Vaca Frita Beef
Vaca Frita, or "fried beef", is a decadent Cuban dish of tender, crispy pan-fried beef. This healthier version features leans flank steak simmered for over an hour. Then the beef is shredded and pan-fried with just a little bit of cooking oil spray. Save the broth from the simmered beef for future cooking, like for a soup base or for cooking rice. Receta en Español aqui
Ingredients
- flank steak 1.00 lbs cut into 4 equal pieces
- onion(s) 1.00 medium onion cut into quarters
- bay leaves 1.00 bay leaf
- water 4.00 cup
- olive oil 1.00 tbsp divided use 1 tbsp plus 1 tsp
- onion(s) 1.00 large onion thinly sliced
- lime juice 0.25 cup
- garlic 2.00 clove minced
- salt 0.25 tsp
- black pepper 0.25 tsp
- nonstick cooking spray 1.00
- lime 1.00 lime wedges for garnish
- fresh cilantro 0.25 cup chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- 1
In a large saucepan
- 2
combine the beef
- 3
quartered onion
- 4
bay leaf
- 5
and water. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low. Cover and simmer until the beef is tender
- 6
about 1 hour 10 minutes. Transfer the beef to a cutting board and let cool. To save the broth for another use
- 7
skim any fat and strain the broth
- 8
discarding the bay leaf. Refrigerate for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 1 month.
- 9
Heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat Add the sliced onion and cook
- 10
over medium heat
- 11
stirring occasionally
- 12
until the onion is very tender and begins to caramelize
- 13
about 10 minutes.
- 14
Meanwhile
- 15
with two forks
- 16
shred the beef and transfer to a large bowl. Add the lime juice
- 17
garlic
- 18
remaining 1 tsp oil
- 19
salt
- 20
and pepper. Let stand 20 minutes.
- 21
Spray a griddle or nonstick skillet with nonstick spray and heat over mediumhigh heat. Add the beef and caramelized onion and cook
- 22
turning occasionally
- 23
until the beef and onions are browned
- 24
about 8 minutes. Serve garnished with lime wedges and cilantro.
Cook it from the original
This recipe comes from diabetesfoodhub.org. Their page has the author’s own photos, notes and tips — the best place to cook it from.
Open the recipe on diabetesfoodhub.org