Seco de Cordero — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

Blend the cilantro with dark beer instead of water, then fry that green puree down before the braise. Cooking it darkens the color and burns off the raw-herb grassiness, leaving a deep, savory-bitter gravy that clings to the lamb.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 4 servings

Lamb shoulder

Bone-in chunks with connective tissue that melts over a long braise. Pasture-raised lamb has real flavor.

1.2 kg

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Fresh cilantro

Two big bunches blended into a heavy green puree. Bought local.

2 cups

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Dark beer

A malty dark ale gives the braise its bittersweet backbone. Buy this fresh and local.

350 ml

Local / market

Aji amarillo and aji panca

Yellow chili for fruit and heat, dark panca for smoky depth. Local.

to taste

Local / market

Onion and garlic

Cooked down as the savory base before the puree. Fresh.

to taste

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Using lamb shoulder? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● Squeaky clean

About as virtuous as dinner gets.

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Instant PotSlow cookerOne-pot

The Method

Sear the lambBrown the salted lamb chunks hard in oil, then set aside.
Cook the baseSoften onion, garlic, and both chili pastes until dark and separating from the oil.
Fry the pureeBlend the cilantro with the beer, then fry it down until it turns deep forest green.
BraiseReturn the lamb with a little stock, cover, and braise low about 90 minutes, then uncover to tighten the gravy. Serve with rice and beans.

The Toolkit

Dutch oven · Blender · Tongs

Straight Answers

Can you make Seco de Cordero in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert

Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.

Can you freeze Seco de Cordero? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Seco de Cordero ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Seco de Cordero gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in gluten-free versions of the wheat items (check the other labels too).

Is Seco de Cordero vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.770

Seco de Cordero, and where to source it