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    Home » MAINS

    Cuban Ropa Vieja Recipe

    Published: October 18, 2021 · Updated: May 11, 2022 by Ieva · This post may contain affiliate links · 8 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    Slow-cooked shredded beef and vegetables that resemble a pile of colourful rags is what Cubans call Ropa Vieja. From the Spanish term for “old clothes”, this rich beef stew is one of Cuba’s most popular and beloved dishes. A filling and hearty Cuban Ropa Vieja Recipe is a great one for a delicious dinner on a cold evening!

    Take Me To:
    • What is Ropa Vieja?
    • Method
    • What To Serve Ropa Vieja With?
    • Other Beef Recipes

    What is Ropa Vieja?

    Ropa Vieja may sound exotic, but it’s the kind of meal that is universally accepted as delicious around the world. Essentially, it is a beef stew. Beef is first slow-cooked in stock and dry white wine, shredded and added to rich tomato, onion and pepper sauce. Ropa Vieja is best served with rice and beans, or some plantain chips on the side.

    There’s a legend surrounding the invention (or a miracle, I should say) of Ropa Vieja. The legend talks about a man who didn’t have any money for food for his family. Out of desperation, he shredded his old clothes and put them in a pan to cook. As the clothes bubbled away, the man was praying hard to God. When his prayer was finished and he looked at the pan, the old clothes had cooked to a delicious meaty stew that was enough to feed his family and more. And that’s how the name of the Cuban stew was born: Ropa Vieja translates as ‘old clothes’ in English.

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    Ropa vieja stew in a pink bowl served with rice and beans.

    Method

    Place the beef in a pan with a matching lid. Pour the white wine and stock in, add the bay leaf and peppercorns. Place in low heat and cook for 3 hours.

    Lift the meat out of the stock (reserve the stock for later). Shred the meat using 2 forks (when cooked, the meat should shred very easily). Cover the beef and set it aside.

    Extra lean casserole steak in a vacuum pack .
    Beef cooking in stock and white wine.
    Shredding cooked beef with two forks.

    Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and peppers and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring continuously.

    Add the spices and stir until all the vegetables are covered, then add the tomato paste and stir for a minute. Pour the stock the beef has been cooking in through a fine sieve, discarding the bay leaf and peppercorns.

    Add the shredded beef back to the sauce and cook for another 10-15 minutes on medium heat, until the sauce has reduced by about a third.

    All the ingredinets for the national dish of cuba on the table top.
    Cuban beef stew in a a frying pan.

    In the meantime, cook the white rice following the instructions on a packet.

    Serve the Cuban ropa vieja on a bed of rice with some black (or kidney beans) on the side, with some fresh coriander and a lime wedge as a garnish!

    What To Serve Ropa Vieja With?

    Traditionally served with beans and rice, this national dish of Cuba is actually extremely versatile and can be served in many different ways.

    • Fill soft tortilla wraps with ropa vieja, beans and fresh lettuce leaves for an effortless, easy to eat lunch.
    • Make a beef rice salad, by simply mixing this Cuban beef stew with cooked rice, fresh tomatoes, beans, coriander and a spoonful of mayo.
    • Pack the Cuban beef into a toasted brioche bun and serve it as a burger!

    Other Beef Recipes

    If you’re cooking beef, make it something special. Some of our favourite recipes are below:

    • Traditional Beef Stroganoff
    • Pasta Al Forno
    • Beef Giniling (Filipino Beef)
    • Crispy Chilli Beef | Home-Made Chinese Take-Away Favourite
    Cuban Ropa Vieja served with kidney beans and rice, garnished with a lime wedged.

    Cuban Ropa Vieja

    Slow-cooked shredded beef and vegetables that resemble a pine of colourful rags is what Cubans call Ropa Vieja. From the Spanish term for “old clothes”, this rich beef stew is one of Cuba’s most popular and beloved dishes.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 3 hrs 30 mins
    Total Time 3 hrs 40 mins
    Course Dinner, Main Course
    Cuisine Cuban
    Servings 4 portions
    Calories 564 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 500 g casserole beef or flank steak
    • 200 ml dry white wine
    • 450 ml beef stock
    • 1 bay leaf
    • 1 teaspoon peppercorn
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 teaspoon mixed herbs
    • ½ teaspoon turmeric
    • 4 tablespoon tomato puree
    • 2 peppers cored and thinly sliced
    • 2 onions thinly sliced
    • 3 garlic cloves thinly sliced

    To Serve:

    • 240 g white rice
    • 200 g black beans or kidney beans
    • 5 g coriander roughly chopped
    • ½ lime

    Instructions
     

    • Place the beef in a pan with a matching lid. Pour the wine and stock in, add the bay leaf and peppercorns. Place in low heat and cook for 3 hours.
    • Lift the meat out of the stock (reserve the stock for later). Shred the meat using 2 forks (when cooked the meat should shred very easily). Cover the beef and set it aside.
    • Heat 2 tablespoon of oil in a large frying pan. Add the onions and cook for 5-6 minutes, until softened. Add garlic and peppers and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring continuously.
    • Add the spices and stir until all the vegetables are covered, then add the tomato paste and stir for a minute. Pour the stock the beef has been cooking in through a fine sieve, discarding the bay leaf and peppercorns.
    • Add the shredded beef back to the sauce and cook for another 10-15 minutes on low heat.
    • In the meantime, cook the white rice following instructions on a packet.
    • Serve the Cuban ropa vieja on a bed of rice with some black (or kidney beans) on the side, with some fresh coriander and a lime wedge as a garnish!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 564kcalCarbohydrates: 75gProtein: 40gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 306mgPotassium: 1228mgFiber: 8gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 449IUVitamin C: 59mgCalcium: 110mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword Beef Stew recipe, Cuban Beef Stew, Cuban Pulled Beef Stew, Cuban Recipes, Cuban Ropa Vieja, Pulled Beef Stew Recipe, Ropa Vieja, Ropa Vieja Recipe
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Eliza

      November 10, 2021 at 2:53 pm

      5 stars
      I’m so thrilled that you shared this wonderful recipe. My Cuban mother-in-law has made Ropa Vieja and it’s a special joy to be able to recreate it. Thank you for another winner!

      Reply
      • Ieva

        November 10, 2021 at 6:15 pm

        Thanks, Eliza! So glad you found this recipe! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Kali Alexandria

      December 03, 2021 at 3:16 pm

      5 stars
      An amazing recipe if you are looking for a stew recipe. Big fan!

      Reply
      • Ieva

        December 04, 2021 at 7:17 am

        Definitely, it is one of our favourites!!! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Angela

      February 11, 2022 at 3:23 pm

      5 stars
      One of my favorite recipes! I love this dish. Flavored perfectly too!

      Reply
      • Ieva

        February 11, 2022 at 8:19 pm

        Angela, what lovely feedback! Thanks so much 🙂

        Reply
    4. Vicky

      April 29, 2022 at 6:46 pm

      5 stars
      This is a colorful, versatile dish and I love how you can use it in so many ways. You can serve with beans a rice like you did, or add to a salad or a tortilla.

      Reply
      • Ieva

        April 29, 2022 at 9:20 pm

        Vicky, how funny you said that – we enjoyed ropa vieja-filled wraps just yesterday and they were great! 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I am Ieva – the face behind this blog. I live in North Wales with my husband Seb and our golden retriever Sawyer. It’s safe to say that I live and breathe food: from researching and reading about food to creating new recipes and growing vegetables to use in my cooking.  The great thing is, Seb appreciates all the good meals that are also essential at his worst ‘hangry’ moments! Somebody HAS to feed Seb…

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