Ropa Vieja Cubana
Tender shredded beef braised in a tangy tomato and pepper sauce, traditionally served over rice. This one-pot Cuban classic is comfort food that tastes like hours of cooking but comes together in under an hour.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 385
- Protein
- 52g
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef chuck roast, boneless
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 whole yellow bell peppers
- 1 can (28 oz) canned crushed tomatoes
- ¾ cup green olives, pitted
- 1 to taste salt and pepper
Instructions
- 1
Pat the beef chuck roast dry with paper towels on all sides, so it browns better when you cook it.
- 2
Place each bell pepper on a cutting board. Slice off the four flat sides (avoiding the seeds and white core in the center), then slice each flat piece lengthwise into 0.5-inch-wide strips.
- 3
Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it shimmers and slides quickly when you tilt the pan, about 90 seconds.
- 4
Place the beef in the hot oil. Do not move it for 3–4 minutes until the bottom looks dark golden brown, then flip and brown the other side for another 3–4 minutes.
- 5
Pour the 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes directly into the pot around the beef, then add the bell pepper strips and 0.75 cup of green olives.
- 6
Sprinkle salt and pepper over the top, then cover the pot with a lid and reduce heat to medium-low (so the liquid simmers gently with small bubbles breaking the surface every 2–3 seconds).
- 7
Simmer covered for 35–40 minutes, until the beef is so tender that a fork easily shreds it into thin strands.
- 8
Remove the pot from heat and use two forks to pull the beef apart into thin shreds, breaking it up into the sauce.
- 9
Taste the sauce and add more salt and pepper if needed, then simmer uncovered for 2–3 minutes to let the flavors blend.
- 10
Divide the ropa vieja among serving bowls or plates and spoon the sauce, peppers, and olives over the top. Serve over white rice if desired.
Tools you’ll need
- large pot or 5–6-quart Dutch oven with lid
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- paper towels
- wooden spoon
- two forks
- measuring spoons
- can opener
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