Rope Vieja is a delicious dish with a comical name. Ropa Vieja? Que es eso? I would say to my Tia, “are we that poor that we are down to eating old clothes?” I would tease my Tia, “couldn’t they have come up with a better name than that?” Those are wonderful memories that I will treasure forever. I’m happy to say that those jokes didn’t die after I grew up, nope not a chance! My children tease me with the same old jokes that I used to say to my Tia. All I can do is laugh; hearing them joke around together reassures me that at least some traditions are still alive. Ropa Vieja is one of my family’s favorite meals. This mouthwatering meal is packed with bold flavors that are irresistible when combined together.
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The original Ropa Vieja recipe uses flank steak but I added my own spin on this traditional meal by using skirt streak. I have found that when seasoned with a dry rub then refrigerated overnight. This causes the skirt steak becomes tender and flavorful. There are many different ways of preparing this meal. When planning meals, I try to remember the flavors and aroma and attempt to re-create them. Although the way my family created meals and the way I do now may be different, I continue to pass them on to my children and loved ones. Cooking and incorporating different seasoning and choosing a variety of cuts of meat, is the way I have chosen to pass my Cuban traditions to my children and grand children.
Ropa Vieja
- 2 lbs of Skirt Steak
- meat rub
- 1 lime
- Olive oil
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh basil
- 1 cup of cherry tomatoes
- 1 Scallion
- 1 red pepper
- 1 spoonful of Sofrito
Marinate skirt steak with a meat rub, juice from one lime, basil, garlic, and olive oil. Refrigerate overnight.
Sauté scallions in olive oil, add 1 cup of chopped red peppers, garlic, cherry tomatoes. Remember to keep stirring with a wooden spoon and keep the temperature of the stove at a low heat so that the ingredients don’t stick to the pan. The aroma is started to fill the air but we are not done yet! Add one can of tomato paste, one spoonful of Sofrito, and one spoonful of beef broth. Stir together and let simmer with the vegetables in the pan.
Now this is my favorite part… Add all the ingredients into a pressure cooker and one cup of water and let it cook on high for 25 minutes. Voila! Ropa Vieja goes great with black beans and rice. Enjoy!
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