**Cuban Ropa Vieja: A Savory Shredded Beef Stew That Will Transport You to Havana**
Ropa vieja, meaning "old clothes" in Spanish, is a traditional Cuban dish that is as flavorful and vibrant as the island itself. This classic stew is made with shredded beef that is braised in a rich tomato-based sauce until it falls apart, creating a tender and juicy texture. The beef is then combined with a medley of vegetables, such as bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, and simmered to perfection. The result is a hearty and savory dish that is bursting with spices and aromas. Ropa vieja is typically served with white rice and black beans, making it a complete and satisfying meal. This article presents three variations of ropa vieja: the classic Cuban recipe, a slow-cooker version for added convenience, and a vegetarian alternative for those who prefer a meatless option. Each recipe provides step-by-step instructions and helpful tips to ensure a delicious and authentic ropa vieja experience.
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
SLOW COOKER ROPA VIEJA (CUBAN SHREDDED BEEF)
Make and share this Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by PanNan
Categories Cuban
Time 8h10m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Rub each side of the steak with Adobo seasoning. Place in slow cooker.
- Slice peppers, onion and garlic and add to the slow cooker along with the olives.
- Mix the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and add to the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- When cooked, remove the meat from the slow cooker and finely shred with 2 forks. Return the shredded beef to the sauce in the slow cooker and stir.
- Cook the shredded beef on low in the slow cooker another 20 minutes.
- Serve over rice.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 394.5, Fat 15.9, SaturatedFat 6.1, Cholesterol 115.7, Sodium 714.5, Carbohydrate 18.9, Fiber 4, Sugar 10.1, Protein 39.5
ROPA VIEJA (CUBAN MEAT STEW)
A filling beef meal, Ropa Vieja is a main course of shredded and braised beef with plenty of healthy, tasty vegetables like onions, peppers and olives. Our GOYA® Ropa Vieja recipe is sure to satisfy the hungriest of appetites. Lots of rice adds a fluffy texture to a full plate, too. Serve Ropa Vieja with GOYA® Frozen Ripe Plantains for a classic Latin pairing.
Provided by Goya
Categories Trusted Brands: Recipes and Tips Goya®
Time 3h
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Season meat with Adobo. Add steak to pot and cook in batches, flipping once, until well browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate. Lower heat to medium. Stir in onions and peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add sofrito and garlic to pot; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in 3 cups of water, tomato sauce, Sazon, beef bouillon and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. Return beef to pot. Lower heat to medium low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Stir in olives and capers. Cover pot; simmer until meat shreds easily with fork, 1 - 1 1/2 hours, adding more water in 1/4 cup measurements, if pot becomes dry. Transfer meat to work surface; shred meat with two forks. Bring remaining sauce to a boil. Mix meat and cilantro into sauce. Serve with white rice.
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.
AUTHENTIC CUBAN SHREDDED BEEF, "ROPA VIEJA" CUBANA
When I first tasted this dish I was swept off my feet. It was the most delicious shredded beef recipe I had ever tasted. I quickly learned how to make it from my dear mother-in-law Yoli, short for Yolanda. Over the years I have tweaked it to my families liking. I guarantee You will love this shredded beef recipe. The name is"Ropa...
Provided by Juliann Esquivel
Categories Beef
Time 2h35m
Number Of Ingredients 25
Steps:
- 1. Put brisket in a large pot of cold water add half onion, half green pepper, 1 bay leaf, 3 cloves garlic smashed or crushed and 1 tsp salt cover and cook for about four hours over medium flame until brisket is fork tender and is falling apart. If you have a pressure cooker You can do the same as above; cover and pressurize for one hour. When finished cooking; release steam carefully; remove meat and allow to cool then with two forks beging ripping pieces of meat into shredds with the forks pulling each apart until all is shredded completely. Set aside
- 2. Next in a large deep skillet or saute pan heat the olive oil over medium heat; add the rest of the diced onion, green pepper, remaing garlic, (be sure garlic is smashed or put through a garlic press) saute these veggies until onion is translucent; next add the parsley, cilantro, diced roasted pimento, should only use one pimento, continue to saute until parsley and cilantro are limp. Next add the olives and the wine to the sauteed veggies, continue to saute for about a minute; now add the tomato sauce; ketchup, worcestershire sauce; vinegar; lime juice; bay leaf, and all the dry seasonings. oregano, cumin powder,sazon goya packet,garlic powder,goya adobe seasoning,remaining tsp salt, black pepper,and stir very well. Keep cooking for about 2 minutes until all the seasonings are well mixed into the sauce. Now add the 1/2 cup beef broth. Stir very well and let simmer for about one more minute. Taste a little of the sauce to see if it has enough salt and seasonings you may want to add a little more salt or pepper or a little bit more of ketchup and a kiss of cayanne pepper if you like. If you like a little kick. It's up to your taste liking.
- 3. Now add the meat to the sauce and mix very very well ensuring that the meat is well mixed with this sauce. Saute the meat with the sauce for about three minutes; over a medium low flame so the sauce marries with the meat. Cover with a tight lid lower the flame to very low and leave like this for three minutes. After three minutes have passed uncover mix real good again, and serve on top of fluffy white Cuban rice or my white lime rice. Serve with the fried plantains and a salad. This shredded beef is delicious. Enjoy
- 4. I like to eat the left over shredded beef on toasty Cuban bread the next day or you can serve on toasted French or Italian bread either way it is wonderful. Buen Appetito Save the remaining beef broth for making soup the next day or freeze for another dish.
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.
CUBAN ROPA VIEJA (CROCK POT)
Make and share this Cuban Ropa Vieja (Crock Pot) recipe from Food.com.
