Nancy West’s Classic Green Chile Stew from New Mexico

2 lbs. lean beef stew meat or round steak, cubed

All-purpose flour

Cooking oil

1 1/2 large onions, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cans (10-oz. each) tomatoes with green chiles (mild or hot)

2 cans (10-oz. each) whole green chiles, coarsely chopped

or frozen diced green chiles, to taste

2 c. water, or as needed

2 tsp. beef bouillon powder or 2 beef bouillion cubes (optional)

This recipe is a basic guideline - the variations are endless. You can easily adapt it to a crockpot as well. It can be made very hot or extremely mild according to your family's preferences and tastes great fresh or made ahead and served the following day. (If cooking ahead, use spices sparingly as it will be twice as hot the next day.) We serve it with warm flour tortillas, guacamole, refried beans and Mexican rice, along with biscochitos (Mexican spice cookies) for dessert.

Directions:

1. Roll the meat cubes in flour.

2. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, slowly brown meat on all sides in a small amount of cooking oil.

3. Add the onion and garlic. Simmer for 5 minutes.

4. Add the water. Cover and simmer for about 3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, or until meat is fork-tender. Or, if using a slow cooker, transfer ingredients to a crockpot, add the water and proceed as directed.

5. Variation 1: For cubed round steak, substitute 2 lbs. lean ground beef (See note).

6. Variation 2: Add 2 cans (16-oz. each) pinto beans or 2 cans (16-oz. each) yellow whole kernel corn or hominy.

7. Variation 3: Omit 1 can of the tomatoes with green chiles and add 2 cans (14.5-oz. each) whole tomatoes, chopped.

8. Variation 4: Add 3-6 medium potatoes, diced, and 2 carrots, sliced.

9. Variation 5: For the cans of tomatoes with green chiles, substitute 1 large can (46-oz.) V-8 Cocktail Vegetable Juice.

10. Makes 8 servings.

Note: Recipe can be doubled or tripled to adjust quantity of servings. Any kind of meat can be substituted for the beef cubes, including leftover beef or pork roast, chicken, turkey, etc. Or add rotisserie chicken for a quick fix.