Eats So Sweet

This might be my first meat/beef/steak recipe, but it won’t be my last.  Even though I don’t eat it very often at all there are a few ways I will eat it.  This is one of the ways.  Ropa Vieja is a Spanish (Cuban specific)  way to cook flank steak, shredded in a sauce.  It is normally served over rice.  You can also serve plantains or beans with it!   Just a little fact that I heard about once, when I went to a Cuban restaurant in our area….Ropa Vieja means “Old Clothes”.    Who knew??

I have a few recipes for Ropa Vieja (that I will eventually add)….and I like the others better, but this one is still good!  The others have more spice to them…this one doesn’t.  Give it a try and let me know what you think!  I love cooking (and eating)  ethnic foods.   I just think it’s like a new little adventure when you cook with new spices, new ways, with new ingredients.  So if you have any great, different foods you think I should try…let me know!!!

Ropa Vieja

1 TBSP vegetable oil

2 LBS flank steak

1 C beef broth

1 8oz can crushed tomato (or just 1/4 of the larger can)

1 onion – sliced

1 green pepper — seeded and sliced

1 red pepper — seeded and sliced

2 cloves garlic

1 60z can tomato paste

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp cilantro

1 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP white vinegar

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In frying pan, heat vegetable oil and cook steak about 4 minutes on each side.

Place steak in crock pot.

Add all other ingredients.  Mix well.

Cook on LOW 7-8 hours or HIGH 4 hours.

ENJOY!

~gianna~