Classic Cuban Dish: Making Ropa Vieja in a Slow Cooker

Cuban food is widely loved for a variety of reasons. Not only is it fairly inexpensive, but it’s also typically rich in flavor, resulting in a truly savory and satisfying meal experience. One popular Cuban dish is ropa vieja. Although its English translation of “old clothes” makes it sound as if the dish will be unpleasant, it’s actually a tasty entrée consisting of shredded beef and flavorful tomato sauce. Those interested in making this dish on their own can follow this recipe, which yields approximately six servings:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Once it’s heated, add 2 pounds of beef flank steak.
• Brown the steak, which will take about 4 minutes per side.
• Put the beef in a slow cooker and add 6 ounces of tomato paste, 8 ounces of canned tomato sauce, 1 cup of beef broth, 1 small sliced onion, and 1 green bell pepper (seeded and sliced into strips).
• Also add 2 cloves of chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon of ground cumin, 1 teaspoon of freshly chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar.
• Stir until all the ingredients are well mixed, then cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
• Once the beef is cooked, shred it, and serve it with rice, tortillas, or another preferred side.
  

Our residents have plenty of room to make this recipe in the spacious kitchens found in our  apartments next to The Villages, FL. Contact our front office today to learn more about our community.