Reviewed: May 22, 2009

My husband & I both enjoyed this very much. I followed the recipe except for using commercial orange juice, and made only half the recipe. The meat ended up marinating for an extra 24 hours, as we unexpectedly went out for dinner when I should have been cooking this dish. We found the meat to be very flavorful; we can't understand why anyone would have called it bland. I served it with tortillas, but would like to know what the Portuguese usually serve with it. I would caution anyone who makes this recipe to keep a close eye on the liquid levels. I gave the recipe only 4 stars because my stew beef, while edible after an hour or so of cooking, could have used another hour to get to the point of shredding. This recipe is a keeper. Thanks, John, for a recipe that we will keep making.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
3 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

MRSLUCKYSTONE

Living In: El Paso, Texas, USA

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Feb. 1, 2009

I so desperately wanted this to be delicious, but it was so bland.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

MommaBird+3

Cooking Level: Intermediate

Home Town: Manchester, Maine, USA

Living In: Vassalboro, Maine, USA

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Dec. 16, 2008

I grew uo in New Bedford and I always had cacoila made with pork. I tried this recipe and it was good, however I like mine much spicier and I still think I prefer it made with pork. (I marinade it for 2 to 3 days first) My grandfather was from the Azores and maybe that explains the difference of beef or pork.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
3 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

L Kerwin

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Nov. 9, 2008

This recipe is not bad, it is pretty much how you make cacoila. I'm portuguese and the only thing I do different is I add a ton more garlic than this. I buy the minced in the jar and just put a few big spoons. Also when I make my cacoila I add onion powder and salt. We just throw a bunch spices in our dishes. And I don't use allspice in my cacoila but as long as you have the wine, paprika, onion, garlic, salt and pepper it'll be good. Also you can just add a splash of orange juice instead of having to zest and juice oranges.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
5 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

HeatherA

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Fairhaven, Massachusetts, USA

Living In: Marion, Massachusetts, USA

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Aug. 10, 2007

This was good. Used 1C of orange juice and about a 1/2t of orange peel for marinade. Added black beans, corn, and brown rice to pot while cooking beef. Good flavor, hint of orange.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
1 user found this review helpful

Reviewer:

BARNKITTY

Cooking Level: Expert

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Mar. 15, 2007

This just tasted like a spicier beef stew.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

erincosta78

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Sep. 18, 2006

This dish does have an interesting blend of flavors but we still found it a little bland. It was very easy to cook in the slow cooker, the meat was very tender and no extra water was needed, the marinade did act as a nice sauce served over rice. Will not make again though.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

Cathy G.

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Living In: Thorold, Ontario, Canada

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Feb. 20, 2006

The taste was perfect! Just spicy enough, with the sugar from the orange juice!! :D~~ We even kept a part extra of the sugar to prepare creamier sauce to pour over it (with wine and flour) fantastic recipe!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
1 user found this review helpful

Reviewer:

x_andy_x

Cooking Level: Beginning

Home Town: Portneuf, Quebec, Canada

Living In: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Apr. 4, 2005

Great recipe! The flavor is lacking a little though. I added 2 tablespeeon of orange zest and it really increased the flavor!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

PEAUXET

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Jan. 4, 2004

I made this for my husband who is Portugese. He didn't think it had enough flavor.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
0 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

lisa2roberto

Cooking Level: Expert

Home Town: Miami, Florida, USA

Living In: Auburndale, Florida, USA

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Jan. 27, 2003

This dish had an interesting flavour (garlic/peppery/orange) and the meat turned out tender yet firm. I marinated the meat for 24 hours which it needs to make sure the flavours are maximized. Don't know why the recipe says to add water during cooking as the marinade reduced down to a nice gravy to serve over the meat and rice. My boyfriend thought it was wonderful so I will be making it again!

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
5 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

Hot Chilli

Cooking Level: Expert

Living In: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Jan. 7, 2003

The meat was very tender. Unfortunately, even though I followed the recipe exactly, there was not much flavor. I expected more flavor with these ingredients. Sorry, but thank for sharing.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
3 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

SUTHUN

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Aug. 29, 2002

I made this recipe to break in my slow cooker. Awesome.

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
7 users found this review helpful

Reviewer:

CARREIRO

My Profile | Cooks I Like | Reviews
Photos | Recipes | Blog

Reviewed: Aug. 21, 2001

I'm Portuguese and was so happy to see this recipe. It reminded me of home. It was delicous. I can't wait to serve it to my family and friends. The BEST......

Was this review helpful? [ YES ]
11 users found this review helpful