Cuban-Style Ropa Vieja

This version of ropa vieja is made with beef and accented with olives and capers.

SERVES 6–8

6 oz. bacon, roughly chopped
2 lb. flank steak, cut into 1 ½″ strips
Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced in half moons
1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 green pepper, thinly sliced
6 oz. tomato paste
1 Tablespoon cumin
1 Tablespoon dried thyme
1 Tablespoon dried oregano
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
½ cup dry white wine
2 cups beef stock
1 (16-oz.) can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
½ cup halved, pitted green olives
⅓ cup sliced jarred pimiento peppers
3 tbsp. capers, rinsed and drained
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
¼ cup roughly chopped cilantro

1)  Render bacon in a 6-qt. Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Transfer to a plate, leaving fat in pot.

2)  Season steak with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook until browned on both sides, about 6 minutes; transfer to plate. Add onion and peppers; cook until soft, about 4 minutes.

3)  Add tomato paste, cumin, thyme, oregano, garlic, and bay leaf; cook until lightly caramelized, about 3 minutes. Add wine; cook, scraping bottom of pot, for 1 minute. Return bacon and steak to pot with stock and tomatoes; boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, until steak is very tender, 2–3 hours.

4)  Remove steak, and shred; return meat to pot with olives, pimientos, capers, and vinegar. Cook until sauce is slightly thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in cilantro before serving.