Ropa Vieja
Flank steak braised until it falls into strands, with pepper ribbons, olives and a slug of wine.
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Join HomecookedIngredients
- 220 g Beef flank steak
- 20 ml Extra-virgin olive oil
- 70 g Onion
- ½ Green bell pepper
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 150 g Canned tomatoes
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 0.1 tsp Salt
- ¼ Red bell pepper (optional)
- 15 g Manzanilla olives (optional)
- ½ tbsp Capers (optional)
- ½ tsp Dried oregano (optional)
- 40 ml White wine (optional)
- 1 Bay leaves (optional)
- 8 g Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Pat the flank dry and rub it all over with the salt and the cumin.
- Sear the steak in the oil over a high flame until a dark crust sets on both faces, then lift it out onto a plate.
- While the steak sears, cut the onion and both peppers into long thin ribbons and slice the garlic.
- Drop the ribbons into the fat left behind and cook them down, adding the garlic once they slump, until the whole pan smells sweet rather than sharp.
- Pour in the wine and scrape the base clean, then tip in the tomatoes with the oregano and the bay leaf.
- Lay the steak back in with its resting juices, cover, and braise at the barest tremble until the meat parts into strands when you push it.
- Pull the beef apart in the pot with two forks, stir in the olives and capers, and let it bubble uncovered until the sauce clings to the strands.
- Spoon it out and tear the coriander over the top.
About Ropa Vieja
Ropa Vieja is a Cuban lunch or dinner that comes together in about 83 minutes and serves 1.
Ropa Vieja: frequently asked questions
Is Ropa Vieja gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Ropa Vieja has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Ropa Vieja take to make?
About 83 minutes start to finish, but only around 32 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Ropa Vieja?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out red bell pepper, manzanilla olives, capers — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Ropa Vieja make?
This recipe makes 1 serving. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.