Best Carne A La Cubana Recipes

AUTHENTIC CUBAN ROPA VIEJA (SHREDDED BEEF RECIPE)

Steps:

• In a Dutch oven, add the meat with water and salt. Cook at medium-low until the meat is tender, about 2 hours. (In a pressure cooker, this takes about 40 minutes). Transfer to a plate. Shred meat and set aside.
• In a skillet, heat olive oil at medium heat. Add green pepper, onion, and pimientos. Sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté for 30 seconds.
• Add dry cooking wine, tomato sauce, ground cumin, oregano, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the shredded meat to the skillet and stir to combine with the sauce. Cover and cook on low for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, without letting it dry out. Remove bay leaf and serve over white rice and sweet plantains. Enjoy!

CARNE FRIA AL ESTILO DE CUBA - (COLD MEATLOAF CUBAN STYLE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300ºF.
• Mix all ingredients well by hand except for breading ingredients.
• Divide into 3-4 portions and roll each into a cylinder or log about 1-1/2"-2" in circumference.
• Place in plastic wrap; shape into logs and refrigerate for about 2 hours, until the meat is firm to the touch.
• First, roll the logs in beaten egg and then in Italian seasoned breadcrumbs or cracker meal or dry bread crumbs.
• Roll each log separately and wrap in foil making sure the seams are well sealed.
• Place on an ungreased baking sheet.
• Bake for an hour.
• Remove from oven DO NOT open foil.
• Allow to cool until it reaches room temperature.
• Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
• Cut into thin slices and serve cold with toasted pita chips, Carr's water biscuits, or Parmesan rosemary crisps.
• As a nice topping, you can use a slice of hard boiled egg and a strip of red pimento on top.

CARNE CON PAPAS

Steps:

• In a blender, combine green pepper, onion, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon cumin and salt. Pulse, while pouring 1/8 cup olive oil through top of blender. Blend until smooth; set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in pressure cooker on medium heat. Saute green pepper mixture for 1 minute, then stir in achiote powder and 1 teaspoon cumin. Cook for 1 minute, then stir in tomato sauce. Return to a simmer, then add beef; let simmer for 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes, then pour in wine and water. Drop in the bouillon cubes. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 minute; add water, if necessary, to cover.
• Cover with lid of pressure cooker. Following manufacturer's directions, cook under 15 pound pressure for about 30 to 45 minutes.

ROPA VIEJA (CUBAN BEEF)

Steps:

• Cut flank steak in half across the grain. Mix salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Season both sides generously with the salt mixture.
• Heat olive oil in a pot over high heat. Add steaks and cook until outsides are well browned, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Remove steaks to a plate.
• Reduce heat to medium. Add red onion, garlic, and more of the salt seasoning. Cook and stir until starting to soften, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in cumin, paprika, oregano, cayenne pepper, cloves, and allspice. Cook and stir for 1 minute. Pour in white wine, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Stir in tomato sauce and chicken broth.
• Return beef and accumulated juices to the pot. Season with salt and add bay leaves. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until beef is almost fork-tender, not falling apart, about 2 hours.
• Remove pot from heat and let stew cool to room temperature, at least 45 minutes. Refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight, for best results.
• Remove beef to a plate and set stew over medium heat. Tear beef along the grain into 1/8- to 1/4-inch-wide shreds; place back in the stew. Add bell peppers, poblanos, smoked paprika, capers, olives, and sugar. Stir together and reduce heat to medium. Simmer until peppers are soft and meat is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Turn off heat, remove bay leaves, and stir in cilantro.

CUBAN ROPA VIEJA

Steps:

• Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the flank steak on each side, about 4 minutes per side.
• Transfer beef to a slow cooker. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, cumin, cilantro, olive oil and vinegar. Stir until well blended. Cover, and cook on High for 4 hours, or on Low for up to 10 hours. When ready to serve, shred meat and serve with tortillas or rice.

CLASSIC CUBAN-STYLE PICADILLO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat; cook and stir garlic, onion, and green bell pepper in the hot oil until softened, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Crumble ground beef into the skillet; cook and stir until browned completely, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir olives, raisins, capers, tomato sauce, sazon seasoning, cumin, sugar, and salt through the ground beef mixture.
• Cover the skillet, reduce heat to low, and cook until the mixture is heated through, 5 to 10 minutes.