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Cuban Ropa Veija Recipe (served over white rice)

When I think "comfort food" I think Cuban food. It's what I grew up eating, most of my favorite dishes are Cuban and with two little boys home  from school requesting comfort food I knew exactly the dish to make them. Ropa Vieja is Spanish for "old clothes". It is a simple dish that is quite delectable.Ropa ViejaI use a pressure cooker to make this recipe and have always done so. I imagine you could make this in a crock pot or on the stove but you'd have to make allowances for time. If you do, try this recipe in a crock pot or on the stove please come back and let me know how it all turned out for you.Ingredients:

  • 2 lbs Flank Steak
  • Water
  • 1 whole medium onion peeled-  I like the yellow or "sweet" variety.
  • 3 bay leafs
  • Salt 1 pinch
  • Red wine suitable for drinking 2 tablespoons
  • 1/4 - 1/2 of a red or green pepper chopped
  • 2-3 T olive oil
  • 3 cloves chopped garlic
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 1 tsp cocktail sauce
  • Spanish olives
  • 2 T Sazon completa* (store bought or make your own - recipe to follow.)

Optional additions:

  • 1 potato
  • 1 carrot

Step one:

  1. Fill your pressure cooker with water half way to the top.
  2. Place the Flank steak in the water with the whole onion on top. To easily peel the onion cut off both ends and remove first or second layer of skin.
  3. Add a pinch of salt to the water along with the bay leaf and wine. Cover the pan and cook over medium/low heat for about one hour to an hour and a half.
  4. Remove from heat and allow pressure to return to normal.
  5. Open lit and remove onion and set aside.
  6. Place steak on a large plate and set aside
  7. Reserve liquid in separate container
  8. "shred" meat by separating it with fork. I basically take a fork in each hand and separate the meat.

Step two: Prepare the "sofrito"

  1. Cut up onion (careful it will be hot) you can also place into a food processor
  2. Add oil to the pressure cooker. Turn heat on to low.
  3. Add in onion, chopped garlic, and pepper
  4. Add meat and brown for a few moments.
  5. Add in tomato sauce and cocktail sauce and olives and simmer until warm.

Serve over white rice.Easy white rice recipe in rice cooker

  • 2 cups rice
  • 2 3/4 cups water
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 Tbs olive oil

 Sazon Completa recipe: Makes 1 1/4 cup.

  • 4 T of kosher salt
  • 6 T of granulated garlic
  • 2 T oregano
  • 4 T onion powder
  • 2 T cumin
  • 2 T black pepper
  • 3 T dried lime zest
  • 2 T dried parsley

 Ropa Vieja Recipe   

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