Ropa Vieja – Cuban Shredded Beef (Immediate Pot or Range)

Ropa Vieja is a Cuban dish made with shredded beef that has been slowly cooked with onions, peppers, olives, tomato sauce, and spices like cumin and oregano.

Ropa Vieja Recipe
Ropa Vieja is certainly one of my favourite Cuban dishes, served over white rice and accompanied with black beans. It’s thought of a consolation meals and is usually served on particular events or at household gatherings. The identify “ropa vieja” actually interprets to “previous garments” in Spanish, and the dish is known as this manner as a result of the shredded beef used within the recipe resembles torn or tattered clothes. Leftovers could be made into tacos, bowls, served over loaded fries, and extra! Extra Latin beef recipes you’ll love are Picadillo, Carnitas and Mexican Beef.

There’s some ways to make this, and it could be barely completely different in every house. That is how my cousin makes it, and it’s scrumptious! She makes use of the Immediate Pot however if you happen to don’t have one, you are able to do it on the range (Be aware: this may take extra time).
Components
- Steak: Reduce two kilos of flank steak into massive items.
- Beef Spices: Salt, sazon, dried oregano, garlic powder, cumin, black pepper
- Tomato Paste: You’ll want a complete can of tomato paste to make the sauce.
- Broth: Should you don’t have rooster broth, vegetable or beef broth will work too.
- Wine: Select a good-quality dry white wine.
- Greens: Yellow or white onion, inexperienced and crimson bell peppers, carrots
- Garlic: Reduce 4 to 6 garlic cloves into quarters relying on the scale of the cloves and the way a lot garlic you want.
- Olives: Slice a half cup of pitted inexperienced olives.
- Bay Leaves impart taste as they simmer within the broth.
- Cilantro: Should you don’t like cilantro, don’t fret – it’s non-obligatory!
Make Cuban Ropa Vieja
- Season the meat with salt, Sazón, cumin, oregano, garlic powder, and pepper.
- Tomato Sauce: Whisk the tomato paste, wine, and broth in a medium bowl. Should you’re cooking this dish on the range, use 3 cups of broth – you’ll want extra since a few of it’s going to evaporate on the range.
- Sauté: Warmth the Immediate Pot by setting it on the sauté button. Add the oil after which the onions, bell peppers, and garlic and cook dinner for 3 to 4 minutes till softened. Then press cancel. On the range, do the identical factor however in a big Dutch oven on medium-high warmth.
- Nestle the meat into the onions so half are on the underside and half above the meat. Add the carrots, olives, bay leaves, and cilantro (if utilizing). Pour the tomato sauce over the combination.
- Immediate Pot Ropa Vieja: Put the lid on the strain cooker and cook dinner on excessive for 45 minutes. As soon as finished, unplug the pot and do a pure launch.
- Range: Carry the pot to a boil, cowl, scale back the warmth to low, and simmer till the meat simply shreds. It ought to take about one and a half to 2 hours. Add extra water if it will get too dry.
- Shred the meat, discard the bay leaves, and high with extra cilantro if desired.
Serving Concepts
My cousin has a meals truck in Florida and makes this ropa vieja recipe just about each day. She serves loaded fries, the place she tops fries with this shredded beef, cheese, and all of the fixings. I personally favor conventional ropa vieja served over rice with Cuban model black beans. Some individuals prefer it with candy plantains on the facet, however I feel a cabbage slaw or avocado can also be nice. You may as well add the meat to tacos, quesadillas, or burritos.
Variations
Ropa vieja will final for as much as 4 days within the fridge. After that, if you happen to nonetheless have leftovers, freeze it in an hermetic container for as much as 3 months. To thaw, put it within the fridge the day earlier than and reheat it within the microwave or on the range.
Freeze
- Flank Steak Substitutes: Skirt steak or chuck beef can even work however can have extra fats.
- Protein: I’ve made this ropa vieja recipe with rooster thighs as a substitute of beef.
- Wine: Should you don’t like cooking with wine, sub extra broth.
- Bell Peppers: Be at liberty to make use of whichever shade bell peppers you will have.
- Different Components: You may as well add capers and raisins.





Extra Cuban Recipes You’ll Love
Yield: 6 servings
Serving Dimension: 3 /4 beneficiant cup
For the pot:
- 1/2 cup tomato paste, from 1 can
- 1/3 cup dry white wine, or use extra broth
- 2 1/2 cups rooster broth
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 massive yellow or white onion, not candy, sliced
- 1/2 inexperienced bell pepper, sliced skinny
- 1/2 crimson bell pepper, sliced skinny
- 4-6 garlic cloves, lower into quarters
- 1 massive carrot, lower into 1” inch items
- 1/2 cup inexperienced pitted olives, sliced
- 2 massive bay leaves
- 3 tablespoons cilantro, chopped (non-obligatory)
Immediate Pot Technique:
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Season the meat with salt, sazon, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder and black pepper.
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In a medium bowl whisk collectively tomato paste, white wine and rooster broth.
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Press saute and add the oil within the prompt pot, add the onions, bell peppers and garlic. Saute 3 to 4 minutes stirring, till softened then press cancel.
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Nestle the meat into the onions in order that half are on the underside and half are above the meat. Add the carrots, olives and bay leaves (and cilantro, if utilizing).
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Pour the tomato sauce over the meat, cowl and shut the strain cooker.
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Set to sealing and cook dinner excessive strain for 45 minutes. Then unplug the moment pot and do the pure launch.
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Shred the meat within the pot and discard the bay leaves.
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Serve with rice, over bowls, tacos, and many others. topped with extra cilantro, if desired.
Range High Technique:
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Season the meat with salt, sazon, cumin, dried oregano, garlic powder and black pepper.
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In a medium bowl whisk collectively tomato paste, white wine and three cups of rooster broth (you’ll want extra on the range with evaporation than the Immediate Pot).
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Warmth a big Dutch oven and add the oil, onions, bell peppers and garlic. Saute over medium-high warmth 3 to 4 minutes stirring, till softened.
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Nestle the meat into the onions in order that half are on the underside and half are above the meat. Add the carrots, olives and bay leaves (and cilantro, if utilizing).
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Pour the tomato sauce combination over the meat, convey to a boil and canopy.
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Cut back warmth to low and simmer till the meat shreds simply with 2 forks, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, including extra water if it will get too dry.
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Shred the meat within the pot and discard the bay leaves.
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Serve with rice, over bowls, tacos, and many others. topped with extra cilantro, if desired.
Final Step:
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On the range, simmer uncovered till the liquid reduces.
Serving: 3 /4 beneficiant cup, Energy: 350 kcal, Carbohydrates: 11.5 g, Protein: 35 g, Fats: 15.5 g, Saturated Fats: 6 g, Ldl cholesterol: 64 mg, Sodium: 982.5 mg, Fiber: 2.5 g, Sugar: 5 g