Recipe #3! Ropa Vieja (it means old clothes)

Bootsy's has this dish that I love - Ropa Vieja. I wanted to see if I could make it myself so in my new stay-at-home-and-save-money way - I found a recipe!

Thanks to Ladies Home Journal for this one...and it's a crock pot one to boot!

Here's the finished product - I served it over mashed potatoes - not sure why - but they were easy and available.

We had to substitute a little - couldn't find sofrito at Biggs and no cilantro at the end - but other than that - we were good.

It was tasty but not near as good as Bootsy's...

Ropa Vieja

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1-1/2 lbs flank steak, trimmed of fat, cut into 2 pieces
• 1 large yellow onion, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 28-oz can whole tomatoes
• 3 tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup sofrito
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1-1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 bay leaf
• 1/2 tsp kosher salt
• Chopped cilantro

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet, Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat. Add steak and brown well on both sides, about 5 min. Transfer to a 4-qt slow cooker if using, with all remaining ingredients except cilantro. Cook until meat is fork-tender, 10 to 12 hr on low or 5 to 6 hr on high for slow cooker or 3 hr at a simmer on the stove.

2. Remove meat; shred and return to stew. Serve with cilantro and beans if desired. Makes 6 servings.

Why Should You Make It? Well it was good and very much comfort food - although with spring here we're getting out of that. I liked it but it was missing something - so if you have a better/different recipe or if the soffrito was the key - let me know!