The fall season brings a pleasant chill, and nothing beats digging into a huge bowl of stew. So it’s time to dust off those big pots and prep them for soul-satisfying stews and soups. I can already see myself covered in blankets while slurping on my favorite comfort soup while watching a popular TV series. Aah! So relaxing! I usually make a gigantic batch of stew and freeze leftovers for an easy, hearty meal whenever I’m rushed but need a delicious, healthy meal. And my first batch of stew is none other than this traditional sancocho recipe. Yum!
Recipe Ingredients
For this recipe, I adopted the Puerto Rican version, then added my own spin to it to amp up the flavor of this mighty fine comfort food. 😉
How to Make Sancocho
Prep the Ingredients
Marinate – Season meat (chicken, beef) on both sides with salt and sazon, or just use your favorite spice mix. Let sit at room temperature for at least 15 minutes.Prep the Pan – Heat a Dutch oven or large pot over medium-high heat. Add oil to the pot.Add Meat – If desired, you may do so in batches or brown the beef and chicken separately. Let it sear for about 2 minutes before turning the meat over.Add Sausage – Cook for about 6 minutes or until brown. Add sausage and cook for 2 more minutes.Saute the Seasonings – Add the sofrito, garlic, cumin, paprika, oregano, and a tad more sazon. Sauté until fragrant, about a minute. Then add onions, and cook for about 5 minutes longer.
Let It Simmer
Simmer – Pour in water or broth. Then return the meat, bring it to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 15-20 minutes, depending on the cut of beef. Cook less if only using chicken.Add Vegetables – Next, add root vegetables – starting with the one that needs the most time to cook – in this case, green plantains. Cook for about 10 minutes before adding the yuca, squash, potatoes, and corn.Continue Simmering – Continue cooking stew for 10 minutes until the veggies begin to soften.Adjust Taste – Season with salt and pepper, and taste test to adjust seasonings.Final Stretch – Continue simmering until the root vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes. The stew should be thick and hearty. If it’s not, smash a few root vegetables to thicken it.Serve in generous bowls and top with chopped cilantro.
Recipe Variations
Tips and Tricks
Make-Ahead Instructions
Luckily, our robust stew keeps well in the fridge and is freezer-friendly. So if you’re a stew-lover like me, I suggest doubling the recipe and storing it in the refrigerator or freezer so you’ve got it ready when the craving hits. All you need is to reheat it, and it’ll be on the table in no time. 😉
Serving and Storage Instructions
Although this dish is quite enjoyable on its own, nothing beats pouring sancocho over a warm bed of rice. Aah! It’s happiness on a plate. I can eat this combo all day! 👌 I suggest storing leftover sancocho in serving-size containers for easy meal prep. The individual servings are also easier to thaw and reheat. It lasts 5 days in the refrigerator and 3 months in the freezer. But don’t forget to label them with the date to keep track of their freshness. Simply thaw your sancocho overnight in the fridge, and warm it up on a stove or microwave the next day. A splash of broth or water will thin your stew if it gets too thick.
What to Serve with Sancocho
Traditionally, sancocho is paired with rice, sliced avocado, tostones, and pique (a homemade hot sauce). But you’ll also love it served with bread recipes below to clean your bowl. ✌️
Potato Bread RollsWhole Wheat BreadNo-Knead BreadPita Bread3-Ingredient Biscuits
More Warming Fall Recipes to Try
Carrot Ginger SoupFrench Onion SoupBroccoli Cheese SoupJamaican Oxtail StewOkra and Tomatoes with Chicken
Conclusion
This super easy sancocho recipe will surely blow you away with how hearty and flavorful it is. Would you like more incredible recipes for fall? Check out 35 Best Fall Baking Recipes to Try and 35 Best Fall Appetizers Roundup Collection for some drool-worthy dishes. ❤️
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”7vrFqhds” upload-date=”2022-08-29T12:50:03.000Z” name=”SANCOCHO.mp4″ description=”Sancocho Recipe is the perfect one-pot meal is a hearty, mouthwateringly delicious stew with different kinds of meat, sausage, and root vegetables. This Caribbean stew is absolutely soul-satisfying on its own.” player-type=”collapse” override-embed=”false”] This blog post was originally published in October 2018 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.
