Ropa Vieja, meaning “old clothes” in Spanish is a traditional Cuban dish. It is typically made with beef, but I’ve also enjoyed it with duck. It’s served over rice and goes great with some platanitos maduros – sweet plantains for just under $2 per serving.

This ropa vieja recipe is for the instant pot but can easily be made in the crock pot. It will just take longer to cook and soften the meat.

These cuban pastries Guava and Cream Cheese Pastelitos or some Cream Cheese Ice Cream with Guava Syrup would make a great dessert to complete this Cuban meal. Cuban Coffee is also a great after dinner treat.

Print Recipe

Ropa Vieja

Traditional Cuban beef dish made with tomato and onions served over rice.

Cuisine

Cuban, Hispanic

Keyword

Cuban, Dinner, Steak

Prep Time

20 Minutes

Cook Time

8 Hours

Servings

people

Ingredients

• 2 Yellow or Sweet Onions diced
• 1/4 Cup Minced Garlic
• 2 Tablespoons Butter
• 1/4 Cup White Wine
• 1 16 oz jar Roasted Red Peppers I like the ones already cut into strips
• 1 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes
• 2 10 oz cans Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilis
• 1/2 23 oz bottle mojo this is a cuban marinade made with citrus and garlic
• 1/2 12 oz bottle Sofrito
• 16 oz Chicken Broth
• 1 lb Beef or Duck When I use duck I used 20 duck breasts, for beef use a skirt or flank steak or other cheaper cut of meat.
• 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning + more to taste

Cuisine Cuban, Hispanic Keyword Cuban, Dinner, Steak Prep Time 20 Minutes Cook Time 8 Hours Servings people Ingredients 2 Yellow or Sweet Onions diced 1/4 Cup Minced Garlic 2 Tablespoons Butter 1/4 Cup White Wine 1 16 oz jar Roasted Red Peppers I like the ones already cut into strips 1 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes 2 10 oz cans Diced Tomatoes with Green Chilis 1/2 23 oz bottle mojo this is a cuban marinade made with citrus and garlic 1/2 12 oz bottle Sofrito 16 oz Chicken Broth 1 lb Beef or Duck When I use duck I used 20 duck breasts, for beef use a skirt or flank steak or other cheaper cut of meat. 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning + more to taste

Instructions

1. Dice the onions and add them along with the minced garlic butter and wine to the instant pot and sauté until the onions are tender.
2. While the onions are cooking dice the roasted red peppers into 1cm chunks and add them to the pot while you continue to sauté.
3. Add in all of the tomato cans including all of their juices, the mojo, sofrito, chicken broth, cajun seasoning, and meat. Stir to combine everything.
4. Cover the pot and cook on high pressure for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Once the meat is fully cooked use the pressure release valve.
5. Using 2 forks pull the meat so it breaks apart into shredded strips, continuing until all of the meat is shredded. Add more salt or cajun seasoning to taste and serve over rice.

Recipe Notes

Cost Per Serving: $1.99

Total Recipe Cost: $15.94