Chilean Carne Mechada Recipe

Chilean Mechada is a shredded beef slowed-cooked dish, and you might know it as Ropa Vieja in other Latin American countries.

What is Carne Mechada?

Carne Merchada is a popular dish found in Latin American cuisine. It is made by slowly cooking beef with onions, broth, and all kinds of delicious ingredients and later shredding it.

This is the traditional Chilean variation, but it’s also typical in Venezuela and Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Panama (as ropa vieja). The dish is named after the Spanish word for “shredded meat,” Carne Mechada.

Carne mechada is a versatile dish that can be served as a main course or filling for tacos, empanadas, or arepas. It is also often used as a topping for grains or beans.

Carne Mechada will be a hit with its juicy, flavorful meat, no matter how it is served.

Other Latin Recipes:

• Argentinian empanadas
• Porotos con Rienda
• Puerto Rican Rice and Pork Instant Pot
• Cuban Mojo Chicken

How to make Mechada?

Mechada is made in many different ways. Again, each country has its take on this, and it can be cooked using a slow cooker or stove and baked. You can even use a pressure cooker such as an Instant Pot to make it.

But if you want to enjoy Instant Pork, using a pressure cooker will be the way to go!

How to make Mechada using an Instant Pot

In this recipe, we used a Dutch oven on the stovetop, but making this recipe using an Instant Pot is not hard. Follow the steps below.

Depending on your Instant Pot model, add the ingredients into your Instant Pot, press manual, or pressure cook.

Set the timer for 1 hour and let it naturally release (or at least 15 minutes); the meat will be easy to pull apart!

And you will have Instant Pot Pork ready to serve!

What to serve with Mechada?

You can serve Mechada with:

• White rice
• French fries
• Mashed potatoes
• Baked potatoes
• Arepas
• Pupusas
• Tostones
• Salad

You can even make it into tacos and empanadas!

In Chile is served as a sandwich filling (with tomato and avocado), and in Venezuela is served with arepas. And try it as a filler, Pupusas, and the result was delicious! 

Can you freeze Mechada?

This Mechada recipe or Ropa Vieja recipe will freeze well. I love to make a big batch and freeze half for later when I want to make empanadas.

To freeze this Mechada recipe, use a freezer-friendly bag or container, date it, and place it in your freezer.  Mechada will freeze well for up to 4 months. I’m sure if you use a Food Saver, it will last longer.

What are the ingredients to make Mechada?

To make this Chilean Ropa Vieja version, you are going to need the following ingredients listed below:

• Chuck roast
• Onion
• Garlic cloves
• Carrot
• Celery stick
• Wine
• Broth
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper

Now that you have gathered all of the ingredients, it’s time to cook this Mechada.

Grab your favorite pot; we used a Dutch oven to make this shredded meat recipe. Add two tablespoons (Tbsp) to the pot and heat (medium-high).

Meanwhile, pat the meat dry and season it with salt and pepper. Once the pot is warm, add the meat and brown for about four minutes per side.

After both side of the meat has been browned, add the rest of the olive oil.

Then add the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery.

Continue to cook over medium-high heat for about 5 minutes.

Next, pour the wine and broth and cover. Lower the heat a bit and let it simmer for about 2 hours. Always check to see if you need to add more broth to it.

Once the meat is falling apart, shred the roast using two forks. Allow it to cook for 30 more minutes before serving.

Your Chilean Mechada is ready to serve!

Simple Mechada Recipe

Now that you read all you need to know about making this Mechada recipe, it is time to print the recipe.