Ropa Vieja with Rice and Beans

Name: Ropa Vieja with Rice and Beans
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: For the Ropa Vieja; 2 lbs flank steak or chuck roast 🥩; 1 onion, sliced; 1 green bell pepper, sliced; 1 red bell pepper, sliced; 4 garlic cloves, minced 🧄; 1/2 cup tomato sauce; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1/4 cup olives (optional) 🫒; 1 tsp cumin; 1 tsp oregano; 1 bay leaf; 2 cups beef broth or water; Salt & pepper to taste; 2 tbsp oil; For the Rice and Beans; 2 cups cooked white rice 🍚; 1 can black or red beans, drained and rinsed 🫘; 1/4 onion, chopped; 1 garlic clove, minced; 1 tbsp olive oil; Salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin

Prep: 20 min ⏱️Cook: , Calories, and CostTotal: ~2 hrs 20 min

Story

Don Luis always said *Ropa Vieja* was a dish that taught you patience. You couldn’t rush flavor that deep. He’d start with a tender cut of beef, simmered slow until it practically begged to be shredded. Then came the magic—onions, peppers, garlic, and a rich tomato base turning the pot into a melody of memories. He served it over a mound of fluffy white rice with a generous spoonful of stewed beans on the side. “This,” he’d say, placing the plate with care, “is what happens when your recipe has a memory.” And with every bite, you could taste the tradition. Prep & Cook Time, Calories, and Cost

Ingredients

For the Ropa Vieja
2 lbs flank steak or chuck roast 🥩
1 onion, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced 🧄
0.5 cup tomato sauce
2 tbsp tomato paste
0.25 cup olives (optional) 🫒
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 bay leaf
2 cups beef broth or water
Salt & pepper to taste
2 tbsp oil
For the Rice and Beans
2 cups cooked white rice 🍚
1 can black or red beans, drained and rinsed 🫘
0.25 onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp olive oil
Salt, pepper, and a pinch of cumin

Instructions

1Cook the Beef:
2In a large pot, boil beef in salted water for 1–1.5 hours until tender. Shred with forks.
3In a skillet, heat oil and sauté onions, peppers, and garlic.
4Add tomato sauce, paste, cumin, oregano, olives, and bay leaf. Cook 2–3 minutes.
5Stir in shredded beef and broth. Simmer uncovered for 30 minutes until thick and flavorful. Season to taste.
6Prepare Rice and Beans:
7Heat olive oil in a pan. Sauté onion and garlic until soft.
8Add beans, cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
9Serve alongside warm white rice.

About the narrator

Don Luis · A character for three generations

Don Luis is the brand character and narrator for this catalog: a warm voice for Puerto Rican family recipes tested by the real creator behind the brand. The project carries three generations of flavor and writes each recipe step by step so any kid can follow it.

Read our mission →