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cuban vaca frita recipe
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5 from 3 votes

Cuban Vaca Frita Recipe

Shredded flank steak seared with onions and garlic
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: cuban
Servings: 4
Calories: 607kcal
Author: Cari

Ingredients

  • 3 lbs flank steak
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sazon completa
  • 6 cups water
  • 1 medium sized yellow onion sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 large lime
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil

Instructions

  • Place the water, salt, bay leaves sazon completa and beef into your Instant Pot and set for 40 minutes at high pressure in the meat/stew setting
  • Once the 40 minutes are up, release the steam and remove the beef from the pot. Reserve about ½ cup of the broth from the Instant Pot.
  • Using a meat tenderizer or fork, shred the beef to your desired size. Place the shredded beef on a large plate or cutting board and top with the garlic, lime juice of one lime and onions and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
  • In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add two tablespoons of oil. You don't want to over crowd the pan, so you may need to sear the meat in two batches.
  • Once the oil is hot, add in your beef, onions and garlic. Baste the meat with that reserved broth while it's sautéing. Flip the meat every couple of minutes until it reaches your desired crispness.

Video

Notes

  • You don't want to over crowd the pan, so you may need to sear the meat in two batches.
  • Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for upto 4 days. 
  • If you cant find flank steak, you can use chuck roast instead.
  • You can freeze the remaining broth and use it for soups

Nutrition

Serving: 6oz | Calories: 607kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 74g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 204mg | Sodium: 2124mg | Potassium: 1230mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 12IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 5mg