Cuban-style Vaca Frita

⏳ Time

40 minutes + 4 hours

🥕 Ingredients

🍽️ Servings

Description

Vaca frita translates to 'fried beef' in English. It is one of the notable dishes of Cuban cuisine. The process is quite simple: the meat (primarily flank steak) is boiled, shredded, marinated briefly in lime juice, and then sautéed with onions in a skillet. It is typically served alongside boiled rice.

Ingredients

Flank Steak - 2 lbs
Onion - 2 pieces
Orange Bell Peppers - 1 piece
Garlic - 3 cloves
Ground Cumin - 1 tablespoon
Lime - 3 pieces
Sugar - to taste
Bay leaf - 1 piece
Vegetable Oil - 2 fl oz
Salt - to taste
Ground Black Pepper - to taste

Step by Step guide

Step 1

Chop the onion and pepper into large pieces.

Step 2

Place them in a deep skillet, add the meat, and pour in enough water to cover the meat.

Step 3

Add a bay leaf and place it over heat, bring to a boil, and simmer for 2-3 hours.

Step 4

Transfer the cooked meat to a clean dish and let it cool at room temperature.

Step 5

Shred the meat by hand into strands.

Step 6

Season with salt and pepper, squeeze the juice of one lime over it, add cumin, sugar, and minced garlic, mix well, and let marinate for 15-20 minutes.