**Ropa Vieja: A Flavorful Mexican Journey**
Originating from the vibrant streets of Mexico, Ropa Vieja, meaning "old clothes" in Spanish, is a delectable dish that embodies the country's rich culinary heritage. This traditional beef stew, often enjoyed as a celebratory meal, captivates taste buds with its tender, shredded meat and a symphony of aromatic spices. Our curated collection of Ropa Vieja recipes takes you on a journey through Mexico's diverse culinary landscapes, offering both classic and contemporary interpretations of this beloved dish. From the traditional beef-based Ropa Vieja to vegetarian and vegan variations, each recipe promises an authentic taste of Mexico, inviting you to savor the vibrant flavors and textures that define this iconic stew.
ROPA VIEJA
Steps:
- Add the olive oil to a large, heavy pot and heat over medium-high heat. Add 2 teaspoons salt, broken bay leaves, crushed red pepper flakes and halved jalapeno and stir. Add the quartered onions, chopped carrot, parsley, and mashed garlic cloves and stir again. Place the brisket in the pot, season with salt and pepper and add enough water to cover by 2-inches. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat so that the liquid just simmers, and cook the brisket until the meat is tender enough to shred, 2 to 3 hours. Remove the meat from the cooking liquid and set aside until cool enough to handle. Strain the cooking broth through a fine-mesh sieve and discard solids. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the broth for the ropa vieja and use the remaining broth for another purpose.
- When the meat has cooled, shred it into 3 to 4-inch strands. Set aside.
- Combine the minced garlic, oregano, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a mortar and pestle and work into a smooth paste. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil and add the sliced onion. Saute until translucent, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic paste and bay leaf and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the tomato sauce, reserved beef broth, wine, and vinegar and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the shredded beef and roasted green pepper strips, stir to combine, and cook, covered, for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the meat is fork tender and falling apart, coated with a thick sauce, and the flavors have come together. If the sauce gets too thick, add a bit more of the reserved beef broth. Taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Remove the bay leaf and serve, garnished with the pimiento slices, lime juice and cilantro, if desired.
ROPA VIEJA RECIPE
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Cut flank steak into large pieces that will fit on the bottom of a Dutch oven in 2 batches. Season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Working in batches, add steak and cook, turning, until browned, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer steak to a plate and set aside.
- Stir in tomato paste, cumin, oregano, and allspice and cook, stirring and scraping, for 1 minute.
- Cover Dutch oven and transfer to oven, then let cook until beef is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
- Stir in olives, return Dutch oven to medium heat, and simmer until juices have reduced just enough to coat the beef in a rich, saucy glaze. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in cilantro, then serve with rice and beans.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 360 kcal, Carbohydrate 23 g, Cholesterol 84 mg, Fiber 3 g, Protein 33 g, SaturatedFat 4 g, Sodium 695 mg, Sugar 10 g, Fat 15 g, ServingSize Serves 6 to 8, UnsaturatedFat 0 g
ROPA VIEJA (MEXICO)
Tender beef is shredded and browned, then folded into warm tortillas along with crisp veggies and your choice of garnish for an upscale taco night! *Prep time does not include 30 minutes cooling.
Provided by FolkDiva
Categories Meat
Time 2h15m
Yield 6 tacos, 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Place meat in a large pan and cover with beef stock and water. Add the carrot and half the garlic along with salt and pepper. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Skim the surface then recover the pan and cook the meat gently for 2 hours, or until very tender (should shred easily with a fork).
- Remove the pan from the heat and let the meat cool in the liquid. When cool enough to handle, remove from the liquid and shred with your fingers and a fork.
- Heat the oil in a large, heavy skillet. Add the remaining garlic, the onions, and chilies and cook until tender and onions are soft and translucent. Remove from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the meat to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat until browned and crisp. Transfer to a serving dish. Top with the onion mixture and surround with the tomatoes, cilantro, green onion and lime wedges. Serve with warmed tortillas. Enjoy!
