Name: Mesa de Vida Saucy Oven-Braised Recipes
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4-6
Cuisine: creole, cajun, mediterranean, italian, latin, mexican, puerto rican, caribbean, moroccan
Ingredients: 1 lb of protein (boneless chicken breast or thighs, whole pork tenderloin, sausages, ground meat, or plant-based protein), or 2 cups cooked beans, or 2 lb bone-in protein cuts (bone-in chicken portions, short ribs, pork ribs, chuck roast, pork chops, etc.). Try a combination of protein &amp; beans/legumes for a cassoulet-inspired dish!; 2 cups diced vegetables (Cube the vegetables in larger pieces if using bone-in protein that will cook longer.); 1 bottle Mesa de Vida Globally Inspired Starter Sauce of your choice; 1 cup of your favorite broth, or wine, or combination of the two (Use 2 cups if you prefer more sauce) *Canned coconut milk is great with our Caribbean inspired sauce.; 1 can diced tomatoes (optional); Salt to taste/health needs

Mesa de Vida Saucy Oven-Braised Recipes

Rated 5.0 stars by 1 users

Servings

4-6

Prep Time

10 minutes

Cook Time

45-90 minutes

just add protein and vegetables

Saucy, slow, oven-braised recipes are found all over the globe - from tagines, goulash, braised Sunday short ribs & ragu, to cassoulets, and everything in between.

Achieve easy meals with flavorful, fall-off-the-bone tender meat and vegetable dishes, or hearty vegetarian bean stews that become intensely infused with Mesa de Vida's chef-crafted starter sauces.

Once you toss everything into the Dutch Oven or heavy-bottom pot with a lid, the magic happens effortlessly in the oven. You'll be rewarded with incredible aromas and a meal that tastes like it was prepared by a gourmet chef - no special equipment, ingredients, or skills necessary!

Need some inspiration? See our pairing suggestions below.

This recipe can be made oil free, vegetarian friendly, dairy free and gluten free.

Enjoy!

Image of Mesa de Vida Saucy Oven-Braised Recipes

GATHER

1 lb of protein (boneless chicken breast or thighs, whole pork tenderloin, sausages, ground meat, or plant-based protein), or 2 cups cooked beans, or 2 lb bone-in protein cuts (bone-in chicken portions, short ribs, pork ribs, chuck roast, pork chops, etc.). Try a combination of protein & beans/legumes for a cassoulet-inspired dish!
2 cups diced vegetables (Cube the vegetables in larger pieces if using bone-in protein that will cook longer.)
1 bottle Mesa de Vida Globally Inspired Starter Sauce of your choice
1 cup of your favorite broth, or wine, or combination of the two (Use 2 cups if you prefer more sauce) *Canned coconut milk is great with our Caribbean inspired sauce.
1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
Salt to taste/health needs

COOK

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine ingredients in an oven-safe pot.
Cover and oven-braise for 45 minutes to 1-½ hours. (Time depends on the size of the cut of protein you’re using. For beans or smaller dices of boneless protein 45 minutes, for larger, bone-in pieces of meat such as bone-in chicken pieces or short ribs, up to 1-½ hours. Check for tenderness at 1 hour, then again in 15 minute increments, or use a thermometer probe.)
If you’d like the top of your ingredients to brown, remove the lid during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Remove from the oven and rest with the lid on for 10 minutes before serving.

NOTES & VARIATIONS

Serve as a stew, or over mashed potatoes, rice, couscous, quinoa, or pasta.

Recipe Inspiration:

Easy Oven Braised Chicken
- Mesa de Vida starter sauce: Any flavor
- Protein: Chicken breasts
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, mushrooms, spinach
- Addition: White wine or broth
Chicken Tagine-Inspired Recipe
- Mesa de Vida Starter Sauce: Moroccan (North African)
- Protein: Chicken thighs
- Vegetables: Olives, preserved lemon, bell peppers, diced dried apricot
Braised Meatballs
- Mesa de Vida starter sauce: Mediterranean, Creole, Latin or Moroccan (North African)
- Protein: Pre-made meatballs (frozen or fresh; regular or plant-based)
- Vegetables: Canned diced tomatoes, red bell pepper
- Addition: Wine or stock
Braised Chickpea Stew
- Mesa de Vida Starter Sauce: Creole, Latin, Mediterranean or Moroccan
- Protein: Chickpeas, sausage (optional)
- Vegetables: Bell pepper, onion, carrots
Sunday Short Ribs
- Mesa de Vida Starter Sauce: Creole, Latin, Mediterranean, Moroccan
- Protein: Beef or pork short ribs
- Vegetables: Carrots, onions, dried fruit (optional)
- Additions: Red wine or broth
Chicken & Chickpea Cassoulet
- Mesa de Vida Starter Sauce: Any
- Protein: Chicken portions (thighs, breasts, legs), canned cooked chickpeas/garbanzo beans
- Vegetables: Onion, eggplant and/or zucchini

Need More Inspiration? Suggested Pairings For Your Own Creations:

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PROTEIN
- Beef, oxtail, chicken, lamb, chickpeas.
VEGETABLES
- Bell peppers, sweet potatoes, onion, green beans, eggplant, zucchini, and habanero/scotch bonnet peppers if you like it spicy!
PROTEIN
- Fish, shrimp, crab, chicken, sausage, beef stew meat, kidney beans, red beans.
VEGETABLES
- Bell peppers, potatoes, carrots, celery, tomatoes, summer squash and okra. Add extra hot sauce or cayenne pepper if you like it spicy!
PROTEIN
- Chicken, beef, shrimp, pork ribs, short ribs, fish, pinto beans, pigeon peas, black beans.
VEGETABLES
- Bell peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, chayote.
PROTEIN
- Ground meat or plant-based alternative, chicken, short ribs, beef, lamb, sausage, lentils, Garbanzo beans.
VEGETABLES
- Bell peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, prunes, eggplant.
PROTEIN
- Ground meat or plant-based alternative, chicken, short ribs, beef, lamb, sausage, lentils, chickpeas.
VEGETABLES
- Bell peppers, onions, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, olives, apricots, prunes, eggplant.