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Ultimate Ropa Vieja

Ultimate Ropa Vieja

The Ultimate Ropa Vieja is a traditional Cuban dish featuring tender shredded beef marinated in a flavorful sauce with vegetables and spices.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 20 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Cuban
Servings 6 servings
Calories 306 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven
  • Slow Cooker

Ingredients
  

Beef

  • 2 pounds chuck ask your butcher to cut it taller than wider
  • 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced

Vegetables

  • 1 large green bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 large red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 large yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic minced

Spices

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Liquids

  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 16 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 6 ounces tomato paste

Other

  • 1 large carrot cut in half
  • 1 large stalk celery cut in half
  • 1 cup green olives rinsed and drained
  • ½ cup roasted red peppers drained
  • ¼ cup pimientos drained
  • 2 tablespoons capers rinsed and drained
  • ⅓ cup chopped fresh parsley

Instructions
 

Cooking Instructions

  • Pat the beef dry and sprinkle with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Heat a little oil in a Dutch oven over high heat. Once very hot add the beef and brown generously on all sides. Transfer the beef to a plate.
  • Add the sliced vegetables to the pot and cook over medium heat for 15-20 minutes until caramelized. Add the garlic and spices and cook for another minute.
  • Add the white wine and bring it to a rapid boil, deglazing the bottom of the pan.
  • Add the broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and bay leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Return the roast to the pot along with the pieces of carrots and celery. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 3-4 hours or until the beef is fork tender.
  • Transfer the beef to a plate and shred it. Return the shredded beef to the pot.
  • Stir in the olives, roasted red peppers, capers and pimientos. Simmer uncovered to thicken the sauce for 30 minutes.
  • Stir in the parsley and add salt and pepper to taste.

Notes

For a variation on traditional beef, you can also use pork or chicken.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 306kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 25gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 78mgSodium: 1026mgPotassium: 1003mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 2740IUVitamin C: 39.6mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 5.2mg
Keyword Beef, Comfort Food, Cuban cuisine, Shredded Beef, slow cooker, Traditional
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