Cuban Ropa Vieja with Rice & Black Beans

Photo: TGrey89 · CC0 · source

Flank steak braised until it pulls into tender shreds, then simmered in a cumin-scented tomato sauce with peppers, onions and briny olives. Cuba's national dish, made for rice and beans.

Ingredients

• 1½ lb flank steak, cut into 3 pieces
• 2 cups beef broth
• 3 bell peppers, sliced
• 1½ onions, sliced
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes (half a 28 oz can)
• ½ cup green olives, halved
• 1½ cups long-grain rice
• 2 cans black beans
• cilantro, chopped

From your pantry: 3 tbsp oil, 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 2 bay leaves, 1½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper.

Instructions

1. Season the beef with salt and pepper and brown in 1 tbsp oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Add the broth and bay leaves, cover and simmer on low until very tender, 1½ hours.
2. Lift out the beef and shred it with two forks. Save the cooking liquid.
3. Wipe out the pot, add the remaining oil, peppers and onions, and cook over medium until soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste, cumin and oregano for 1 minute.
4. Stir in the tomatoes, olives, vinegar, shredded beef and 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Simmer until saucy and thick, 15 minutes. Meanwhile cook the rice and warm the black beans with a pinch of cumin and salt.
5. Serve the ropa vieja over rice with the beans and a scatter of cilantro.

Tip: Shred the beef along the grain into long strands, which is how the dish gets its 'old clothes' name and its texture.

Nutrition per serving

Good for

You might also like

Cuban Mojo Pork with Black Beans & Plantains210 min · 1095 kcal · 52 g proteinCuban Picadillo35 min · 820 kcal · 35 g proteinCuban Sandwiches20 min · 650 kcal · 50 g proteinCuban Black Bean Soup with Lime Crema45 min · 550 kcal · 23 g proteinCuban Fricasé de Pollo with Potatoes & Olives90 min · 785 kcal · 55 g proteinCuban Shrimp Creole with Sweet Plantains & White Rice35 min · 810 kcal · 55 g proteinHuevos Habaneros (Havana-Style Eggs Baked in Sofrito)35 min · 515 kcal · 22 g proteinCuban Mojo Chicken Rice Bowls with Black Beans & Pineapple45 min · 645 kcal · 67 g protein