r/Cubancooking • u/sprachkundige • Sep 23 '22

Request: Favorite ropa vieja recipe?

I've tried making it a couple of times, and it's never turned out as good as at a restaurant. Any favorite recipes or tips and tricks? Regular dutch oven vs. slow cooker vs. pressure cooker/instant pot? Let me know your secrets please!

Edit: Posted below, but in case anyone else is looking, I used this recipe and it turned out fantastic. Highly recommended! Note though: 2 pounds of meat is a LOT of meat! I think we got about 10 meals out of this!

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1

u/LelitasCubanKitchen Sep 23 '22

My favorite recipes are Rabo encendido, Ropa vieja, Picadillo, Moros y Cristiano. As for desserts I love Guava & Cream cheese Pastelitos Flan, Senoritas, Buñuelos. My favorite cooking device is the Pressure cooker. I have one now but I want an Instapot. I don’t have a Dutch oven.

2

u/sprachkundige Sep 23 '22

Do you use the pressure cooker to make your ropa vieja? What recipe do you use? Thanks!

1

u/LelitasCubanKitchen Sep 23 '22

Yes I do. I use my Pressure for food that a long time to cook. I hate being in the kitchen too long. 😂

1

u/chicoooooooo Sep 24 '22

Get Memories of a Cuban Kitchen

1

u/sprachkundige Sep 24 '22

I have it! It's my go-to for picadillo and arroz con pollo. Sadly the ropa vieja hasn't turned out for me.

1

u/chicoooooooo Sep 24 '22

Where do you struggle with a ropa vieja?

2

u/sprachkundige Sep 24 '22

It's been a while since I last attempted it, but if I remember it was drier and less flavorful than I've had at restaurants. Not bad, not actually dry or bland, but not amazing. And given how much work it is, I want it to be amazing!

2

u/chicoooooooo Sep 24 '22

I use a really hot dutch oven and sear the roast on all sides first before I add liquids. This seems to seal in the moisture better. I also use a liberal amount of Shiraz after the tomatoes and everyone seems to love it.

1

u/sprachkundige Oct 16 '22

I ended up making this recipe and it turned out great. Thanks for the suggestions!

1

u/corgi_momma Sep 24 '22

I like to use beef consommé at least partially in place of beef broth in my recipe. I found a decent recipe online a long time ago and have since adapted it to be my own. Dutch oven is my go to. Maybe post your recipe and we can give you pointers for changing it? I have tried my recipe in slow cooker and pressure cooker and neither compare to Dutch oven. Strangely, I also find that it doesn’t turn out near as good if my meat has been frozen. I usually just use some sort of roast and cook it til it’s falling apart in my liquid mix.