Provided by dicentra
Categories Steak
Time 8h10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients except steak, alcaparrado and cilantro in a 3½-qt or larger slow-cooker. Top with steak; turn steak over to coat with mixture.
- Cover and cook on low 8 to 10 hours or until steak is very tender. Transfer steak to a cutting board.
- Remove and discard bay leaf. Tear steak in shreds using the two-forks method. Return shreds to cooker; stir in olives and chopped cilantro and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 282.9, Fat 9.1, SaturatedFat 2.2, Cholesterol 97, Sodium 959.2, Carbohydrate 15.3, Fiber 3.4, Sugar 7.6, Protein 35.3
CUBAN ROPA VIEJA
This is great shredded beef served on tortillas or over rice. Add sour cream, cheese, and fresh cilantro on the side. This recipe is from All Recipes.
Provided by Lavender Lynn
Categories Steak
Time 4h15m
Yield 6 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 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 blendedl.
- 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 392.7, Fat 19, SaturatedFat 6.5, Cholesterol 122.5, Sodium 656.3, Carbohydrate 10, Fiber 2.3, Sugar 6.1, Protein 44.3
CUBAN MEAT STEW (ROPA VIEJA)
This meat stew is delicious and easy. A nice change of pace, and it makes the house smell so good. Serve with rice and a salad, or crusty bread. From a Goya cookbook--Best of the Americas-Carribean.
Provided by ciao4293
Categories Stew
Time 2h40m
Yield 6-8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 14
Steps:
- Season steak with Adobo.
- In large skillet, heat oil on medium high, brown meat on both sides, remove and keep warm.
- Lower heat to medium, add garlic, onion and green pepper, cook-stirring often for about 10 minutes.
- Stir in black pepper and tomato sauce and cook, stirring often for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the sofrito, water, sazon and bouillon and bring to a boil.
- Return the meat to the pan, cover, lower the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring it occasionally.
- Add in the capers and olives, continue to simmer covered, until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
- This should take about 1-1/2 hours.
- You can add more water 1/4 cup at a time if the sauce gets too dry.
- To serve, shred the meat with 2 forks and mix back into sauce.
CROCK POT CUBAN FLANK STEAK (ROPA VIEJA)
Another Cuban staple that I learned to cook while in Miami.
Provided by Pamela Rappaport
Categories Beef
Time 8h15m
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- 1. Place everything in a crock pot and cook on low about 8 hours. The meat should pull apart with a fork.
- 2. When done, move the meat to a serving bowl. Pour sauce into a sauce pan and bring to a boil on the stove. Reduce by about 1/2.
- 3. While the sauce is reducing shred the meat with a fork. Pour the sauce over the meat and serve with rice.
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
ROPA VIEJA JOSES (CUBAN SLOPPY JOES), SLICED TOMATOES, PLANTAIN CHIPS AND MOJO SAUCE
Provided by Rachael Ray : Food Network
Categories main-dish
Time 30m
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Make the mojo sauce: put the garlic and onion in a food processor with cumin, lemon zest and juice. Turn processor on and stream in about 1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil and 1/4 cup of water. Turn off processor and reserve.
- Heat a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and brown. Add half of the mojo and crumble the meat as it cooks, about 3 minutes. Add olives and pimientos, paprika, Worcestershire, hot pepper sauce, tomato sauce and grill seasoning. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low. Cook over low heat 10 minutes.
- Split Cuban rolls and pile the bottoms with hefty spoonfuls of Sloppy Ropa Vieja Jose mix. Cover meat with sliced dill pickles and bun tops. Serve the plantain chips and sliced tomatoes along side to finish your plates and drizzle tiny spoonfuls of raw mojo sauce over the chips when passing out the plates. Season the tomato slices with a pinch of salt as well.
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
ROPA VIEJA - CUBAN MEAT STEW RECIPE - (4.5/5)
Provided by lovemygolden
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Season meat with adobo. Add steak to pot and cook in batches, flipping once, until well browned, about 10 minutes. Transfer meat to a plate. Lower heat to medium. Stir in onions and peppers. Cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add Sofrito and garlic to pot; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in 3 of cups water, tomato sauce, Sazón, beef bouillon and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil. Return beef to pot. Lower heat to medium low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, about 45 minutes. Stir in olives and capers. Cover pot; simmer until meat shreds easily with fork, 1 - 1½ hours, adding more water in ¼ cup measurements, if pot becomes dry. Transfer meat to work surface; shred meat with two forks. Bring remaining sauce to a boil. Mix meat and cilantro into sauce. Serve with white rice.
Tips:
- Use flank steak or skirt steak: These cuts of beef are popular for ropa vieja because they are flavorful and relatively inexpensive.
- Marinate the beef: Marinating the beef in a flavorful mixture of spices and citrus juices helps to tenderize it and add flavor.
- Cook the beef until it is fall-apart tender: This can be done in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. If you are cooking the beef in a slow cooker, cook it on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
- Shred the beef: Once the beef is cooked, shred it into small pieces using two forks or a meat shredder.
- Make the sauce: The sauce for ropa vieja is typically made with tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices. You can also add other ingredients to the sauce, such as beans, corn, or potatoes.
- Serve the ropa vieja with your favorite sides: Ropa vieja is typically served with rice, beans, and plantains. You can also serve it with other sides, such as tortillas, salad, or bread.
Conclusion:
Ropa vieja is a delicious and flavorful dish that is easy to make. It is a great way to use up leftover beef, and it can be served with a variety of sides. Whether you are making it for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion, ropa vieja is sure to be a hit.
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