A national Cuban dish, this Ropa Vieja recipe is tender beef slowly braised then shredded to resemble "old clothes", hence the name, very delicious! Serve it over rice.
I have never been to Cuba, but we have visited many places in Florida that serve authentic Cuban food and this is about as close to authentic "Cuban Ropa Vieja" as I can get based on what we have tasted. And believe me, we've tasted a lot.
I love Ropa Vieja. Of course you will encounter variations from restaurant to restaurant, from cook to cook, but at its core, Ropa Vieja is simply beef that is braised low and slow with vegetables until the beef tenderizes and can be shredded with a fork. It is then cooked even further in a seasoned tomato sauce and served over rice, often along a side of Cuban black beans.
It's great stuff, really, the Cuban version of slow braised beef. Flank steak is traditionally used, though I've seen recipes using brisket, skirt steak, even top round.
Flank steak works the best because it benefits immensely from a slow braise, which tenderizes the beef so perfectly.
Shredded flank steak also has the ropey texture that characterizes traditional Ropa Vieja, so if you are able to use flank steak, use it. Chuck roast can work as well.
What is Ropa Vieja?
The name "Ropa Vieja" literally translates to "Old Clothes", which describes the appearance of the dish as it sits in the pot and cooks. It looks sort of like old clothes, doesn't it?
It isn't a fancy dish by any means, but that's often the thing with the national dishes of some regions. Who cares what it looks like when it tastes so darned delicious?
Let's discuss how to make ropa vieja, shall we?
How to Make Ropa Vieja - the Recipe Method
First, slowly braise the flank steak with vegetables (carrots, yellow onions and peppers) and other seasonings (bay leaves, allspice, clove) in water, all low and slow, for about 2 hours, or until you are able to easily shred the meat with a couple of forks.
A Dutch oven works great for this recipe, or just use a large pot.
It shreds easily. Slow cooking is the way to go here.
Look for that ropey meat quality. Set it aside and strain the beef broth. Keep 1 cup of the broth.
I like to save the rest in a container that I can freeze. You will love having a homemade beef stock to toss into any number of other dishes, like soup, chili or stew.
Next, you'll cook down some fresh vegetables, season them up and add in the stock along with tomato paste and other seasonings.
Finish the beef off in this sauce for about 30 minutes to let the flavors mingle. I enjoy adding spicier peppers to this dish for my own personal tastes, but Cuban food isn't known for its "spiciness". It's really known for its distinctive flavors.
When the beef it ready, finish it up with some freshly squeezed lime juice, roasted red peppers and fresh herbs.
You can enjoy it on its own or over white rice, which is how I like to serve it. And, I usually like to serve it with Cuban black beans.
Truly, don't forget the roasted red peppers. The fork tender, shredded beef in the seasoned tomato sauce is outstanding in flavor, but I love the finish of the lime and the richness of the roasted peppers with just a bit of extra sauce soaking into the rice.
One forkful is a perfect bite.
I hope you enjoy your Cuban ropa vieja!
Can You Make Ropa Vieja in a Crock Pot?
Yes, you can make ropa vieja in a crock pot or slow cooker. Simply add the first round of ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours, or until the meat is very tender. You should be able to shred it very easily.
Then, proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Flavor Boost. For a flavor boost, I like to chop the meat into larger chunks, then season and sear them first in the pot with a bit of olive oil. This caramelizes the surface of the beef, and those browned bits from the bottom of the pot translate to deeper flavor while you braise everything.
- Spice It Up. If you're looking for a spicier version, you can very easily go with hotter peppers. Cuban food is not known for being spicy or hot. Green bell peppers are traditional here, though you can easily up the heat factor by incorporating spicier peppers. Try the jalapeno, serrano pepper, the wonderful habanero pepper, or even a ghost pepper for come REAL heat.
Storage Information
Ropa vieja will last up to 5 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. Simply warm it up in a pot with a bit of liquid to enjoy it again.
You can also freeze it in freezer containers or vacuum sealed bags for 3 months or longer.
Try Some of My Other Similar Recipes
Got any questions? Ask away! I’m happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you’ll leave a comment with some STARS.Also, please share it on social media. Don’t forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I’ll be sure to share! Thanks! — Mike H.
Ropa Vieja Recipe (Cuban Shredded Beef)
Ingredients
FOR THE INITIAL BRAISE
- 2 pounds flank steak
- 2 medium carrot peeled and coarsely chopped
- 1 large white onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 6 cloves garlic chopped
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- 3 bay leaves
FOR THE ROPA VIEJA
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium white onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped (I like to use 4 large jalapeno peppers instead for extra spice)
- 3 garlic cloves chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- ¼ cup white wine
- 1 cup reserved braising liquid
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 roasted red bell pepper chopped, for serving
- Chopped parsley and lime juice/wedges for serving
Instructions
- Slice the flank steak into 3 or 4 large pieces and set them into a large pot with the carrot, onion, pepper, garlic, allspice, salt, pepper, cloves and bay leaves. Add 5-6 cups water and bring to a quick boil.
- Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 hours, or until the beef becomes tender and can easily be shredded with a fork. Cool a bit and remove the beef. Shred it with a couple of forks and set aside.
- Strain the broth, but reserve 1 cup of the liquid. I like to save the rest of the broth for using in other soups or stews. It freezes perfectly.
- Next, heat the olive oil in a pot and add the onion and bell pepper. Cook down about 5 minutes to soften.
- Add garlic, oregano, ground cloves, allspice, and tomato paste. Cook another minute, stirring.
- Add white wine, braising liquid and reserved shredded beef. Add a bit of salt and pepper as well if you’d like.
- Raise the heat a bit and let the whole mix simmer about 30 minutes to let the flavors develop.
- Serve the Cuban shredded beef over rice topped with roasted red pepper, parsley and freshly squeezed lime juice.
Notes
Nutrition Information
NOTE: This recipe was updated on 3/18/20 to include new information. It was originally published on 4/17/17.
Steven Shreve says
I just had some Ropa Vieja for the first time from a local Cuban restaurant. As it was a special menu item for tonight and not always available, I wondered to myself “I wonder if there’s a recipe on Chili Pepper Madness?” and here we are. I’m definitely trying this as it sounds like it should be pretty similar to what we just had. Thanks for making this available! We’ll let you know how it turns out when we make it.
Mike Hultquist says
Yes! This is so good, Steven. I hope you love it!
Jeremie says
Yummy! Really delicious and the combination with plain rice and Cuban black beans was a total success! Thanks Mike!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Excellent! Thanks, Jeremie! Glad it was a hit.
JBK says
I'm still wondering about the backstory of the name of this dish.
I know that in New Orleans, red beans & rice is the traditional 'Monday Dish', while the homemaker catches up on laundry.
I assume this is because it is relatively simple to make, doesn't require constant attention.
Could this also be origin of 'Ropa Vieja' = 'Old Clothes' = 'Wash Day'?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Interesting connection, JBK. I would believe this for sure! Sounds quite plausible.
Gelle says
Tried this and it did not disappoint. Sooo good.
Len says
So, how many servings for this recipe (2? 3?)
Looks wonderful BTW 🙂 Just have to try it with the japs!
REPLY: Len, this will serve 6-8. I hope you like it! -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.