Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef and Peppers)
One portion, 32 minutes, and only 10 minutes of chopping.
Per portion
Calories from protein 33%, carbs 40%, fat 27%. Estimated from the ingredients.
Roughly £5.30 a portion.
Method
- 1
Cook the rice according to the packet instructions.
- 2
Sear the beef strips in a hot pan for 1–2 minutes until browned, then set aside. Cooking for three or more? Do this in batches so the pan stays hot and everything browns, then put it all back.
- 3
Soften the onion and peppers in the same pan for 8 minutes until soft and translucent, adding the garlic for the last minute.
- 4
Add the tomatoes, cumin, paprika and bay leaf and simmer for 10 minutes until thick.
- 5
Season to taste, then return the beef with the olives for 1–2 minutes, remove the bay leaf and serve with the rice.
Cook's notes
- Sizes. Vegetables, fruit and eggs are medium unless the recipe says otherwise. A tin is a standard 400g tin.
- Dairy. Salted or unsalted butter both work; with salted, go easy on any extra salt. Use full-fat soured cream, crème fraîche and yoghurt in anything hot, as low-fat versions split.
- Stock. A cube or pot made up as the packet says. Cubes are salty, so taste before adding more salt.
- Heat. Medium means a gentle sizzle, not spitting. High means the oil shimmers before the food goes in. A simmer is a few lazy bubbles, not a rolling boil. Leave the lid off unless the recipe says to cover.
- Pans. A small saucepan is about 16cm and a frying pan about 24cm. Sauces reduce faster in a wider pan, so go by how it looks rather than the clock.
- Doneness. Chicken and turkey should reach 75°C in the thickest part, pork 65 to 70°C, and beef steak 55°C for medium-rare. Rest steaks and chops for a few minutes before slicing.
- Finishing. Taste before serving. Most dishes want a pinch more salt, and a squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar lifts anything rich.
- Leftovers. Cool quickly, cover and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days, then reheat until piping hot. Cooked rice keeps for 1 day and should only be reheated once.
solosupper.co.uk/recipes/ropa-vieja-cuban-shredded-beef-and-peppers/
