This recipe is inspired by Cuba’s famous ropa vieja, stewed shredded beef in tomato sauce. You won’t need to cook this recipe for hours, instead grill a tender cut of beef like skirt or flank and smother it with sauce.

Serves 8-10 people

Ingredients

For the Steak

4 lbs hangar, flank or skirt steak
3 bay leaves
4 garlic cloves, minced
3 shallots, minced
½ cup lime juice
½ cup rice bran or vegetable oil
Salt and pepper

For the Ropa Vieja Sauce

¼ cup vegetable oil
2 green bell pepper, sliced
2 onion, julienne
8 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp cumin
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 small can tomato paste
1 cup red wine
3 cup beef broth
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 ½ cup tomato sauce
Garnish with lime wedges and chopped cilantro
1/4 cup lime juice

For the Rice

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup onion, finely chopped
2 cups rice
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups water
8 saffron strands crushed with a mortar and pestle and dissolved in a small amount of hot water
1 tsp achiote paste or ground paprika
2 bay leaves
3 tablespoons butter

Instructions

For the Steak

In a bowl, combine all the ingredients and marinate steak.
Heat a large, flat griddle until very hot. Cook steak medium rare, turning once or twice. Let rest, slice against the grain, transfer to platter and spoon Ropa Vieja sauce. Garnish with lime wedges and chopped cilantro.

For the Ropa Vieja Sauce

In saucepan on medium-high, heat oil, sauté peppers and onions until slightly brown. Add garlic, cumin and oregano and sauté until aromatic, mix tomato paste and deglaze with red wine. Add beef broth, vinegar, tomato sauce, bring to boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Finish with  lime juice.

For the Rice

Heat olive oil in a large saucepan and sauté onions and peppers until translucent. Stir in rice and salt and sauté briefly, until the rice begins to brown slightly.
Add water and saffron water, and bring to a boil. Lower heat and cook covered, for about 20 to 30 minutes. (Perfectly cooked rice will be tender and fluffy.) Just before serving, stir in 3 tablespoons butter.

[print-button target=’div#print’]