Ropa vieja
{{short description|Stewed beef with vegetables dish}}
File:Cubanfood.jpg, yellow rice, plantains and fried yuca with beer]]
Ropa vieja ({{IPAc-en|lang|ˈ|r|oʊ|p|ə|_|v|i|ˈ|eɪ|h|ə}}, {{IPA|es|ˈropa ˈβjexa|lang}}; {{lit|old clothes}}) is a dish with regional variations in Spain, Latin America and the Philippines. It normally includes some form of stewed beefRoss, Chris [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/lifestyle/food-and-cooking/sd-fo-recipe-of-week-20180625-story.html "Cuban shredded beef has origins in Spain", San Diego] (June 25, 2018). Accessed August 10, 2021. and tomatoes with a sofrito base.[https://venezuelancooking.wordpress.com/tag/ropa-vieja/ "Recipe: Carne Mechada/Venezuelan Shredded/Pull Beef", Venezuelan Cooking] (Dec. 7 2011). Accessed August 10, 2021. Originating in Spain, it is known today as one of the national dishes of Cuba.Sierra, Lisa & Tony, [https://www.thespruceeats.com/what-is-ropa-vieja-3083600 "What is Ropa Vieja", The Spruce Eats] (July 28, 2021). Accessed August 10, 2021. The name ropa vieja probably originates from the fact that it was often prepared using food left over from other meals,{{cite web |date=March 2022 |title=ropa vieja, n. |url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/274944 |access-date=2022-05-05 |website=OED Online |publisher=Oxford University Press}} although it has been suggested that the name comes from the "tattered appearance" of the meat.{{Cite web |title=Ropa Vieja Recipe |url=https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1021457-ropa-vieja |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=NYT Cooking |language=en-US}}
The dish's origins appear to have first arisen among the Sephardic Jews of the Iberian Peninsula,{{cite web|url=https://www.revoluciondecuba.com/blog/the-ropa-vieja-story/|title=The Ropa Vieja story: the National Dish of Cuba|date=June 23, 2015|website=Revolución de Cuba}}[https://jewtina.org/recipes/f/ropa-vieja "Ropa Vieja", Jewtina] (March 12, 2020). Accessed August 12, 2021. as a slow-cooked stew that was prepared to be eaten over the course of a traditionally observed Shabbat, a kind of cholent called "handrajos" (similar to the Spanish word "andrajos").[https://www.radioprogreso.icrt.cu/historia-de-la-ropa-vieja/ "Historia de la ropa vieja", Radio Progreso (November 24)] (Accessed Jan. 26, 2022)[https://jiriecaribbean.com/ropa-vieja-cubas-national-treasure/ "Ropa Vieja: Celebrating Cuba's independence", Jirie Caribbean] (May 5, 2021) Accessed August 12, 2021.Kaufman, Sheilah [https://www.myjewishlearning.com/recipe/dafina/ "Dafina (Moroccan cholent (Sabbath stew)", MyJewishLearning.com] Accessed August 12, 2021. Eventually this dish spread to North Africa and to the Canary Islands of Spain.Scott, Leah [https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/culture/a-history-of-ropa-vieja-one-of-cubas-most-famous-and-forbidden-national-dishes/ "A history of ropa vieja, one of Cuba's most famous and forbidden national dishes", WeAreMitu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117213151/https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/culture/a-history-of-ropa-vieja-one-of-cubas-most-famous-and-forbidden-national-dishes/ |date=2021-11-17 }} (December 20, 2019) Accessed August 10, 2021.Guy, Jack [https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/cuba/articles/ropa-vieja-how-cuba-stole-its-national-dish-from-the-canary-islands/ "Ropa Vieja: How Cuba stole its national dish from the Canary Islands"] (October 9, 2017) Accessed August 10, 2021.
