What is on your culinary bucket list? My list is very long. It's a good thing because I have a several reasons to tackle them. The reasons are to try new things, learn techniques, and share them here on this blog. Plus it keeps me from getting into a routine or rut which is something I do quite well. Yes, look up creature of habit and there is my photo. Anyway, it was time to make something to check off my list. I chose to make Ropa Vieja.
What is Ropa Vieja? It is a Cuban or Caribbean shredded beef dish. The name is Spanish and it translates to "Old Clothes". I've read lots of different stories about how it was named that and I'm not sure which one is correct. However it was named is to be determined. What has been determined for sure is how good it is. (Source = me). I've enjoyed it from the moment I first tried it many years ago at a local restaurant.
Cafe Chavez was that local Cuban restaurant. We decided to go there one night after hearing many rave reviews. We sat down and had no clue what to order. One of us chose Ropa Vieja. We dove in when the plate of shredded beef served over rice arrived at the table. The tomato-y, pepper-y, cumin flavored sauce was unlike any other I had before. It instantly made me a Cuban food fan. Sadly, the restaurant closed several years ago. Since then I've only had Ropa Vieja a few times. I always wanted to make it at home and never did. That is, until Isabel challenged the Sunday Supper team to make something from their culinary bucket list.
The variety of recipes this week is incredible. Many different cuisines are featured. There is something for everyone:
Sunday Supper Specialty Breads:
- Homemade Bagels with Mimosa Spread by Daily Dish Recipes
- Homemade Tortillas by Supper for a Steal
- Brioche by Gotta Get Baked
- Alton Brown's Soft Pretzels by Hezzi-D's Book and Cooks
- Braided Challah by The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Bites by In the Kitchen with Audrey and Maurene
- Belgian Waffles by Cindy's Recipes and Writings
- Gluten-free Bread by Happy Baking Days
- Monkey Bread by Vintage Kitchen Notes
Sunday Supper Main Dishes:
- Lightened Up Slow Cooker Butter Chicken by The Meltaways
- Gluten Free Ravioli by No One Likes Crumbley Cookies
- Bagna Cauda and Potatoes by Shockingly Delicious
- Beef Wellington by Family Foodie
- Green Chili and Lentil Tamales by Mangoes and Chutney
- Mushroom Ragout over Creamy Polenta by Noshing with the Nolands
- Butternut Squash Gnocchi by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Ropa Vieja by Magnolia Days
- Tah-Dig (Persian Rice) by The Little Ferraro Kitchen
- Fresh Ravioli with Ricotta by Comfy Cuisine
- Stuffed Artichokes by The Roxx Box
- Braised Short Ribs by The Messy Baker blog
- Julia Child's Boeuf Bourguignon by Hip Foodie Mom
- French Onion Soup by The Weekend Gourmet
- Leaping Frog Chicken by The Urban Mrs.
- Fried Polenta with Spicy Tomato Relish by Mama Mommy Mom
- Savory Spinach-Filled Crepe Cake with Cheddar Sauce by Webicurean
- Japanese-Style Prosperity Pockets & Goat Cheese En Croute by Ninja Baking
- San Antonio Puffy Tacos by Sustainable Dad
- Chinese Dumplings by My Cute Bride
- Falafel by Small Wallet Big Appetite
Sunday Supper Desserts and Snacks:
- Creamy Lemon Fudge by Chocolate Moosey
- Zebra Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Faux Ice Cream with Bananas by Country Girl in the Village
- Divinity by Juanita's Cocina
- Homemade Seafoam Candy by girlichef
- French Macarons by I Run for Wine
- Mocha Macadamia Trifle with Mascarpone Cream by The Foodie Army Wife
- Nut and Seed Nougat by What Smells So Good
- Pumpkin Mocha Cupcakes with Whipped Cream Frosting and Dulce de Leche Drizzle by Damn Delicious
- Chocolate Meringue Cake (gluten free) by Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Gluten-Free Golden Fudge Cake by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Orange Rum Tiramisu Cake by Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
- Peanut Sesame Honey Brittle by Sue's Nutrition Buzz
- Granola Bars with Dried Fruit by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Jamaican Blue Drawers by Lovely Pantry
- Mini Classic Key Lime Pies by In the Kitchen with KP
- Donuts: Redux by Kelly Bakes
- Hot Lemon Curd Soufflés by Food Lust People Love
- Popcorn with truffle oil and asiago cheese by Ruffles & Truffles
Are you ready to tackle your culinary bucket list? I'm one down and lots to go. Perhaps my next one will be a recipe in today's event. They all look so good. Choices, choices...
