Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef)

Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef)

Ingredients

• 1 (1-pound)Beef skirt steak

• Water

• 1 / 3 cup vegetable oil

• 1 / 2 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded and julienned

• 1 / 2 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and julienned

• 1 medium onion, sliced

• 1 / 4 cup jarred minced garlic*

• 2 cups beef broth, optional

• 2 tablespoons sour orange juice*

• 1 1 / 2 teaspoons cumin

• 1 cup chunky roasted pepper and onion tomato sauce*

• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

• 2 tablespoons chopped culantro

• Salt, to taste

• 1 / 4 cup sliced stuffed green olives, for garnish

Method

Put the steak in a large pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Bring to a boil; skim any brown scum that accumulates on the top of the water. Reduce heat and boil gently 1 hour.

Drain off the cooking liquid; reserving 2 cups of the cooking liquid to use in place of broth, if you wish. Let the meat and reserved broth cool. When cool enough to handle, pull the meat apart into shreds; set aside. When the cooking liquid cools, skim any fat that rises to the top. (Can be prepared to this point a day ahead and the meat and cooking liquid refrigerated. The fat on the top of the cooking liquid will congeal if it's refrigerated and then it will be easy to skim off.)

In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and onions and saute about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute until fragrant. Add the shredded meat; reserved cooking liquid, if using, or broth; sour orange juice and cumin. Stir to combine. Add the tomato sauce, cilantro, culantro and salt.

Simmer about 20 minutes until the liquid is reduced and the dish thickened. Garnish with olives, if desired. Makes 4 servings.

Serve with white rice.

* Jarred minced garlic found in the produce department of supermarkets. Sour orange juice is available fresh (squeeze your own sour oranges) or in plastic bottles from Badia (it's labeled naranja agria)sold in the condiment aisle of supermarkets. The chef uses the Chunky Ragu Roasted Red Pepper and Onion Pasta Sauce, but says any brand of roasted tomato sauce will work.