Best 5 Bongos Ropa Vieja Recipes

facebook share image   twitter share image   pinterest share image   E-Mail share image

Bongos ropa vieja is a stew created in the 1800s by enslaved Africans living in Cuba. The term "ropa vieja" translates to "old clothes" because it is a dish that can be made with various leftovers and ingredients. The dish consists of shredded beef stewed in a flavorful tomato-based sauce, sometimes with ham, bacon, vegetables, and spices, and is typically served with white rice, black beans, and plantains. Its traditional preparation takes time and love, but it is well worth the effort. The history of bongos ropa vieja is rich and flavorful, tracing back to the African diaspora in Cuba.

Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!

ROPA VIEJA



Ropa Vieja image

Provided by Michael Chiarello : Food Network

Categories     main-dish

Time 3h40m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 14

4 pounds skirt steak or flank steak
4 medium onions, coarsely chopped and separated into 2 parts
2 carrots, coarsely chopped
3 celery stalk, coarsely chopped
2 bay leaves
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 jalapenos, minced
2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon salt
10 fresh plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped or 2 cans chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley leaves
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Steps:

  • In a large stock pot, put in the meat, 2 chopped onions, carrot, celery and bay leaf. Cover with water by 2 inches. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
  • When meat is very tender, turn off heat and let meat cool in liquid for 20 min, remove from broth. Set aside. Discard vegetables and strain broth through a sieve. Return broth to heat, and boil to reduce by half, about 20 to 30 minutes. When meat is cool, cut off any fat and pull into shreds about 2 inches wide.
  • While broth is reducing, heat oil in a large skillet. Over medium heat, cook the remaining half of onions, the garlic, jalapenos, green peppers and 1 tablespoon salt until softened, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1 tablespoon of salt.
  • Stir in 3 cups reduced broth and tomatoes. Cook for 10 minutes over medium heat. Stir in shredded meat, parsley, oregano, and cumin. Cook 10 minutes more.
  • Serve with white rice.

ROPA VIEJA (CUBAN BEEF)



Ropa Vieja (Cuban Beef) image

This Cuban braised beef dish literally translates to 'old clothes,' because apparently some people thought the fall-apart meat and colorful strips of onions and peppers, tangled together, looked like old, tattered clothing. You'll love this dish if you're into big, bold flavors, since there's nothing subtle about the seasoning here. Delicious served with beans, rice, and plantain chips. Garnish with more cilantro.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Stews     Beef

Time 11h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 24

1 (1 1/2-pound) flank steak
2 teaspoons kosher salt, or more to taste
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large red onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, sliced
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
½ cup white wine
1 ½ cups tomato sauce
1 ½ cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
2 bell peppers, sliced
1 poblano pepper, sliced
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
2 tablespoons capers, drained
1 cup pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced
1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste
⅓ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Steps:

  • Cut flank steak in half across the grain. Mix salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Season both sides generously with the salt mixture.
  • Heat olive oil in a pot over high heat. Add steaks and cook until outsides are well browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove steaks to a plate.
  • Reduce heat to medium. Add red onion, garlic, and more of the salt seasoning. Cook and stir until starting to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cumin, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cloves, and allspice. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Pour in white wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth.
  • Return beef and accumulated juices to the pot. Season with salt and add bay leaves. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until beef is almost fork-tender, not falling apart, about 2 hours.
  • Remove pot from heat and let stew cool to room temperature, at least 45 minutes. Refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight, for best results.
  • Remove beef to a plate and set stew over medium heat. Tear beef along the grain into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-wide shreds; place back in the stew. Add bell peppers, poblanos, smoked paprika, capers, olives, and sugar. Stir together and reduce heat to medium. Simmer until peppers are soft and meat is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off heat, remove bay leaves, and stir in cilantro.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 209 calories, Carbohydrate 10.4 g, Cholesterol 27.5 mg, Fat 12.5 g, Fiber 2.6 g, Protein 11.9 g, SaturatedFat 3.1 g, Sodium 1275 mg, Sugar 5.1 g

ROPA VIEJA (BRAISED BEEF, PEPPERS, AND ONIONS)



Ropa Vieja (Braised Beef, Peppers, and Onions) image

A Cuban recipe. Ropa vieja, or "old clothes," describes the shreds of meat, peppers, and onions resembling a mess of colorful rags. Robust stews such as this Cuban specialty are at the heart of West Indian cuisine. Found at epicurious.com.

Provided by evelynathens

Categories     Stew

Time 3h50m

Yield 8 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 29

3 lbs skirt steaks or 3 lbs flank steaks, trimmed
2 quarts water
2 carrots, chopped coarse
1 large onion, chopped coarse
2 celery ribs, chopped coarse
1 bay leaf
3 garlic cloves, crushed lightly
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorn
2 green bell peppers, cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 red onion, cut into 1/4-inch strips
4 tablespoons olive oil
14 -16 ounces canned whole tomatoes, with juice, chopped
3 tablespoons tomato paste
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
2 red bell peppers, cut into 1/4 inch strips
2 yellow bell peppers, cut into 1/4 inch strips
1 cup frozen peas, thawed
1/2 cup Spanish olives with pimento, drained and halved
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1/4 teaspoon saffron, crumbled
2 cups unconverted long-grain rice
4 cups water
3/4 teaspoon salt

