Description
Succulent cuban ropa vieja brings classic Caribbean comfort to dinner tables with tender, shredded beef braised in rich tomato sauce. Hearty flavors and traditional ingredients promise a delicious journey through Cuban culinary heritage you will savor completely.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Base:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) flank steak
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (for searing)
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) beef broth
Vegetables & Seasonings:
- 1 large bell pepper, sliced
- 1 medium onion, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 cup (15 grams) chopped fresh cilantro
Sauce Components:
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon vinegar
Instructions
- Sear the flank steak in a sizzling skillet with vegetable oil over medium-high heat for 4 minutes per side, creating a rich golden-brown exterior that locks in robust flavors.
- Transfer the beautifully caramelized meat into the slow cooker, then pour beef broth and tomato sauce, whisking tomato paste until smoothly integrated.
- Enhance the culinary foundation by adding sliced bell peppers, onions, garlic, ground cumin, fresh cilantro, olive oil, and vinegar, gently stirring to distribute ingredients evenly around the protein.
- Secure the slow cooker lid and allow the mixture to simmer on Low setting for 8-10 hours or High setting for 4 hours, transforming the meat into a tender, succulent delicacy.
- Once the beef reaches optimal tenderness, use two forks to meticulously shred the meat within the cooking liquid, ensuring each strand is generously coated with the aromatic sauce and vegetable medley.
- Plate the ropa vieja, presenting a vibrant dish that showcases the tender, flavor-infused shredded beef, ready to be enjoyed with traditional accompaniments like rice or plantains.
Notes
- Enhance meat tenderness by choosing flank steak with good marbling and minimal visible connective tissue for more succulent results.
- Develop deeper flavor complexity by searing meat at high temperature to create rich caramelization and seal in natural juices before slow cooking.
- Adjust vinegar quantity based on personal taste preference – white wine vinegar provides bright tanginess while apple cider vinegar offers subtle sweetness.
- Make recipe gluten-free by verifying beef broth and tomato sauce labels to ensure no hidden wheat-based additives are present.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 hours
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cuban
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg