Portions: 6 servings Calories: 223kcal |
How about having dinner ready in just a little time with a dish with unique Caribbean flavors? This tasty, tender chicken ropa vieja recipe is a creative take on the famous dish from gorgeous Cuba, lighter and easier to make.
By - Revised . Original Jan 20, 2013.
Chicken Ropa Vieja [Video+Recipe].
Why we ❤️ it
- The traditional Cuban ropa vieja is typically made with beef, like skirt steak or chunk, but for this dish we'll use pre-cooked supermarket rotisserie chicken, a great shortcut for a tasty dish made quick.
- It is a lighter version of the traditional ropa vieja, perfect if you're looking for a healthful option.
Chicken Ropa Vieja [Video+Recipe]
This free recipe contains Amazon affiliate links, and I receive a small commission when you purchase, at no cost to you. Thank you!
Utensils and tools
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless rotisserie chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion, cut into thin strips
- 3 crushed garlic cloves
- 1 green bell pepper, cut into thin strips
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 2 large tomatoes, diced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 2 teaspoons salt, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- ½ cup pitted green olives, optional
- ¼ cup chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- Fresh cilantro, or parsley extra for garnish
Video
Preparation
1. Shred chicken
Place chicken in a bowl, and using two forks, shred the chicken into strips.Set it aside.
2. Sautéeing
- Heat the olive oil in the skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring until the onions become translucent. Add the garlic, and cook, stirring until it releases its aroma (about a minute).Stir in red peppers and green peppers. Cook, stirring, until they soften some, about 3 to 5 minutes.
3. Seasoning
- Add the chicken, tomato, bay leaf, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, pepper, and olives.Cook, stirring until everything has heated through.
4. Simmering
- Lower the heat to medium-low, add the chicken stock, cover, and let it simmer until the tomato is very soft (about 5 minutes).Stir in the tomato paste, stir to dissolve it, and let the liquid boil until it reduces to a thick sauce.
5. Serve
- Remove from the stove, discard the bay leaf, season with salt and pepper to taste, garnish with cilantro or parsley, and serve.
Top tips
- Lime: For a crisper flavor, drizzle with a bit of lime juice (to taste).
- Broth: You can use my recipe for homemade chicken broth for a more natural flavor.
- Shredding chicken: The easiest way to shred chicken is to pull it apart using your fingers, a little faster but just as easy is using two forks to pull apart the meat.
Serving suggestions
White rice is my preferred side dish. For a great Cuban meal, moros y cristianos (rice and black beans) are a favorite side dish, and fried sweet plantains are a great little dish that's always appreciated.
I typically do not serve salad with this vegetable-rich dish as I don't find it necessary.
Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great recipes from me every week!
Learn more
I typically buy a whole chicken when I am short of time, serve everything but the chicken breasts, and reuse those in other dishes. For my small family, it's enough for 3 meals, so pencil this in for this week.
What is the best way to shred chicken?
The easiest way to shred chicken is to pull it apart using your fingers, a little faster but just as easy is using two forks to pull apart the meat. This is perfect for dishes like chicken ropa vieja.
If you are using the chicken for salad or stuffing, then using the paddle and your mixer produces a finer, more homogenous shredded chicken.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.
Buenísima!
Buenos dias Tia Clara, amo tus recetas. Me encanto esta.
Thanks for the recipe, I am going to try it.
I miss having things from my country.
hay que bonito se ve ese locrio, yo quiero!
Please somebody bring me some, tengo un antojo!
Love this. I am going to make it often now. Thank you for sharing the recipe.
Thank you for your recipes! Excelent dinner idea.