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One note about the recipe: It is a very good version of Ropa Vieja. It is similar to the way I have had it at a few Cuban restaurants. I do intend to tweak it in the future. I want it to be more like the one I had at Cafe Chavez long ago. At least I can say I tackled one of my culinary bucket list items. Fine tuning it will be just as fun as making it the first time.
Ropa Vieja
Ingredients
- 3 pounds skirt or flank steak trimmed
- 2 quarts water
- 2 carrots coarsely chopped
- 1 large onion coarsely chopped
- 2 celery ribs coarsely chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- 6 garlic cloves 3 crushed & 3 minced, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano divided
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin divided
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 1 green bell pepper sliced into ¼-inch strips
- 1 onion sliced into ¼-inch strips
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups braising liquid plus additional if desired
- 1 can can chopped tomatoes 14- to 16-ounce
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 red bell pepper sliced into ¼ inch strips
- 1 yellow bell pepper sliced into ¼ inch strips
- 1 cup frozen peas thawed
- ½ cup pimiento-stuffed Spanish olives drained and chopped
Instructions
- In a 6 or 7-quart soup pot or dutch oven, add beef, water, carrots, large onion, celery, bay leaf, 3 crushed garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon cumin, salt, and peppercorns. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Loosely cover and simmer 1 ½ to 3 hours, until beef is tender (easy to shred). Remove pot from heat and cool meat in liquid 30 minutes. Transfer meat to a container and cover. Strain braising liquid into a bowl using a colander. Press on the solids to press out liquid. Discard solids. Return braising liquid to the pot and boil until reduced to 3 cups, about 30 minutes. Cool braising liquid completely, cover, and refrigerate it and the beef separately overnight.
- Pull meat into shreds using two forks. Set aside.
- In the soup pot, cook green bell pepper and sliced onion in 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until softened, stirring occasionally.
- To the pepper/onion mixture add shredded meat, 2 cups braising liquid, tomatoes with juice, tomato paste, 3 cloves minced garlic, 1 teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon oregano. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer. Loosely cover and simmer for 20 minutes.
- In a large skillet cook red and yellow bell peppers in remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat until softened, stirring occasionally. Add softened peppers to the pot with additional braising liquid if needed to thin or to desired consistency. Stir to combine and simmer, uncovered, 15 minutes. Stir in peas and olives. Simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm over white or yellow rice.
Notes
Recipe adapted from one on Epicurious.
What a spicy splash into the New Year, Renee. Muchos gracias for this invite to a taste of Cuban food. My husband is a huge onion, garlic and tomato fan and I love anything with rice and veggies sooo it looks like a perfect #SundaySupper =)
This sounds so yummy, Renee. I am thinking it could easily be left to cook in a crockpot, then finished off with the pepper mixture before serving to make it a weeknight supper.
What an amazing looking dish, Renee...I've never tasted it, but that shredded beef is calling to me. I think this would be hubby approved, too. BTW, I made your brownie tart yesterday and took it to some friends for dinner last night...whoa, was it wonderful!!!!
I never tried ropa vieja. This recipe has all ingredients that are used here to make a very comforting dish that is basically tomato sauce with meat, and that is eaten with pasta. The idea of shredding the beef is perfect! A wonderful recipe Renée!
I think I just added one more thing to my bucket list... I can't wait to try this beautiful dish. You made it look fabulous!
Love this ! Cuban beef sounds lovely. Will be trying this 🙂
I will gladly dig into a plate of that with you! Looks fabulous and I love all the flavor combinations.
This is one of my favorite things, Renee, but I've never tried to make it. Another dish for my bucket list!
What an interesting translation of the name! Looks incredible, so tender and full of flavor!
This looks incredible Renee! Perfect winter meal! Happy Sunday!
This looks very good and different, something I have never had before. Love exploring new recipes. Thanks for sharing!!
This sounds like such a flavorful and awesome dish! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Renee this is absolutely gorgeous - I love all the flavors and I need to add this to my to try list very soon!
Thanks Nicole!
Okay, admission time - I have never tried Ropa Vieja! I know, I know... It's something that I've always wanted to try...always meant to make...but as of yet, have not. I do want to dive into the screen and steal your plate, it looks so darn good!
