Ternera en Salsa Recipe: Spanish Beef Stew Comfort Food 2026

Ternera en salsa is a traditional Spanish beef stew that shows up on dinner tables all over the country, and for good reason. Cubes of beef are browned, then slowly simmered with onion, carrot, celery, and herbs in a red wine and beef broth sauce until the meat is meltingly tender.

This is a one-pot dish that asks very little of the cook beyond a bit of patience. Everything goes into the same pot, and the stove does the rest. The result is a deeply savory, aromatic stew with a rich sauce that begs for crusty bread or a pile of white rice.

It is also a wonderful make-ahead meal. Like most braises, it tastes even better the next day, and it freezes beautifully, so you can double the batch and stash portions away for busy nights.

Ingredients for Ternera en Salsa

This recipe makes 4 generous servings.

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 800 g beef, cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon wheat flour
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 large onion
• 100 g carrots
• 1 celery stalk
• 1 bay leaf
• 3 sprigs oregano
• 75 ml red wine
• 200 ml beef broth

How to Make Ternera en Salsa Step by Step

1. Brown the Beef

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot. Season 800 g of beef cubes with salt and pepper, toss them with 1 tablespoon of flour, and brown them in the hot oil for 8 to 10 minutes, turning so they color on all sides.

2. Add the Vegetables and Herbs

Add 1 large onion cut into chunks, 100 g of carrots sliced into rounds, and 1 chopped celery stalk. Stir everything together, then cook with 1 bay leaf and 3 sprigs of oregano for 25 to 30 minutes over low-medium heat.

3. Pour in the Wine and Broth

After that time, pour in 75 ml of red wine and let it reduce for 3 minutes. Then add 200 ml of beef broth.

4. Simmer Until Tender

Cover the pot and cook the beef over low heat for 2 hours, until the meat is completely tender.

5. Serve

Once the beef is tender, it is ready to serve. Spoon it into bowls with plenty of the sauce and enjoy this flavorful ternera en salsa while it is hot.

Tips for the Best Ternera en Salsa

Make It Your Own

There is no single way to prepare this dish, since every household has its own version. This is the basic, simplest approach: you just keep adding ingredients to one pot. Leek, bell peppers, or tomato also work beautifully here, and if you want a thicker sauce, stir in a few tablespoons of tomato sauce, homemade or good-quality store-bought.

Flour and Herb Swaps

The flour helps thicken the rich sauce that coats the beef, but if you cannot eat gluten, you can use rice flour or skip it altogether. For aromatics, bay leaf and oregano are the classic choice, though thyme, herbes de Provence, or a bouquet garni are all excellent alternatives.

Make Ahead and Freeze

This stew is ideal for making in advance because it only improves with time. It is also great for cooking in bulk and freezing in portions for days when you have no time to cook. To thaw, move the portions to the fridge the night before and reheat them thoroughly at lunchtime. Served with white rice or fried potatoes, this beef stew is simply exquisite.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

Tapas and Mediterranean flavors are a constant craving, so I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion begs for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is what I serve.

Come lunch or dinnertime, these are the dishes I hand out to friends most often: a soul-warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. For something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make an effortless appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks alongside a full menu, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a favorite of mine when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture pays off, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture while saving time. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

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