Puerto Rican Sancocho Recipe

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, chopped
• 3 sprigs fresh cilantro, chopped
• teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1 pinch dried oregano
• Salt to taste
• 1 pounds beef stew meat, cut into small pieces
• 2 quarts water, or as needed
• (6.5 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 2 cubes beef bouillon
• 1 cup chopped fresh green beans, cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
• cup chopped celery
• 1 large chayote squash - peeled, cored, and sliced lengthwise
• 1 (15.5 ounce) can small white beans, rinsed and drained
• head cabbage, chopped
• 1 green banana, peeled and sliced into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 yellow plantain, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 5 large llautias (yautias), peeled and quartered
• 6 potatoes, peeled and quartered
• cup chopped peeled pumpkin
• 2 ears fresh corn, sliced into 6 pieces each
• cup chopped green bell pepper

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat.
2. Add chopped onion, garlic, cilantro, ground white pepper, dried oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until the onion is browned and very tender, about 20 minutes.
3. Add the stew meat. Cook and stir until the meat is browned on all sides, around 5 to 7 minutes.
4. Pour enough water into the pot to fill it three-quarters full. Add tomato sauce and beef bouillon cubes. Stir to combine.
5. Begin adding the remaining ingredients, one at a time. Stir slightly after each addition. Follow this order:
   • Green beans
   • Carrots
   • Celery
   • Chayote squash
   • White beans
   • Cabbage
   • Green banana
   • Yellow plantain
   • Llautias
   • Potatoes
   • Pumpkin
   • Corn
   • Green bell pepper
6. Cook for 2 to 3 hours, or until all vegetables are tender and the stew has developed a rich broth. Add more water or salt if needed.

Cook's Note

Many of the vegetables called for in this recipe can be found in international markets. Some have different names. For instance, llautia may also be called yautia or malanga. Chayote is a type of squash. ame, a popular Puerto Rican root vegetable, can be used instead of one of the potatoes.

Some cooks may add ginger root, chile pepper, cumin, or other seasonings, but it is suggested that these additions might interfere with the stew's natural rich flavor from the vegetables.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

• Calories: 424
• Total Fat: 8g (10% DV)
• Saturated Fat: 2g (10% DV)
• Cholesterol: 30mg (10% DV)
• Sodium: 276mg (12% DV)
• Total Carbohydrate: 74g (27% DV)
• Dietary Fiber: 10g (34% DV)
• Total Sugars: 8g
• Protein: 19g (39% DV)
• Vitamin C: 59mg (66% DV)
• Calcium: 94mg (7% DV)
• Iron: 5mg (28% DV)
• Potassium: 1874mg (40% DV)