Thanks Heather! Just add it to your list of to-cook things this year and don't let the year pass by without tackling it.
This is seriously one of my favorite foods in the world. Yours looks amazing!
Thanks Jen! I hope you try my version one day.
It amazes me how Cuban food hasn't taken off in this country. It has some wonderful flavors and Ropa Vieja is a great example of that. Thanks for sharing. I'll have give it a try at home soon too.
Thanks Chris. I agree that Cuban food hasn't taken off as much as it should have. It is so good.
This sounds like a dish all of us would love. Yum!!! It looks fantastic, Renee.
Thanks Bea! I hope it fits in your dietary needs for your kids. Or I'm sure you could adapt it easily.
Yum...this looks amazing!! I'm betting it would be great wrapped in a tortilla as well!!
Oh yes! I think I will do that the next time I make it.
This looks like a perfect meal on a winter evening after a day spent in the snow. Perfect!
Oh yes! It is nice and comforting.
I love Latin American food, and this looks absolutely delicious! What a great recipe to have ticked off your bucket list!
And now so much more to tackle. There are still so many International cuisines I haven't cooked yet.
This looks so good! Never heard of Ropa Vieja before... just saying out loud sounds delicious! I would love to try Cuban food!!!
I was wondering if there was a similar dish to this in Jamaica. Maybe, maybe not? Let me know if you can think of one. (or share it on your blog).
Thanks for explaining what this is! I have never heard of it (not that I eat Cuban food or anything). And I think for photographing beef, you did a fine job! There's color plus the meat is distinct (as opposed to being saucy and everything blended together).
Thanks Carla! What a wonderful compliment on my photography. It's getting better thanks to help from people like you.
This is my go to Cuban dish. Yours looks great. I am so happy to have a recipe now.
Thank you Emily.
While the name "old clothes" does nothing for me, this dish looks lovely and sounds packed with flavors.
"Old Clothes" is a strange name. One day I'll find the true story of how it got that name.
Renee, I love Cuban food but can only ever get it when I visit the US. If there's a good Cuban place in Vancouver, I'd love it if someone could point me in its direction! This looks and sounds amazing! So flavourful. Wish I had a big plate of it right now.
There isn't many Cuban places around me either. Miami has bunches of them (of course) and people there are so lucky to have many options.
Love the flavors in this! I think I'll have to tackle this one weekend too!
Good for you! I've never had this dish but it looks wonderful and I'm sure I'd love it.
If you love beef, peppers, and tomatoes it is the dish for you.
YUMMMM! I live right down the street from the historical original Columbia Restaurant and this is their signature dish. I love it. I want it now!
Thanks Megan. I'll have to look up that restaurant and see what they have to say about it since it is their signature dish.
You really got me on this - I love Cuban food and this will go into my 'must-try' list. This looks so yummy and flavorful, and I can't wait to give it a try.
Thank you Linda! I still have a few more Cuban dishes that are on my bucket list. I can't wait to try them and share them here so stay tuned.
So wish I could handle the meat, I'd have this every day!
Thanks Sarah!
Renee, this shredded beef dish looks amazing. My husband would adore this dish. It's going on "The List."
Thanks Jennie!
I love Cuban food so much. I have always wanted to go to Cuba. As soon as I get my British passport hubby says we will take a trip there. Unless of course the US finally stops being silly about the Cuba traveling ban for US citizens. But in the mean while enjoying amazing food like this will have to keep me going.
Thanks Laura! Hopefully you will get to go to Cuba one day. Until then we will have to enjoy the food at home or where we can find it.
Renee,
This dish looks great and so elegant! I love a good shredded beef/pork. . anything! Looks divine and thanks for sharing!
I love filling my apartment with the smell of something comforting cooking for a few hours on a cold day. I've never had ropa vieja, but it sounds/looks wonderful!
Thanks Kelly! I agree on how great it is to have smell of something delicious cooking for hours on a long cold day.
We have some great Spanish and Cuban restaurants around and ropa vieja is one of my favorite dishes! I have made a not so authentic recipe in the crock pot, but I bet this is just outstanding.
This sounds very interesting, Renee! I'll give it a try!
I would have been so sad to hear the restaurant closed. Josh and I went to a Colombian steak house for our first date and I can never forget that taste. We barely ate but that is besides the point. I've tried making a similiar dish at home and it just didn't taste the same. I am giving your recipe a try and reliving our first date. wink wink! 😉
I hope it makes for a wonderful date night for you and Josh.