Cuban-Style Beef
Cuban-Style Beef is one of the best slimming-friendly hearty meals, whether you're calorie counting or following a plan like Weight Watchers.
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories279
- Carbs17g
- Protein33g
- Fat5.8g
- Saturates2.1g
- Sugars15g
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For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card at the end of this post. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff to know in the blurb!
Cuban-Style Beef rather unsurprisingly is made with beef! It’s known in Cuba as Ropa Vieja AKA “old clothes”. Don’t worry, it’s no indication of the taste, this Cuban-Style Beef is DELICIOUS!
Rich and hearty, it’s a super simple dish that will become a firm family favourite in no time. The best bit is that you can pop the whole lot in the slow cooker and get on with your day. As the time passes, you’ll start to smell the tomatoey, spicy goodness filling the kitchen until it’s ready to tuck in. Cooking it low and slow gives the beef time to tenderise and all the flavours to combine. It’s worth the wait, we promise!
What diets is this Cuban-Style Beef suitable for?
This recipe is suitable if you’re gluten free as long as you swap out the following ingredients for gluten free versions;
- Stock cubes
You could also enjoy this Cuban-Style Beef if you’re dairy free.
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make Cuban-Style Beef?
We like to use ox cheeks for this recipe, but you can use any type of stewing steak. The cheaper cuts of beef tend to work better for this low and slow meal!
We use red or white wine stock pots in this recipe – they add a real depth of flavour to the dish, without all the added calories of actual wine. You can pick them up in several different supermarkets.
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We like to cook this in a slow cooker. You can pick up slow cookers in most large supermarkets, or online from Amazon.
The Instant Pot is basically a super slow cooker with a whole heap of other functions. It’s the safest pressure cooker out there – and you can have pulled pork cooked in just an hour! Yes, an hour! They’re available on Amazon, and if you follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter we’ll let you know whenever it’s on offer.
How many calories are in this Cuban-Style Beef?
There are 279 calories in each portion of our slimming friendly Cuban-Style Beef. This means it falls into our Weekly Indulgence recipe category.
This recipe is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet, and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
In the slow cooker
Step 1
Season the meat well with salt and pepper, then spray a frying pan with low calorie cooking spray.
Step 2
Heat the pan and brown the meat on both sides.
Step 3
Add all the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker along with the browned meat.
Step 4
Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 6 hours (or medium for 8 hours).
Step 5
Shred the meat with 2 forks (when cooked, the meat should shred easily).
Step 6
If the sauce is still a little thin remove the lid and allow to reduce slightly.
Step 7
Serve on a bed of rice, or with whatever you fancy.
In the Instant Pot
Step 1
Season the meat well with salt and pepper, then spray the bowl of the Instant Pot with low calorie cooking spray – place into Sauté mode.
Step 2
Heat the pot and brown the meat on both sides.
Step 3
Add the remaining ingredients to the pot with the browned meat. Set the Instant Pot to Manual for 1 hour, then use Natural Pressure Release.
Step 4
Shred the meat with 2 forks (when cooked, the meat should shred easily).
Step 5
If the sauce is still a little thin remove the lid and set to Sauté to reduce slightly.
Step 6
Serve on a bed of rice, or with whatever you fancy.
What should you should serve with Cuban-Style Beef?
Any of the following go really well with this recipe. It’s one of those dishes that goes with pretty much anything. It’s so hearty it can of course be eaten on its own!
Whatever accompaniment you choose, don’t forget to account for the extra calories and/or other nutritional values.
Can you cook this recipe another way?
You can cook this recipe either in a slow cooker, electric pressure cooker or oven.
Slow Cooker: 6-8 hours or so – see further instructions in the recipe card below.
Pressure Cooker: 1 hour or so – see further instructions in the recipe card below.
Oven: You could cook this in the oven in a casserole dish with a tight fitting lid, or in an oven tray with some foil tightly wrapped around the top. Cook for 2-3 hours at 170-180°C, checking every 30 minutes or so.
How do you know when Cuban-Style Beef is cooked?
You should cook this dish until the beef literally shreds when pulled apart with a pair of forks.
This should take approx 1 hour in the pressure cooker, 6 hours in the slow cooker (high) or 2 hours in the oven (170°C).
How long can you keep Cuban-Style Beef in the fridge?
Once you’ve served it, ideally you should eat this dish within 4 hours.
If you allow any left overs to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Cuban-Style Beef in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.
Can I freeze Cuban-Style Beef?
Yes you can! This recipe can be frozen, but please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer!
How do I reheat Cuban-Style Beef?
From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 5-7 minutes until piping hot.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
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Cuban-Style Beef
Cuban-Style Beef is one of the best slimming-friendly hearty meals, whether you’re calorie counting or following a plan like Weight Watchers.
-
Prep Time
10 MINS
-
Cook Time
6 HR
- KCals 279
- Carbs 17G
Instructions
In the Slow Cooker
- Season the meat well with salt and pepper, then spray a frying pan with low calorie cooking spray
- Heat the pan and brown the meat on both sides
- Add all the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker along with the browned meat
- Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 6 hours (or medium for 8 hours)
- Shred the meat with 2 forks (when cooked the meat should shred easily)
- If the sauce is still a little thin remove the lid and allow to reduce slightly
- Serve on a bed of rice, or with whatever you fancy
In the Instant Pot
- Season the meat well with salt and pepper, then spray the bowl of the Instant Pot with low calorie cooking spray - place into Sauté mode.
