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    Published: Jul 18, 2019 · Modified: Dec 16, 2019 by Neyssa

    Puerto Rican Oxtail Stew

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    Tender and delicious, oxtail stew is a rich and hearty stew made with oxtails, corn, potatoes, and the traditional flavors of Puerto Rico.

    Oxtail stew is an often overlooked stew recipe. Once known as a "cheap" cut of meat, oxtails are now a sought after meat for it's desired tenderness that comes from hours of cooking this fatty cut of meat.

    oxtails with corn and potatoes

    Where do oxtails come from?

    Oxtails are just like they sound like, the tail of an ox. Oxtails are tails that have been skinned, with a thick meaty portion surrounding the bone marrow. 

    When you buy oxtails from the supermarket or butcher, often times the excess fat has been trimmed. If you find that your oxtails are extremely fatty, you may want to trim some of the excess fat.

    Should I use fresh or frozen oxtails for oxtail stew?

    Fresh is always best! I could go on and on, but if you have a choice, please choose fresh oxtails for rabo guisado. 

    How to make oxtail stew

    Puerto Rican oxtail stew typically takes hours to cook, but today we will be making oxtails in the Instant Pot. (I will leave a stove top oxtail stew recipe below.)

    Start by seasoning your oxtails the night before. You want to allow the oxtails to really marinate and take in as much flavor as possible deep into the bone marrow. This will ensure an extremely rich and flavorful oxtail stew recipe.

    Be mindful that when cooking with an Instant Pot, you always want to be a little more generous with seasonings. 

    seasoned oxtails in a glass bowl

    Outside of the seasoned oxtails, there are basically two more whole ingredients, thick cuts of potatoes and corn on the cob. You can choose to add additional ingredients, such as celery, carrots, garbanzo beans, etc. 

    I chose to keep this Puerto Rican oxtail stew on the simple side, this Instant Pot oxtail stew recipe is great for beginners!

    corn and potatoes in a glass bowl

    You can use frozen or fresh corn on the cob for this oxtail stew recipe. For the potatoes, I used red potatoes and peeled them. I then cut them in half -yes, half! If you're making this rabo guisado on the stove, you can cut your potatoes into bite size chunks.

    Now you throw it all in the Instant Pot!

    oxtails in a blue bowl with corn and potatoes

    What to serve with oxtails

    For this particular recipe, you could never go wrong with rice of any sort!

    Here are some good side dishes to go with stewed oxtails:

    • Spanish Rice
    • Mashed Potatoes
    • White Rice
    • Mangu 
    • yuca

    Recipe

    oxtails with corn and potatoes

    Instant Pot Oxtail Stew (Rabo Guisado)

    A delightfully tender Puerto Rican oxtail stew that is made in the Instant Pot!
    3.69 from 44 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: dinner
    Cuisine: Puerto Rican
    Keyword: oxtails, rabo guisado
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories:
    Author: Neyssa
    Cost: 12

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds of oxtails rinsed well
    • 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon of cumin
    • ½ tablespoon of dried oregano
    • 1 teaspoon of salt
    • 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
    • 8 oz of tomato sauce
    • ½ cup of homemade sofrito
    • 1 packet of Sazon con achiote
    • 3 cups of water
    • 3 potatoes peeled and halved
    • 4 whole corn on the cobs
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • Season oxtails with seasonings in a bowl.
    • Add oxtails and remaining ingredients to the Instant Pot.
    • Set pressure to high and cook for 55 minutes.
    • Allow for a natural release.

     

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    About Neyssa

    Neyssa is a Latina food blogger who shares her Cuban and Puerto Rican family recipes for home cooks to make.

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    Neyssa is a Puerto Rican and Cuban self-taught home cook who lives right outside of Philly and is on a mission to share recipes that are inspired by her Cuban and Puerto Rican heritage.

    More about Neyssa →

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    Rabo Guisado | Stewed Oxtails

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