Ingredients

How to make it

  • TO PREPARE ROPA VIEJA: Place the water, garlic, onions, carrots, celery, jalapenos, peppercorns, juniper berries, thyme, bay leaves, and salt in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the steak, cover the pan, and cook over low heat for 2 hours or until the beef is tender. Remove the meat and set aside. Let the broth cool. When the beef is cool enough, using your fingers, shred with the grain into 3- or 4-inch lengths and set aside.
  • TO PREPARE SAUCE: Heat the oil in a saucepan, add the garlic and onion, and sauté over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the oregano, bay leaves, tomato paste, wine, vinegar, 1 cup of the cooled beef broth, and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes and then add the bell peppers and shredded beef. Turn down the heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes longer. Remove the bay leaves.
  • TO PREPARE PLANTAINS: Mix together the plantains, mix together the pepper, salt, cumin, and cinnamon in a bowl. Lay the plantain slices on a work surface and sprinkle on one side only with the spice mixture. Heat 1/8 inch of vegetable oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat and place the plantain slices, spice side down, in the hot oil. Cook for about 2 minutes per side or until golden brown or slightly black. Remove the slices and drain on paper towels. Keep warm. Serve the ropa vieja with about 3 cups of cooked long-grain white rice and garnish with the fried plantains, spice side up.
  • TIPS: The rest of the broth in which the beef cooked can be strained and used for stock or as a base for soup (just add fresh vegetables). As an alternative to the plantains, serve cooked black beans or another bean recipe that you like.
  • * Juniper berries are the aromatic, small dried berries of the juniper tree. They are available in the spice section of the grocery store. They are commonly used in pickling mixtures and to season poultry and game.

Reviews & Comments 5

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    " It was excellent "
    floridiangourmet ate it and said...
    Awesome flavors.
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  • snomama 15 years ago
    ~FIVE-FORKS~ Great Post and its Awesome!
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    " It was excellent "
    chefmeow ate it and said...
    Yum, this sounds fantastic. Great post and a high 5. Yummers.
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    " It was excellent "
    greentreefrogs ate it and said...
    Wow this is so NICE..Really..NICE Angie will love this. Copying it now for her. "FIVE FORKS"
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    " It was excellent "
    momo_55grandma ate it and said...
    wow fantastic great recipe great post thanks
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