Chicken Ropa Vieja

4.1
(23)

Ropa vieja is a mainstay of the Cuban-American diet. It's traditionally made with skirt steak, a stringy cut of meat with the poetic name fajita (girdle) in Spanish. This fantastic recipe uses shredded chicken breast; the leftovers are even better. It is wonderful served with white rice and fried plantains or a pineapple-coconut slaw.

Prep Time:
40 mins
Cook Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 25 mins
Servings:
4
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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast

  • 1 small onion, quartered

  • 1 tomato, quartered

  • 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces

  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced

  • ½ green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

  • ½ red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

  • 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • ¼ cup tomato puree

  • ¼ cup dry white wine

  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin, or to taste

  • salt and pepper to taste

Directions

  1. Place chicken, onion, tomato, carrot, and 2 cloves garlic into a large pot. Add water to cover, then bring to a boil. Skim and discard the foam that floats to the surface. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer uncovered until chicken is tender, 30 to 40 minutes.

  2. Place chicken into a bowl and shred it into strips as thick as a pencil; set aside. Strain and reserve cooking liquid; discard vegetables.

  3. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell peppers, and minced garlic. Cook and stir until vegetables have softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in tomato purée, white wine, chicken, and enough of the reserved broth to create a thick sauce. Season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Simmer until sauce is slightly reduced and coats chicken, about 5 minutes.

Tips

The chicken breasts may be cooked in a slow cooker, covered, on High for 3 to 4 hours.

43 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

291 Calories
11g Fat
11g Carbs
35g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 4
Calories 291
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Sodium 151mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 35g 69%
Vitamin C 41mg 46%
Calcium 48mg 4%
Iron 2mg 12%
Potassium 545mg 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.