Vaca Frita (Cuban Shredded Fried Beef)
Beef is a relatively rare food in Cuba, definitely not as common as in the United States, but on special occasions and for holidays, Cubans like to prepare Vaca Frita, a traditional Cuban dish consisting of fried and shredded flank steak.
Vaca Frita is similar to Ropa Vieja, as the meat preparation is practically the same, but unlike Ropa Vieja, Vaca Frita is not made with tomato sauce.
Vaca Frita (Cuban Shredded Fried Beef)
Ingredients
- 800 gr flank steak
- 2 onions julienned
- 1 green bell pepper julienned
- 1 lime or lemon, juiced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 4 garlic cloves chopped
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon parsley chopped
- 1 bay leaf
- oregano
- cumin
- freshly ground black pepper
- salt
Instructions
- Place the beef in a pot and cover with water. Throw in the bay leaf, salt and a chopped garlic clove. Cook for about 45-50 minutes until tender.
- Remove it from the heat, drain away the broth and let the meat cool down to room temperature.
- Once cooled enough to handle, you can begin slicing the beef into thin slices.
- Fry the remaining three chopped garlic cloves over medium heat in some olive oil for a little while then stir in the julienned onion and green bell peppers. Mix with a wooden spoon for 2 minutes, then add the sliced beef.
- Sauté until the beef has turned crispy and brown. Then add the lime juice and season to your taste with salt and black pepper.
- Stir everything together for 1 more minute and finish with a sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley.
- Serve the delicious Vaca Frita with white rice, fried ripe plantain or black bean stew!
Enjoy!
Notes
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Related: Cuban Tamales
Related: Cuban Sandwich Recipe
Related: Picadillo a la Habanera (Cuban Ground Beef)
Related: Lechon Asado (Cuban Roast Pork)
Related: Moros y Cristianos (Cuban Rice & Black Beans)
