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5.0 from 6 votes

Puerto Rican-Style Ropa Vieja

This Puerto Rican-style ropa vieja is made by slowly braising beef chuck roast in a fragrant sauce of onions, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and raisins until meltingly tender.

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 30 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Calories: 424 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Ingredients

  • 1 large (9 oz) yellow onion thinly sliced into half-moons
  • 6 garlic cloves peeled and crushed
  • 2 medium (13 oz) green bell peppers stemmed, seeded, and thinly sliced
  • One (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with their juice
  • 1/4 cup yellow mustard
  • 1/3 cup raisins preferably golden
  • 1/2 cup pimento-stuffed green olives cut in half if large, plus 3 tablespoons olive brine for finishing the dish
  • One (2- to 3-pound) boneless chuck roast trimmed of any large pieces of fat or gristle, cut into 3 even pieces
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt plus more for seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • cilantro for serving (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Preheat the oven to 300ºF (150ºC).
  2. In a large, heavy, ovenproof pot, such as a Dutch oven, stir together the onion, garlic, bell peppers, diced tomatoes with their juice, mustard, raisins, and olives (hang onto that liquid from the olies for later).
  3. Sprinkle the chuck roast all over with the salt, pepper, and cumin. Nestle the pieces into the mixture in the pot. Cover the pot tightly with a lid or aluminum foil.
  4. Roast the beef until it’s incredibly tender and shreds easily when you poke at it with tongs or a couple of forks, 3 to 3 1/2 hours. 
  5. Add the olive liquid to the pot and use those tongs or forks to shred the beef directly in the pot (discard any large pieces of fat as you work).
  6. Stir the beef and juices together to combine. Taste and, if desired, add more salt. Serve warm with cilantro, if desired. (It’s honestly better the longer it sits. You can refrigerate it for up to a week and warm it up in a saucepan over low heat, splashing in a little water or stock if it needs some moisture. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.)

Nutrition Information

Serving 1portion Calories 424kcal (21%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 39g (78%) Fat 24g (37%) Saturated Fat 10g (50%) Monounsaturated Fat 13g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 130mg (43%) Sodium 1322mg (55%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 4g (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6to 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 424

% Daily Value*

Serving 1portion
Calories 424kcal 21%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 39g 78%
Fat 24g 37%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Monounsaturated Fat 13g 65%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 130mg 43%
Sodium 1322mg 55%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 4g 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.