Slow-Cooked Cuban Ropa Vieja Delight
This Slow-Cooked Cuban Ropa Vieja Delight is a wonderful take on the traditional Cuban dish, Ropa Vieja, which means 'old clothes' in Spanish, referring to the shreds of beef that this dish produces. This crock pot version allows tender skirt steak or flank steak, simmered slowly in a flavorful blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and spices, to create a rich and satisfying stew without the fuss of time-consuming stovetop cooking. Perfectly complemented with a side of fluffy rice and perhaps some warm tortillas or corn muffins, this dish is ideal for family gatherings or meal prep. Enjoy the tantalizing aromas that fill your kitchen as this dish cooks slowly throughout the day, leaving you with a comforting and delicious meal ready to serve when you are.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
14
Ingredients
Ingredients
Tomato Sauce
8 ounces (none)
Water
1/2 cup (none)
Bay Leaves
3 (none)
Red Wine Vinegar
1 tablespoon (none)
Minced Garlic
2 tablespoons (bottled)
Ground Cumin
1/2 teaspoon (none)
Salt
1/4 teaspoon (none)
Black Pepper
1/4 teaspoon (none)
Large Onion
1 (sliced (about 1 cup))
Skirt or Flank Steak
2 lbs (none)
Red Bell Pepper
1 (sliced (about 1 cup))
Green Bell Pepper
1 (sliced (about 1 cup))
Garlic Balsamic & Olive Oil Diced Tomatoes
14 1/2 ounces (none)
Cooked Rice
2 cups (for serving)
Instructions
1
In a crock pot, combine the tomato sauce, water, bay leaves, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to ensure all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
2
Peel the onion, cut it into quarters, and then thinly slice the onion quarters. Add the sliced onion into the crock pot, stirring to incorporate it with the sauce mixture.
3
Place the skirt or flank steaks over the sliced onions, allowing the meat to nestle into the sauce. Spoon some of the liquid mixture over the beef for added flavor.
4
Prepare the bell peppers by rinsing them, removing the seeds and membranes, and cutting them into thin slices. Add the sliced bell peppers into the crock pot on top of the beef.
5
Pour the canned diced tomatoes (with their juice) evenly over the beef and peppers, ensuring an even distribution of flavor.
6
Cover the crock pot with its lid and set it to cook on low heat for about 8 hours if using skirt or flank steak, or about 10 hours if using sirloin or chuck until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
7
Approximately 20 minutes before serving, prepare the rice according to package directions.
8
Once cooking time is complete, carefully remove the beef and vegetables from the crock pot and transfer them to a large serving bowl.
9
Using two forks, shred the beef into bite-sized pieces, mixing it with the vegetables. If the mixture appears dry, add about 1/2 cup of the cooking juices to enhance the flavor and moisture.
10
Before serving, taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired.
11
Serve the beef and vegetable mixture generously over hot rice, reserving two cups for potential future use or leftovers.
12
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Leftovers can be creatively repurposed in a beef tortilla soup.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Slow-Cooked Cuban Ropa Vieja Delight?
It is a slow-cooker version of the traditional Cuban dish consisting of shredded beef simmered in a flavorful blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, and spices.
What does the name Ropa Vieja mean?
The name translates to "old clothes" in Spanish, which refers to the shredded look of the beef once it is cooked and pulled apart.
Which cuts of beef are recommended for this recipe?
Skirt steak or flank steak are recommended, but you can also use sirloin or chuck if preferred.
How long does it take to cook in a slow cooker?
It takes approximately 8 hours on low heat for skirt or flank steak, or about 10 hours if you are using sirloin or chuck.
What setting should I use on my crock pot?
This recipe should be cooked on the low heat setting to ensure the meat becomes tender enough to shred easily.
What vegetables are included in this Cuban dish?
The recipe includes a large onion, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and garlic balsamic and olive oil diced tomatoes.
How should I prepare the bell peppers?
Rinse the peppers, remove the seeds and membranes, and cut them into thin slices before adding them to the crock pot.
What spices provide the flavor for this recipe?
The dish is flavored with ground cumin, salt, black pepper, bay leaves, and minced garlic.
Is vinegar used in this Ropa Vieja recipe?
Yes, one tablespoon of red wine vinegar is used to add a touch of acidity to the sauce.
How do I prepare the onion?
Peel the onion, cut it into quarters, and then thinly slice the quarters to yield about one cup of sliced onion.
What type of canned tomatoes are best?
The recipe specifically calls for 14.5 ounces of Garlic Balsamic and Olive Oil Diced Tomatoes.
Should I drain the juice from the diced tomatoes?
No, pour the canned diced tomatoes along with their juice evenly over the beef and peppers for extra flavor.
How much tomato sauce is required?
You will need one 8-ounce container of tomato sauce.
How many bay leaves should I add?
Add three bay leaves to the crock pot mixture at the beginning of the cooking process.
How do I shred the beef once it is cooked?
Transfer the beef to a bowl and use two forks to shred the meat into bite-sized pieces.
What if the shredded beef mixture seems too dry?
You can add about 1/2 cup of the cooking juices from the crock pot back into the mixture to enhance moisture and flavor.
What is the traditional way to serve this dish?
It is traditionally served generously over hot, fluffy rice.
Are there any alternative serving suggestions?
Besides rice, you can serve the beef with warm tortillas or corn muffins.
Is this recipe suitable for meal prep?
Yes, it is an ideal dish for meal prep as it yields leftovers that store and reheat well.
How long can I keep leftovers in the refrigerator?
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze Cuban Ropa Vieja?
Yes, this dish can be frozen for up to 1 month in a freezer-safe container.
How can I creatively use leftovers?
Leftovers can be repurposed to create a delicious beef tortilla soup.
When should I start preparing the rice?
Prepare the rice according to the package directions approximately 20 minutes before you are ready to serve.
How much beef is needed for this recipe?
The recipe calls for 2 pounds of skirt or flank steak.
Can I use bottled minced garlic?
Yes, the recipe specifies using 2 tablespoons of bottled minced garlic.
Do I need to brown the meat on the stove first?
No, this crock pot version allows the meat to simmer slowly in the sauce without prior browning.
Should I stir the ingredients during the 8-hour cook time?
The instructions do not require stirring during the cooking process; simply cover with a lid and let it slow cook.
How much water is added to the sauce?
Add 1/2 cup of water to the initial sauce mixture in the crock pot.
Should I taste the dish before serving?
Yes, it is recommended to taste and adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if desired before serving.
How many servings of rice should be prepared?
The recipe suggests preparing 2 cups of cooked rice for serving.