- Heat the pot and brown the meat on both sides.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the pot with the browned meat. Set the Instant Pot to Manual for 1 hour, then use Natural Pressure Release.
- Shred the meat with 2 forks (when cooked the meat should shred easily).
- If the sauce is still a little thin remove the lid and set to Sauté to reduce slightly.
- Serve on a bed of rice, or with whatever you fancy.
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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86 comments
See what others have to say
SarahSaturday 24th March 2018
Haven’t got a slow cooker. Can I cook in fan oven? How long and what temperature please?
Thanks
StephenTuesday 20th March 2018
Can’t find wine stock in town anything else I can use
Theresa GallagherSunday 11th March 2018
This dish was delicious. Thank you. Cannot wait to try something else.
Laura MorrallTuesday 6th March 2018
Could you use this with a joint of beef brisket? If so, do I need to double up on the ingredients for the rest of it?
LaurenSunday 4th March 2018
Hi can you use diced beef for this?
Thanks
Julie FraserFriday 16th February 2018
Hi! If I use my PKP in slow cooker mode, do I use the instant pot method or slow cooker (I’m new to the multi cooker thing!!)?
GeraldineSunday 11th February 2018
Hi. I have just made this and have realised that I read the bit about water wrong. I read it as 2 cups of water. Will I have ruined the recipe?
KarynWednesday 7th February 2018
Do you just put the red wine stockpot in as it is or make it up with water? If so how much?
ClaireMonday 5th February 2018
I’ve picked up normal steak, would this work with this dish please?
SarahWednesday 31st January 2018
I’ve bought diced stewing steak, will it be ok and should I still brown it first? ????
ShelleyMonday 29th January 2018
How can I thicken the sauce up?
Julie BlackburnMonday 29th January 2018
Can you use braising steak for this recipe
ElaineTuesday 23rd January 2018
Hello
I need to make this in the morning before leaving for work to eat 10-12 hours later. Would 10’hours on low work?
LaursTuesday 16th January 2018
My slow cooker only has high or low setting, would you recommend cooking it for high on 8 hours or low for 10 hours?
Thanks
lindaSaturday 13th January 2018
would this work using chicken breast?
thanks
AngieThursday 11th January 2018
Made today in the oven it tasted delicious
jodieThursday 11th January 2018
Hi, I’m just wondering if I could use a beef stock pot in replace of the red or white wine stock pot as can’t seem to get hold of them or just leave it out completely? X
ClaireMonday 8th January 2018
Hi. What capacity slow cooker would be best for this please? I have a small and a medium sized ones & I made the campfire stew and had to split it between the 2 ????
I need to invest in a bigger one I think!
Thanks
Claire
Natalie KielyMonday 8th January 2018
Hi Just made the Cuban Beef and it was delicious. Just a small question it’s says 417 calories per portion is that just for the beef or the beef and rice? Thank you
Natalie
LeanneSunday 7th January 2018
Can this be done using chicken? Tia
AlisonFriday 5th January 2018
Hi quick question the ingredients state 240ml of stock but also mentions 2 cups? Which do you use? As I thought 1 cup was 240ml thanks
TraceySunday 31st December 2017
Made this the other day. Really easy absolutely delicious and the whole family loved it. Might add some chilli next time to make a spicy version
ShelbySaturday 30th December 2017
I’m going out to a family/friends get together and thinking of doing this recipe. If I was to do this the day before or overnight in the slow cooker how would I reheat it. I need to transport it too.
Sue KerlyFriday 29th December 2017
Does anyone know if the tesco stockpot is gluten free, my friend has coeliac disease ? Many thanks
Jo FoulkeMonday 11th December 2017
This is one of my favourite recipes. It’s so easy and tastes wonderful. I add a little bit of chilli powder to give it a bit of a kick. Just what you need on a cold winter night.
KerriWednesday 22nd November 2017
I want to prep this the night before so i just have to turn it on before going to work for the day.
Would i be ok to leave it all in the slow cooker turned off overnight before turning it on – or will things go weird?
With the red wine stock pots, if i wanted to just use red wine instead how much would be an equivilent? One of the mini bottles?
KerrieFriday 17th November 2017
when using the instant pot recipe, at which point do you add all of the other ingredients. Does it all go in after Browning the meat?
PaulaThursday 16th November 2017
Tried recipe today in my slow cooker only disappointment was I found that liquid was still very watery tried it with lid off as suggested but this didn’t do a lot any other sugesstions of how to thicken the sauce up I thought it was going to be a lovely sticky sauce.
Thanks
LinziThursday 16th November 2017
Just trying this tonight. Was unsure on the red wine stock pot so just threw it in, hope that’s correct! Proof is in the pudding tho when I eat it tomorrow ????????
Linda YatesSaturday 11th November 2017
How long would thus take to cook in an ordinary pan on the hob
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