Steps:

  • To braise beef: In a 5-quart kettle combine all braising ingredients and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours, or until beef is tender. Remove kettle from heat and cool meat in liquid 30 minutes. Transfer meat to a platter and cover. Strain braising liquid through a colander, pressing on solids, into a bowl. Return braising liquid to kettle and boil until reduced to 3 cups, about 30 minutes. Stew may be made up to this point 1 day ahead. Cool braising liquid completely and chill it and the beef separately, covered.
  • In kettle cook green bell peppers and onion in 2 tablespoons oil over moderate heat, stirring, until softened.
  • While vegetables are cooking, pull meat into shreds about 3 by 1/2 inches. To onion mixture add shredded meat, 2 cups braising liquid, tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, garlic, cumin, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes.
  • While stew is simmering, in a large skillet cook red and yellow bell peppers in remaining 2 tablespoons oil over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Stir peppers into stew with enough additional braising liquid to thin to desired consistency and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in peas and olives and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes.
  • Serve ropa vieja with yellow rice.
  • To make the yellow rice: In a heavy 3-quart saucepan heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté cuminseed 10 seconds, or until it turns a few shades darker and is fragrant. Stir in saffron and rice and sauté, stirring, 1 to 2 minutes, or until rice is coated well. Stir in water and salt and boil rice, uncovered and without stirring, until surface of rice is covered with steam holes and grains on top appear dry, 8 to 10 minutes more. Remove pan from heat and let rice stand, covered, 5 minutes. Fluff rice with a fork.

RICK'S CARIBBEAN ROPA VIEJA



Rick's Caribbean Ropa Vieja image

A touch of sweetness from the Caribbean gives a new flair to the standard Ropa Vieja (Cuban Meat Stew). Serve with rice.

Provided by PEWTERPIRATE

Categories     Soups, Stews and Chili Recipes     Soup Recipes     Beans and Peas

Time 1h

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 12

¼ cup butter
1 red onion, chopped
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, chopped
2 pounds flank steak
1 ½ cups red wine
1 (13.5 ounce) can coconut milk
½ cup sour cream
8 ounces flaked coconut
¼ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper

Steps:

  • Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, and cook the onion and mushrooms until lightly browned. Place flank steak in the skillet, and brown on all sides. Pour in the wine. Reduce heat to low, and continue cooking 30 minutes, or until meat is very tender. Remove meat, shred, and return to skillet.
  • Pour coconut milk into the skillet. Mix in sour cream, coconut flakes, brown sugar, allspice, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking 10 minutes, or until heated through.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 571.3 calories, Carbohydrate 19.4 g, Cholesterol 57.3 mg, Fat 45.6 g, Fiber 5.9 g, Protein 17.9 g, SaturatedFat 34.3 g, Sodium 396.9 mg, Sugar 10.1 g

ROPA VIEJA



Ropa Vieja image

This Cuban stew is made by slow cooking a flank steak until very tender. Simmering it for a few hours makes it extremely tender. Ropa Vieja means "old clothes" in Spanish.

Provided by ShanChef

Categories     Stew

Time 35m

Yield 4 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 lbs beef flank steak
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 (1/2 ounce) packets sazon goya
1 -2 cup water
3/4 cup sofrito sauce, # 191924
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon adobo seasoning
4 cups cooked white rice

Steps:

  • Season both sides of flank steak with sazon and place in pot with just enough water to cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours.
  • Remove flank steak and shred with 2 forks. Preserve 1 cup of the liquid.
  • Heat oil in skillet on medium, add sofrito and cook for 5 minutes.
  • Add 1 cup of the liquid from the pot, tomato sauce and adobo.
  • Simmer while stirring occasionally for about 10 minutes.
  • Serve over white rice.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 777.6, Fat 28.4, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 115.6, Sodium 420.9, Carbohydrate 57.4, Fiber 1.4, Sugar 2.4, Protein 67.6

Tips:

  • Prep Your Ingredients: Before you start cooking, make sure all your ingredients are prepped and ready to go. This will help you stay organized and ensure that your Ropa Vieja comes together quickly and easily.
  • Use High-Quality Beef: The quality of your beef will greatly impact the flavor of your Ropa Vieja. Look for flank steak, skirt steak, or chuck roast that is well-marbled with fat. This will help the beef stay tender and flavorful as it cooks.
  • Cook the Beef Low and Slow: Ropa Vieja is a dish that benefits from low and slow cooking. This allows the flavors to develop and the beef to become fall-apart tender. Simmer the beef for at least 2 hours, or until it is very tender.
  • Use a Variety of Vegetables: Ropa Vieja is a great dish to use up leftover vegetables. Feel free to add any vegetables you like to the pot, such as bell peppers, carrots, celery, onions, and tomatoes.
  • Add Flavorings: Ropa Vieja is a versatile dish that can be flavored in many different ways. Common flavorings include garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves. You can also add a splash of red wine or beer to the pot for extra flavor.
  • Serve with Rice or Beans: Ropa Vieja is traditionally served with rice or beans. However, you can also serve it with other sides, such as tortillas, fried plantains, or avocado slices.

Conclusion:

Ropa Vieja is a delicious and flavorful Cuban beef stew that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. Whether you serve it with rice, beans, or tortillas, Ropa Vieja is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

Related Topics