Vaca Frita (Cuban Shredded Beef)
Overview:
🕒 Total Time: 10 hours 30 minutes
🥘 Recipe Category: Roast Beef
🔍 Keywords: Meat, Caribbean, Very Low Carbs, Savory, Stove Top
🍽️ Servings: 4
Description:
Absolutely wonderful! Simmered beef marinated overnight in lime, lemon, and garlic, then sautéed with onion until slightly crispy (then I like to blast it with more fresh-squeezed lime juice!). The technique is almost like making homemade roast beef hash (without the potato). Prep time includes marinating beef overnight. Cook time is a combination of two days (simmering of beef, then sautéing).
Ingredients:
- 2 bay leaves
- 3 fresh lime juice
- 4 fresh lemon juice
- 4 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 onions
- 1/2 cup parsley
Nutrition Facts (Per Serving):
- Calories: 715.3
- Fat: 57.9g
- Saturated Fat: 19.8g
- Cholesterol: 156.5mg
- Sodium: 135.3mg
- Carbohydrates: 4.9g
- Fiber: 0.4g
- Sugar: 1.4g
- Protein: 42.1g
Recipe Instructions:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Simmer roast with bay leaves in a Dutch oven on the stove until tender, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours. |
| 2 | Cool at room temperature; reserve cooking water for another use if you wish. |
| 3 | When beef is cool, shred and place in a glass container. |
| 4 | Combine lime juice, lemon juice, and garlic; mix into meat. |
| 5 | Season with salt and pepper and marinate overnight. (The sirloin roast is excellent at “soaking up” the juices!) |
| 6 | Next day, remove meat from marinade, squeezing excess liquid (if you need to; I normally don’t) and fry in a large skillet in olive oil until slightly brown, about 10 to 15 minutes. |
| 7 | Add thin onion slices and parsley and cook for another 10 to 15 minutes, until onion is tender and meat is well-browned. |
| 8 | Squeeze more lime juice on meat and serve over rice. |
This Vaca Frita recipe promises a burst of Caribbean flavors with tender, citrus-infused beef complemented by the caramelized sweetness of onions. It’s perfect for a hearty meal that’s both satisfying and bursting with savory goodness. Whether you’re cooking for a special occasion or just craving a taste of the islands, this dish is sure to impress!
