Spicy Ground Beef Stew

A citrus, spicy version of a traditional ground beef stew I grew up eating. It's refreshing and very filling. Can be served over rice, egg noodles, or mashed potatoes.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 45 mins
• Calories: 527 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 onion, chopped
• ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle beer
• ½ lemon, juiced
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 4 carrots, diced
• 2 pounds ground beef
• ⅛ teaspoon dried rosemary
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 cup water, or as needed
• 4 potatoes, chopped
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes and green chiles (such as RO*TEL®)
• 1 cup frozen cut green beans
• 1 bay leaf, or more to taste
• 1 pinch dried marjoram, or to taste
• 1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
• ⅛ teaspoon ground thyme
• 1 tablespoon beef base
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
• 4 ribs celery, chopped
• 1 tablespoon adobo all-purpose seasoning (such as Goya®)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Crumble ground beef into a stockpot set over medium-high heat; add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook and stir until beef is crumbly, evenly browned, and no longer pink, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain and discard any excess grease except 1 tablespoon of drippings.

Step 2

Stir carrots, celery, onion, and garlic into the ground beef and drippings; cook and stir until vegetables are soft, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes, diced tomatoes, chopped tomatoes, peas, corn, green beans, adobo seasoning, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram; stir until evenly mixed. Add beer, water, and beef base; stir well. Stir in cilantro, lemon juice, and bay leaf. Pour 1/4 cup more water over the mixture if needed to moisten mixture, replenishing as needed while cooking.

Step 3

Bring soup to a simmer. Cover and cook, stirring regularly, until potatoes are tender, about 1 hour.