Ropa Vieja Old Clothes Recipes

ULTIMATE ROPA VIEJA

Steps:

• Pat the beef dry and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• Heat a little oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Once very hot add the beef and brown generously on all sides. Transfer the beef to a plate. (Do not discard the drippings and blackened bits in the pot, they are key to the flavor.)
• Add the sliced vegetables to the pot and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until caramelized. Add the garlic and spices and cook for another minute. Add the white wine and bring it to a rapid boil, deglazing the bottom of the pan (scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan).
• Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and bay leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Return the roast to the pot along with the pieces of carrots and celery. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 3-4 hours or until the beef is fork tender and falls apart easily. Discard the celery, carrots and bay leaves.
• Transfer the beef to a plate and shred it. Return the shredded beef to the pot.
• Stir in the olives, roasted red peppers, capers and pimientos. Simmer uncovered to thicken the sauce for 30 minutes. Stir in the parsley and add salt and pepper to taste.

OLD CLOTHES (BEEF STEW): ROPA VIEJA

Steps:

• Boil the flank steak with bay leaves, carrots, 1 onion, and oregano with enough water to cover the ingredients. Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Drain and let the meat cool, cut into 2-inch cubes and then shred.
• Saute the remaining onion, peppers, and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Deglaze with sherry. Add tomatoes and cumin. Cook for 15 minutes. Add the shredded meat and cook for 1/2 hour. Season with salt and pepper.

ROPA VIEJA (AKA OLD CLOTHES/CUBAN SHREDDED BEEF)

Steps:

• 1. Heat oil in a deep pan over medium to high heat. Season the skirt steak with salt and pepper, place in the pan, browning on both sides. Turn heat down to medium and add peppers and onions. Cook stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes, then add garlic and cook 2 minutes more.
• 2. Pour in the red wine and cook for about 30 seconds before adding the tomato sauce, tomatoes, bay leaf and stock.
• 3. Cover the mixture, reduce to simmer, and cook for 1 hour. Meanwhile, prepare white rice to serve alongside the meat to soak up the sauce.
• 4. After 1 hour, the meat should be thoroughly cooked and should shred easily. Remove from pan, let cool a bit and shred with clean hands or two forks. Return meat to pan, and simmer to heat through, then serve with the white rice and ENJOY!