Colombian National Dishes

Chivo cucuteño

Make Cúcuta-style goat braised with tomato, onion, red wine and lager, served with rice and sudado yuca

Colombian National Dishes
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A wide rustic table setting with Cúcuta goat stew, white rice and yuca served separately.
Region Cúcuta, Norte de Santander, Colombia
Dish Goat pieces braised in a tomato, onion and red-wine guiso with lager
Yield 6 servings
Active time 40 minutes
Cook time About 1 hour 45 minutes
Overview

Chivo cucuteño

Chivo is the everyday goat dish recorded for Cúcuta, Norte de Santander. The Cúcuta preparation in the Colombian cookbook uses lemon and salt on the goat, then builds a tomato, onion and garlic guiso with vinegar, red wine and dried herbs. Lager joins the meat for a slow, covered finish; white rice and sudado yuca complete the plate. This six-serving home version keeps those defining flavors and sets practical amounts for a butchered bone-in shoulder. A short parboil-and-drain step follows the documented method, while the final braise is guided by both a thermometer and a fork test. Goat varies in age and tenderness, so the stated range is a guide rather than a promise. Marinate in the refrigerator, never on the counter. The sauce should reduce until it clings to the meat, and the cassava should be completely tender before serving. The recipe is intentionally served with rice and yuca as separate accompaniments, so each keeps its own texture.

Ingredients

Ingredients

1.5 kg

  • bone-in goat shoulder pieces from a regulated butcher, cut into 5–7 cm chunks

60 ml

  • fresh lemon juice

4 g

  • fine salt for the goat

30 ml

  • neutral oil

300 g

  • ripe tomatoes, peeled and finely chopped

240 g

  • yellow onions, finely chopped

8 g

  • garlic, finely chopped

30 ml

  • red-wine vinegar

180 ml

  • dry red wine

0.5 g

  • dried oregano

0.5 g

  • dried marjoram

2 g

  • ground cumin

1 g

  • black pepper

8 g

  • fine salt for the guiso

375 ml

  • light lager beer

900 g

  • cooked white rice

900 g

  • peeled cassava (yuca), cut into 6 cm lengths

about 5 L, divided

  • water for parboiling and cooking cassava, divided
Method

Method

Method

  1. Season and marinate Pat the goat dry with paper towel; do not rinse it. Rub with the lemon juice and 4 g salt, turning each piece to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2–4 hours. Keep the bowl on a low shelf, away from ready-to-eat food.

  2. Parboil and drain Put the goat in a large pot and add fresh cold water to cover. Bring to a boil, simmer for 10 minutes, then drain and discard this water. Transfer the pieces to a clean plate with clean tongs; wash the pot before reusing it.

  3. Cook the guiso Heat the oil in a heavy casserole over medium heat. Add the tomato, onion and garlic; cook 10–12 minutes, stirring, until soft and reduced. Stir in the vinegar, red wine, oregano, marjoram, cumin, pepper and 8 g salt. Simmer 5–8 minutes until the mixture looks thick rather than watery.

  4. Braise the goat Return the goat to the guiso and turn to coat. Pour in the lager, cover and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook 45–75 minutes, turning the pieces once or twice. Check the thickest piece with a clean thermometer: it must reach at least 63°C, then rest 3 minutes. Continue in 15-minute intervals if it is not yet fork-tender; add a splash of hot water if the sauce catches.

  5. Cook the yuca While the goat braises, put the cassava in a separate pot and cover with fresh water. Bring to a boil and simmer 20–30 minutes, until a knife passes through the thickest piece and the center is fully tender. Drain carefully and keep covered. Use only fresh water for this step.

  6. Finish and serve Taste the sauce and adjust with a spoonful of hot water if it is too concentrated; avoid adding unmeasured salt. Serve the goat and sauce with 150 g cooked rice and 150 g yuca per person. Keep rice and cassava separate from the sauce until plating.

Practical guidance

Practical

Nutrition per serving

Approximate per serving; bone-in goat yield and cooked cassava size vary.

Practical guidance

Tenderness and timing The source gives about 45 minutes for the beer braise, but shoulder pieces can take longer. Keep the simmer quiet and check at 45 minutes; tenderness, not the clock, determines when to stop. Older goat may need additional covered cooking. A sauce that clings If the guiso looks thin when the goat is tender, lift the meat out briefly and simmer the sauce uncovered for a few minutes. Return the goat and turn it gently so the pieces stay intact. If it becomes too thick, loosen with hot water a tablespoon at a time. Plan ahead and store safely The lemon-and-salt rest can be done earlier the same day, always under refrigeration. Cool leftovers in shallow containers within 2 hours, refrigerate at or below 4°C and use within 3–4 days. Reheat throughout to 74°C; store rice separately when possible. Food safety and allergens Keep raw goat refrigerated and separate from ready-to-eat foods; do not rinse it, because splashes can spread bacteria. Wash hands, knife, board and tongs after contact. Marinate covered in the refrigerator. Cook whole goat pieces to at least 63°C and rest 3 minutes; braise longer for tenderness. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and reheat to 74°C. Lager may contain barley/gluten and red wine may contain sulfites; check labels.

Final notes

Tenderness and timing: Texture: A quiet braise keeps the goat moist while the guiso reduces around it. A sauce that clings: Serving: Add the rice and sudado yuca beside the goat so the sauce remains concentrated.

Nutrition per serving

Nutrition per serving

  • Servings: 6 servings
  • Energy (kcal): 660
  • Carbohydrate (g): 94
  • Protein (g): 38
  • Fat (g): 15
  • Fibre (g): 5
  • Sodium (mg): 950