beans) and Homemade beef stock. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time50 min
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £4.35 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
Fry the bacon in a large heavy pan over a medium heat for 6 to 8 minutes, until crisp and the fat has run. Lift out with a slotted spoon.
7 min - 2
Brown the beef strips in the bacon fat in two batches for 2 to 3 minutes each, until just coloured. Remove and set aside.
5 min - 3
Soften the onion in the same pan for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and oregano for 1 minute.
6 min - 4
Pour in your ready made salsa verde (see the base recipe) and cook for 3 minutes. Add your homemade beef stock and your ready made pot beans with their broth (see the base recipes).
3 min - 5
Return the beef and bacon and simmer gently for 20 minutes, until the beef is tender and the broth is full flavoured. Season to taste.
20 min - 6
Ladle into bowls and top with radish, coriander and a little finely chopped raw onion, with lime wedges on the side.
Tips
- Slice the beef across the grain as thinly as you can. Partly freezing it for 30 minutes first makes this easier.
- Do not boil hard once the beef is back in the pan. Gentle simmering keeps the thin strips tender.
- The tomatillo broth should taste lightly sour. Squeeze in extra lime at the table to brighten it.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 2 hours and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat until steaming hot all the way through and add fresh radish and coriander when serving.
Questions
What does carne en su jugo mean?
It means meat in its own juice. The dish is from Guadalajara in Jalisco, where thin beef and bacon are simmered in a tomatillo broth with pinto beans and served with radish, onion and coriander.
What cut of beef is best?
Thin frying steak, flank or rump sliced against the grain works well, as it cooks in minutes. Avoid tough stewing cuts as they need much longer.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, provided your bacon is gluten free. Homemade beef stock has no gluten, but check the bacon label as some brands contain wheat.
More made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Quesadillas de Champiñones al Ajillo (Garlic Mushroom Quesadillas)
EFNFChilaquiles Verdes con Queso Blanco (Green Chilaquiles with Queso)
GFNFVTacos Dorados de Pollo Asado (Crispy Rolled Chicken Tacos)
GFEFNFChilaquiles Divorciados (Red and Green Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs)
GFNFVSee every dish made with salsa verde (cooked tomatillo salsa)
Double 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.
