🇨🇺 Cuban Cuisine

Vaca Frita

Crispy Fried Shredded Beef

Prep Time 20 min
Servings 4
Difficulty Medium
Calories 474 kcal

Tender braised beef shredded and pan-fried until crispy and caramelized with garlic and lime, served over white rice with sweet plantains.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. 1 Boil flank steak in salted water for 1.5-2 hours until very tender.
  2. 2 Shred beef into thin strips along the grain. Toss with lime juice, garlic, salt, and pepper. Marinate 30 min.
  3. 3 Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat. Spread beef in a single layer without crowding.
  4. 4 Fry without stirring for 4-5 min until bottom is deeply crispy and caramelized.
  5. 5 Flip and crisp the other side 3-4 min. Add sliced onion in the last 2 min.
  6. 6 Serve immediately with lime wedges over white rice.

Did You Know?

Vaca frita literally means "fried cow" — the name is as direct and honest as the dish itself.