Ropa vieja is a traditional Cuban shredded beef dish that is both flavorful and easy to make. The name "ropa vieja" translates to "old clothes" in Spanish, referring to the way the beef is shredded into thin, tender strands. This classic Cuban dish is typically made with flank steak or chuck roast, simmered in a flavorful broth until the meat is fall-apart tender. The shredded beef is then combined with a delicious sauce made from tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spices. Ropa vieja is often served with white rice, black beans, and fried plantains, making it a complete and satisfying meal. It is a versatile dish that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner, and it is also a popular choice for parties and potlucks.
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CUBAN ROPA VIEJA
I love having this as a go-to recipe for a weeknight meal. Its great authentic Cuban taste puts it at the top of my list.-Melissa Pelkey-Hass, Waleska, Georgia
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Dinner
Time 7h25m
Yield 8 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels., In same skillet, heat drippings over medium-high heat; brown steak in batches. Transfer meat and bacon to a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker. In a large bowl, combine tomatoes, beef stock, tomato paste, garlic, seasonings and vegetables; pour over meat. Cook, covered, on low 7-9 hours or until meat is tender. Shred beef with two forks; return to slow cooker. Stir in cilantro. Remove with a slotted spoon; serve with rice., Freeze option: Freeze cooled meat mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Microwave, covered, on high in a microwave-safe dish until heated through, gently stirring and adding a little stock or water if necessary.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 335 calories, Fat 17g fat (6g saturated fat), Cholesterol 68mg cholesterol, Sodium 765mg sodium, Carbohydrate 17g carbohydrate (9g sugars, Fiber 4g fiber), Protein 29g protein.
ROPA VIEJA (CUBAN BEEF)
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
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
ULTIMATE ROPA VIEJA
This favorite Cuban dish is positively PACKED with flavor!
Provided by Kimberly Killebrew
Categories Entree Main Course
Time 4h45m
Number Of Ingredients 24
Steps:
- Pat the beef dry and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Heat a little oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Once very hot add the beef and brown generously on all sides. Transfer the beef to a plate. (Do not discard the drippings and blackened bits in the pot, they are key to the flavor.)
- Add the sliced vegetables to the pot and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until caramelized. Add the garlic and spices and cook for another minute. Add the white wine and bring it to a rapid boil, deglazing the bottom of the pan (scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan).
- Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and bay leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Return the roast to the pot along with the pieces of carrots and celery. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 3-4 hours or until the beef is fork tender and falls apart easily. Discard the celery, carrots and bay leaves.
- Transfer the beef to a plate and shred it. Return the shredded beef to the pot.
- Stir in the olives, roasted red peppers, capers and pimientos. Simmer uncovered to thicken the sauce for 30 minutes. Stir in the parsley and add salt and pepper to taste.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 306 kcal, Carbohydrate 15 g, Protein 25 g, Fat 16 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 78 mg, Sodium 1509 mg, Fiber 4 g, Sugar 7 g, ServingSize 1 serving
CUBAN ROPA VIEJA... SO GOOD!
Make and share this Cuban Ropa Vieja... so Good! recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Dommynchristian
Categories Easy
Time 4h15m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.
- Transfer beef to a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar. Stir until well blended. Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for up to 10 hours. When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 589, Fat 28.5, SaturatedFat 9.8, Cholesterol 183.7, Sodium 984.4, Carbohydrate 15, Fiber 3.5, Sugar 9.2, Protein 66.4
CUBAN ROPA VIEJA
This is great shredded beef served on tortillas or over rice. Add sour cream, cheese, and fresh cilantro on the side.
Provided by Kate Phillips Masterson
Categories World Cuisine Recipes Latin American Caribbean
Time 4h15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.
- Transfer beef to a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar. Stir until well blended. Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for up to 10 hours. When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 260.5 calories, Carbohydrate 9.9 g, Cholesterol 47.6 mg, Fat 15.8 g, Fiber 2.3 g, Protein 20.5 g, SaturatedFat 5.3 g, Sodium 599.2 mg, Sugar 5.9 g
CUBAN ROPA VIEJA - CROCK POT (OAMC)
A slow cooked Cuban "Beef Stew". A great way to have a hot dinner on the table with little fuss. Serve over rice or with tortillas for an easy dinner.
Provided by Brenda.
Categories Stew
Time 4h20m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.
- Transfer beef to a slow cooker.
- In a large bowl, mix together the beef broth, tomato sauce, tomato paste, onion, bell pepper, garlic, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar.
- Stir until well blended.
- Pour over flank steak in slow cooker.
- Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for up to 10 hours.
- When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.
- If freezing ahead: Don't brown the meat, just put ingredients in a ziploc bag and place in freezer, flattened. (I like to fit it into a bowl that will fit into the crockpot, but you don't have to.
- To cook from frozen: Thaw in refrigerator if desired (or put in frozen). Cook as directed above. If cooking from frozen add time for thawing.
Tips:
- For the best flavor, use flank steak or skirt steak.
- To make the meat more tender, marinate it in a mixture of garlic, cumin, oregano, and olive oil for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- If you don't have time to marinate the meat, you can still make a delicious ropa vieja by cooking it in a slow cooker on low for 8-10 hours.
- Be sure to shred the meat against the grain for the most tender results.
- Serve ropa vieja with your favorite sides, such as rice, beans, or plantains.
Conclusion:
Ropa vieja is a classic Cuban dish that is easy to make and full of flavor. With its tender meat, flavorful sauce, and colorful vegetables, it's a dish that everyone will enjoy. Whether you're making it for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, ropa vieja is sure to be a hit.
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