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Vaca Frita

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  • Prep 30 min
  • Total 1 hr 30 min
  • Ingredients 14
  • Servings 5
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Enjoy this crispy beef with onions that’s garnished with cilantro leaves – a flavorful dinner.
Qué Rica Vida Cocina
Updated Sep 5, 2012
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Ingredients

Cooked Beef

  • 2 lb beef flank steak or skirt steak
  • 6 cups water (enough to cover steak)
  • 1 large onion, cut into fourths
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
  • 1 bay leaf

Crispy Beef and Onions

  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1 large sweet onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
  • 1/3 cup fresh lime juice or sour orange juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Fresh cilantro leaves, if desired

Directions

  •  
    1
    In 6-quart Dutch oven, mix beef ingredients. Heat to boiling over high heat. Cover; simmer about 1 hour or until beef is tender. Remove beef from liquid; reserve liquid.
  •  
    2
    Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook and stir onion in oil 15 to 20 minutes or until onion is light golden brown; remove from skillet and set aside. In same skillet, cook garlic 1 to 2 minutes; remove from skillet and set aside.
  •  
    3
    Using 2 forks, shred beef. In same skillet heat oil over medium-high heat and add shredded beef to skillet; cook over medium-high heat about 10 minutes or until crispy. Stir in chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt. Add cooked onions and garlic; mix well. Place shredded beef on plates. Serve with reserved liquid. Garnish with cilantro leaves.

Expert Tips

  • tip 1
    Tradition says to serve this tasty crispy beef dish with tostones.

Nutrition Information

370 Calories, 13g Total Fat, 54g Protein, 8g Total Carbohydrate, 3g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Serving
Calories
370
Calories from Fat
120
Total Fat
13g
20%
Saturated Fat
3 1/2g
17%
Trans Fat
0g
Cholesterol
130mg
44%
Sodium
790mg
33%
Potassium
620mg
18%
Total Carbohydrate
8g
3%
Dietary Fiber
1g
6%
Sugars
3g
Protein
54g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
2%
2%
Vitamin C
8%
8%
Calcium
4%
4%
Iron
35%
35%
Exchanges:
1/2 Starch; 0 Fruit; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 0 Milk; 1/2 Vegetable; 4 1/2 Very Lean Meat; 3 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 0 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
1/2
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

More About This Recipe

  • Enjoy this crispy beef with onions that’s garnished with cilantro leaves – a flavorful dinner.
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