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Vaca Frita is a popular dish in Cuban Cuisine. It consists of skirt or flank steak that is fried and shredded.
Once cooked, it is typically served with onions, rice, and black beans and marinated with lime. It is easy to make and is packed full of flavor.
If you enjoy feasting on this dish when dining at a restaurant, why not try making your own version from the comfort of your home? Below, I have provided you with 13 of the most amazing Vaca Frita Recipes.
If you own an instant pot, this recipe could be perfect for you. It requires little effort on your part and is great if you often find yourself pushed for time.
Although there may seem like there are a lot of steps involved, you should expect this dish to take no longer than 30 minutes to make.
Created by a self-taught chef, this recipe features a twist on the original concept of vaca frita as a citrus sauce is used to add flavor and enhance the taste of the dish. Once cooked, serve with rice, beans, lime wedges, and boiled yuca.
This classic and delicious recipe is easy to follow and doesn’t call for a hugely complex list of ingredients. Although it tends to be a little pricier, flank steak is recommended in this recipe because it is easier to shred.
When the Vaca Frita is cooked you can scatter some onions on top and serve with lime wedges.
You can also serve it with a side of white rice, mashed potatoes, red beans, or fried sweet plantains; whatever you think is going to bring out the authenticity of the dish.
Each step of the process is thoroughly explained so it can easily be followed by cooking amateurs as well as those who are a little more experienced in the kitchen.
Taking a slightly different approach, this vaca frita recipe by Chef Zee Cooks focuses on maximizing the flavors and potential of the dish.
A selection of fresh ingredients are used to marinate and season the meat to prevent it from drying out.
In this recipe, the meat is left to develop a crispy texture and the peppers and onions are then sauteed afterward.
Those with a pressure cooker or instant pot may choose to use this appliance to cook the meat for a faster cooking time. Serve with rice, maduros, or black beans and a side of toasted bread, yuca, or tostones.
This next recipe uses a variety of straightforward ingredients that are added to the dish at different stages of cooking to build on the flavors and aromas. It is easy to follow, making it a great recipe for those that are new to cooking.
You should expect the meat to take around 30 minutes to cook in a pan of boiling water, you can then season it with the additional ingredients, before plating it up and serving with lime wedges on the side.
Our next recipe by Analida’s Ethnic Spoon embraces the Cuban heritage of this dish. Again, you do not need a lot of ingredients to create this dish that is packed full of rich flavors.
This recipe differs slightly from the previous mentions as the beef is cut into pieces rather than shredded.
Once the meat has cooked and started to turn a lovely brown color, you can remove it from the heat, flavor with lime, and then serve with black beans and rice.
If these sides don’t appeal to you, this dish is going to taste just as delicious when served with mashed potatoes or french fries.
Easy to make, this vaca frita recipe by For The Love Of Sazon, calls for the use of a pressure cooker to shred the meat. However, do not be deterred if you do not have one.
Instead, you can boil the meat in water for approximately 30 minutes until it is tender and shreds easily.
This recipe asks you to check the meat and add certain ingredients at different intervals. As such, you will need to make sure that you set aside plenty of time for this.
Add your seasonings as the steak is cooking, before removing from the heat and serving on a bed of rice. Garnish with a side of lime and it is then ready to eat.
Just because you may not be a culinary expert does not mean that you should miss out on creating delicious dishes. This Vaca Frita recipe is easy to follow and doesn’t require an extensive list of ingredients.
When it comes to making this dish, aromatics are the key to locking in the flavor.
The measurements for the ingredients used in this recipe are based on 4 people and it is going to take an hour and 40 minutes in total to cook through thoroughly.
Once all of the ingredients have cooked, season to taste, and then serve whilst it is warm.
This recipe is based on a yield of 6 servings, however, the measurements can be increased or decreased according to the quantity that you are cooking for.
Again, you don’t need a lot of fancy ingredients and you may find that the majority are readily available in your kitchen cupboards.
Similar to the previous recipes, you will need to cook the meat twice, seasoning it as you do.
Transfer to a plate once it has cooked through and turned a little crispy on the outside and then serve with a side of lime wedges.
This Cuban vaca frita recipe embraces the traditional concept of the dish.
The use of lemon juice, lime juice, salt and pepper, and garlic to marinate this dish will lock in all of the flavors creating a dish that is nothing short of perfection.
It is worth noting that between preparing and cooking the dish, when following this recipe it is likely to take around 3 hours in total.
Cook your meat until it is crispy and then garnish with some parsley and serve with some beans or mashed potatoes.
The next vaca frita recipe in the list focuses on creating moist but tender shredded beef that has a crispy coating.
A mojo flavor is created through the use of orange and lime juice and the meat is also infused with onion and garlic as it cooks.
You will not need a lot of ingredients to make this dish and it is going to take just over 2 hours to cook. If preferred, you may wish to cook the meat in a slow cooker as mentioned in the recipe.
Serve with the usual sides of beans and rice or you may prefer to add the meat chunks to a wrap and enjoy a quick savory lunch.
Next, is this delicious vaca frita recipe by ChefPepin. Again, you will require very few ingredients to create this dish and it is also super easy to make.
The steps are based on cooking the meat via a pressure cooker, however, you may wish to boil it if you don’t have one on hand.
Once the meat has finished cooking, you can add the onions and wait for them to saute. Add some lime to the dish to enhance the flavor and then wait for it to finish cooking.
Remove the meat and lay it on a bed of rice and black beans. Then serve it whilst it is still hot.
The final recipe that I have for you has been created by Food.com. When following this recipe this dish is going to take a considerable amount of time to make as you will need to marinate it overnight.
Although this may seem like a time-consuming process, doing so will lock in plenty of flavor and this is going to be reflected in the great taste.
Add the onions and parsley and then squeeze some lime juice over the meat as it finishes cooking. Then remove it from the heat and serve with some rice. You can then sit back and enjoy it whilst it is still hot.
