Ropa Vieja
Cuba
About Ropa Vieja
Ropa Vieja is Cuba's national dish: shredded beef slowly simmered in a tomato sauce with onions, bell peppers, garlic, cumin and oregano. Olives and capers are sometimes added for a briny touch.
The name means "old clothes", because the long strands of shredded beef look like rags. The dish comes from the Canary Islands in Spain and was brought to Cuba by Spanish immigrants, where it became a staple.
Flank steak is usually used because it separates easily into long threads after slow cooking. Ropa Vieja is served with white rice, black beans and fried sweet plantains (maduros).
Ingredients
- beef
- tomato
- bell pepper
- onion
- garlic
- olives
- capers
- cumin
- oregano