The dish is believed to have been brought to the Americas by immigrants from the Canary Islands and was first reported to have been cooked in Cuba in 1857, but today is well known as a Cuban national dish.{{cite web|url=https://www.latinpost.com/articles/144172/20200316/history-of-cubas-famous-dish-ropa-vieja.htm|title=History of Cuba's Famous Dish Ropa Vieja|first=Neil|last=P|date=March 16, 2020|website=Latin Post - Latin news, immigration, politics, culture}}{{cite web|url=https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/culture/a-history-of-ropa-vieja-one-of-cubas-most-famous-and-forbidden-national-dishes/|title=A History Of Ropa Vieja, One Of Cuba's Most Famous (And Forbidden) National Dishes|first=Leah|last=Scott|date=December 20, 2019|website=we are Mitú. 100% American & Latino|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=November 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117213151/https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/culture/a-history-of-ropa-vieja-one-of-cubas-most-famous-and-forbidden-national-dishes/|url-status=dead}}
Regional variations
- Canary Islands - Ropa vieja is served with both garbanzo beans and potatoes. Some versions of the dish in the Canaries include other meats, including chicken and pork.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}}
- Cuba - Ropa vieja is well known as a national dish (most often served with rice and black beans), but famously was off the menu of many ordinary Cubans for a time during the Special Period of Cuban history, after the fall of the Soviet Union. While some Cubans improvised, substituting lambThorman, Kate [https://www.afar.com/magazine/cubas-old-clothes-made-new "The fascinating story of Cuba's revolutionary cuisine", Afar] (September 4, 2013) Accessed August 10, 2021. or porkBremzen, Anya von, "Pork Ripa Vieja with Raisins", Paladares: Recipes inspired by the private restaurants of Cuba (2017, {{ISBN|978-1-4197-2703-0}}) p. 246-247 for beef during this time (or made special efforts to find beef to make the dish) Svarch, Malena [https://www.jewishfoodsociety.org/posts/2018/10/18/even-1300-miles-from-home-a-young-cook-remembers-havana "Even 1,300 miles from home, a young cook remembers Havana", Jewish Food Society] (October 19, 2018). Accessed August 12, 2021 the dish became commonly available in Cuba again, starting in 2010 with the advent of independent and legal paladares in 2010. The paladares are restaurants in tourist zones, frequented by tourists and a few Cubans who can afford it. Unfortunately, most Cubans do not get to eat ropa vieja because they don't eat at paladares but rather cook their meals at home. Ropa vieja is especially popular among Cuba's Jewish community.Eskenazi, Gerald [https://forward.com/news/216455/how-fidel-castro-saved-cubas-only-kosher-butcher/ "How Fidel Castro saved Cuba's only kosher butcher", The Forward (March 11, 2015). Accessed August 12, 2021.] Ropa vieja in Cuba is often served with Moros y Cristianos (dish), a form of rice and beans, and fried plantains.Llamas, Beatriz, "Ropa Vieja", A taste of Cuba (Interlink Books 2005), p. 51
- In Nicaragua, the dish is called carne desmenuzada, or less commonly ropa vieja. It is made with green bell peppers, onions, garlic, salt, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, and mustard. It is usually served with white rice or alongside gallopinto (national dish of Nicaragua), and fried cheese, fried or boiled plantains.{{cite web|url=https://www.nicasoy.com/2018/12/preparacion-de-la-carne-desmenuzada.html|title=Preparacion de la Carne desmenuzada Receta Original Nicaraguense|access-date=2021-08-20|archive-date=2022-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223144618/https://www.nicasoy.com/2018/12/preparacion-de-la-carne-desmenuzada.html|url-status=dead}}
- In the Philippines, ropa vieja includes fish sauce and is served with jasmine rice.
- Other regions - The dish is popular in Honduras,[https://buenprovecho.hn/recipe/ropa-vieja/ "ropa vieja", BuenProvecho.hn] Accessed August 10, 2021. Puerto Rico,[https://www.sofritoproject.com/recipes/2019/2/12/ropa-vieja "Ropa Vieja", The Sofritro Project] (February 24, 2019). Accessed August 10, 2021{{cite web|url=https://leitesculinaria.com/307655/recipes-puerto-rican-style-ropa-vieja.html|title=Puerto Rican-Style Ropa Vieja|author=Turshen, Julia|date=March 2, 2021|website=Leite's Culinaria}} and other parts of Latin America, as well as among immigrant communities in the United States.[https://leitesculinaria.com/307655/recipes-puerto-rican-style-ropa-vieja.html "Puerto Rican Style Ropa Vieja", LeitesCulinaria.com] (March 2, 2021). Accessed August 10, 2021.Kratz, Elizabeth [https://jewishlink.news/food/42515-sender-s-to-serve-elevated-cuban-fare-at-pop-up-on-march-10 "Sender's to serve elevated Cuban fare at Pop-up on March 10", JewishLink] (March 4, 2021). Accessed August 12, 2021.
See also
{{portal|Cuba|Food}}
References
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{{Beef}}
{{Filipino cuisine}}
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Category:Latin American cuisine
Category:Canary Islands cuisine
Category:Sephardi Jewish cuisine
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