Chipotle Shredded Beef (Ropa Vieja) Tacos in a Slow Cooker

One of my favorite Mexican dishes is Beef Ropa Vieja which is a rich shredded beef stew, falling apart, and perfect for piling into your favorite tortilla, or on top of some nice fluffy rice. I like to simmer mine in beef broth, tomato, peppers, herbs, onion and more!

Ingredients

Three to four pounds beef chuck roast

Two cups diced fresh tomatoes with their juices

Three fresh bay leaves minced

One banana pepper chopped

Four chipotles peppers in adobo sauce minced

Eight large cloves of garlic minced

Four cups beef broth

One sweet onion minced

Juice of two lemons

Juice of one lime

One cup flat leaf parsley minced

1/2 cup cider vinegar

One teaspoon cinnamon

One tablespoon fresh thyme minced

One teaspoon unsweetened cocoa powder

One tablespoon sweet paprika

One teaspoon salt

One teaspoon black pepper

One teaspoon sugar or honey

1/4 cup healthy oil of your choice like canola

For garnish: Sliced Serrano or Jalapeno, chopped red onion, shredded Romaine lettuce, diced tomato, Mexican crema (sour cream), shredded soft cheese like jack or chihuahua, salsa verde, and salsa rojo, chopped flat leaf parsley or cilantro, lime wedges

Serve the tacos with a side of lettuce and tomato, refried beans, fluffy rice, and warm tortillas

Method

1) Bring oil to a boil in large high sided pot or fry pan. Season the meat with the salt and pepper and brown until juices are sealed in on all sides.

2) In a bowl mix together the minced bay leaves, chopped parsley or cilantro, onion, banana pepper, four chopped chipotles with a bit of the sauce, beef broth, lemon juice, lime juice, cider vinegar, honey, and cocoa.

3) Over the meat sprinkle the minced garlic, cinnamon, minced thyme, minced oregano.

4) Cook on high for one hour, and then reduce to low 8 to 12 hours. It works well to start this process early in the morning before work.

5) After work, warm your tortillas in a fry pan, the oven, or microwave. Prepare some rice and perhaps also your favorite beans. Make a simple green salad traditionally including shredded lettuce, tomato and onion as well as some of the flat leaf. Garnish your Ropa Vieja with the vegetables, onion, sour cream and flat leaf herbs.

Enjoy!

January 2, 2019 World Cuisine Today Magazine

Recipe Developed By: Sarah J Hall www.worldcuisinetoday.com