What is Ropa Vieja?
Ropa vieja, which translates as “old clothes,” refers to a shredded meat stew that may be accompanied by potatoes and garbanzo beans. Canary Islanders are credited with creating ropa vieja, though many countries that serve the dish claim to have invented it. However the Canary Islands was a waypoint for ships heading to the Americas, so it’s logical to assume that popularity of the dish spread from the Canary Islands to several Central American countries and to the Caribbean.
Ropa vieja, which translates as “old clothes,” refers to a shredded meat stew that may be accompanied by potatoes and garbanzo beans. Canary Islanders are credited with creating ropa vieja, though many countries that serve the dish claim to have invented it. However the Canary Islands was a waypoint for ships heading to the Americas, so it’s logical to assume that popularity of the dish spread from the Canary Islands to several Central American countries and to the Caribbean. Though typical versions of ropa vieja contain flank steak or some form of beef, the dish may also be made with shredded pork or chicken. In most recipes, beef is slowly braised up to a day in advance. You can take out some of the work by preparing the meat in a slow cooker, which allows you to neglect it while you pursue your day’s activities. When the meat is cooked and cooled, it is shredded and then cooked with spices like cumin and oregano, tomato sauce, paste or fresh tomatoes, onions, bell peppers and someti