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
The way tender flank steak shreds into thin pieces gives this dish the name that translates literally to "old clothes." My abuela would first cook the meat in her stovetop pressure cooker, shred it and then simmer it with the tomato, onion and bell pepper sauce. In my take on this Cuban classic, I like to braise the meat right in the sauce, so all the juices marry together giving it even more depth. Some versions of ropa vieja skip the olives, capers or pimientos, but I love their salty contrast.
Provided by Gabriela Rodiles
Categories main-dish
Time 2h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Pat the flank steak completely dry with a paper towel. Cut in half or thirds (across the grain) if needed to fit into your pot in a single layer. Season with 2 teaspoons salt.
- Heat the olive oil in a medium Dutch oven or a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add the steak in a single layer and cook until a deep brown crust develops, 5 to 8 minutes on each side. Remove to a plate and set aside.
- Add the onions and peppers to the same pot. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and a few cracks black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic, cumin and oregano; stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, until it starts to develop color, about 1 minute. Add the vino seco to deglaze and cook, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add the tomato sauce, beef stock and bay leaf. Stir to incorporate. Nestle the steak in the sauce, submerging it slightly. Be sure to add any accumulated juices from the plate.
- Cover and cook in the oven until the meat shreds easily with two forks, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Transfer the pot back to the stovetop. Remove the steak to a cutting board or medium bowl and shred into long thin pieces using two forks. Meanwhile, simmer the sauce over low heat until slightly reduced, about 3 minutes. Return the steak to the pot and stir to combine. Add the lime juice and olives, capers or pimientos, if using.
- Serve with white rice and black beans.
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
MEXICAN ROPA VIEJA
Something from south-of-the-border. Let the meat simmer until it is so tender you can gently pull it apart, then pack it in a tortilla. Spices and mild chiles give it a little heat.
Provided by Alan in SW Florida
Categories Stew
Time 2h45m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Heat oil in a large flameproof casserole or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper, green pepper and garlic; cook until onion is translucent and peppers are softened, for about 8 minutes.
- Stir in cumin and oregano; cook for about 1 minute. Add tomatoes and broth.
- Season steak with salt and pepper. Add steak to pot; cover and bring to simmering. Simmer about 2 hours or until meat is very tender, turning meat occasionally.
- Remove meat; let cool briefly. cut across the grain into 2-inch-thick slices. Using two forks, pull slices apart into shreds.
- Heat tomato sauce remaining in pot to rapid boiling. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Add green chiles and corn. Heat to boiling; cook 5 minutes.
- Add shredded beef, jalapeno, and cilantro. Heat to boiling. Serve with warmed tortillas.
Tips:
- Select the right cut of beef: Chuck roast, flank steak, and skirt steak are all good choices for Ropa Vieja. These cuts are relatively inexpensive and have a good amount of connective tissue, which will break down during cooking and make the meat tender.
- Use a variety of vegetables: Ropa Vieja is a great dish to use up leftover vegetables. Common vegetables used in Ropa Vieja include bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, and potatoes. You can also add other vegetables, such as corn, carrots, or celery.
- Season the meat well: Ropa Vieja is a flavorful dish, so don't be shy with the seasonings. Common seasonings used in Ropa Vieja include garlic, cumin, oregano, and paprika. You can also add other seasonings, such as chili powder, cayenne pepper, or chipotle powder.
- Cook the meat slowly: Ropa Vieja is a slow-cooked dish. The meat should be cooked until it is very tender and falls apart easily. This can take several hours, so be patient.
- Shred the meat: Once the meat is cooked, it should be shredded. You can do this with your hands or with two forks. The meat should be shredded into small pieces.
- Serve with rice and beans: Ropa Vieja is traditionally served with rice and beans. You can also serve it with tortillas, bread, or potatoes.
Conclusion:
Ropa Vieja is a delicious and flavorful dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is a great way to use up leftover beef and vegetables, and it can be easily tailored to your own taste. With a little planning and effort, you can make a Ropa Vieja that will impress your family and friends.
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