5.0 from 39 votes
Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja (Cuban Beef)
Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja Recipe: Cuba's National Dish is fabulous on sandwiches or served with traditional rice and plantains. As-is it's low carb, paleo, gluten free and keto!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 hrs
Total Time
5 hrs 15 mins
Servings: 12
Calories: 259 kcal
Course:
Main Course
Cuisine:
Cuban
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 pounds flank steak
- 1 large sweet onion, peeled and sliced
- 5-7 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 whole bay leaves
- 1 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup white wine
- 1 cup sliced carrots
- 3 whole bell peppers (three colors)
- 7 ounce spanish green olives, pitted
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Set a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the oil to the skillet. Cut the flank steaks in half so they fit in the skillet. Then salt and pepper them generously on both sides.
- Place the flank steaks in the skillet and brown on both sides. You may need to do this in batches if your skillet is not huge. Once the flank steaks are browned, move them to a large crockpot.
- Add the sliced onions to the skillet. Stir and saute to soften the onions. Then add them to the crockpot as well. Turn off the burner.
- Add the garlic, bay leaves, cumin, oregano, paprika, and allspice to the slow cooker. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Then stir in the tomatoes, wine, and sliced carrots.
- Cover the crockpot. Cook on LOW for 8-10 hours, or on HIGH for 4-6 hours. Once the meat can be easily shredded with a fork it's done cooking. Remove the bay leaves and shred the meat, leaving it in the sauce.
- At some point before the meat is fully cooked, char the bell peppers. You can do this by placing them directly on a gas burner, turning them with tongs as the skin blackens. You can also do this on a hot grill or under the broiler. They just need to be blistered on all sides.
- Once the peppers are blistered, place them in a large zip bag and let them steam for 15 minutes. Then peel off the waxy skins, remove the stems and seeds, and slices them into thin slivers.
- Drain the olives and cut them in half. Then stir the olives and pepper strips into the beef. Serve warm.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Traditionally, Ropa Vieja is served with rice, beans, and fried plantains. However, it's great piled on subs rolls with cheese.
- Yet this recipe on its own is Low Carb, Gluten Free, and Keto Friendly!
- To make a true keto variation, you will need substitute broth for wine to cut down the carbs a little. Remember, lifting the meat out of the sauce also reduces the carbs.
Nutrition Information
Serving
4oz
Calories
259kcal
(13%)
Carbohydrates
10g
(3%)
Protein
26g
(52%)
Fat
11g
(17%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
68mg
(23%)
Sodium
417mg
(17%)
Potassium
705mg
(20%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
5g
(10%)
Vitamin A
2305IU
(46%)
Vitamin C
8.7mg
(10%)
Calcium
85mg
(9%)
Iron
3.7mg
(21%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 259
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4oz | |
| Calories | 259kcal | 13% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 26g | 52% |
| Fat | 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 68mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 417mg | 17% |
| Potassium | 705mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 5g | 10% |
| Vitamin A | 2305IU | 46% |
| Vitamin C | 8.7mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 85mg | 9% |
| Iron | 3.7mg | 21% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.