I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the vaca frita recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete preparation process for Vaca Frita. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Vaca Frita?
Vaca frita is a famous Cuban dish that means ‘fried cow’. It is prepared from thin flank slices or skirt steak that is pan-fried until turns crispy. Generally, the steak is marinated in a mixture of garlic, sour orange juice, cumin and other spices offering a zesty and delicious flavour.
It is served with lime, onions and sometimes rice and black beans. It is loved by people due to its zesty, delicious flavour and crunchy texture.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Burst of flavour: Vaca frita contains vibrant, zesty flavours. The steak is marinated in a mix of garlic, sour orange juice and spices for a delicious flavour in each bite.
- Perfectly Crispy Texture: The cooking method makes the inside juicy and tender and the outside crispy. The delicious contrast makes each bite satisfying.
- Versatile Accompaniments: You can try it with Cuban sides like black beans and rice or try it with tacos. It is flexible and can be adapted to your taste.
- Quick and Easy to prepare: With quick and easy preparation tips, you can make the vaca frita. It is a perfect choice for a delicious meal without spending a lot of time.
Tips
- Marinate well: Marinate the steak for at least an hour or preferably overnight for a delicious and tender flavour.
- Tenderize the meat: Gently pound the steak to break down fibres, making it easy to chew and improving the tenderness of the meat.
- Choose the right cut: You can use flank steak or skirt steak for better texture and flavour, and cut it into thin slices against the grain.
- Preheat the skillet: Ensure that the skillet is hot before putting the steak, it helps in achieving caramelization and good sear.
- Cook in batches: Make sure to cook the steak in batches to allow even cooking and good sear of the steak.
Variations
- Vaca Frita with Peppers: You can add sliced bell peppers with the onions. It provides a colourful contrast and tasty flavour to the meal.
- Vaca Frita Tacos: You can use cooked vaca frita for filling in the tacos. You can also include avocado slices, fresh salsa and lime on top.
- Vaca Frita Stir-Fry: You can slice the steak into little pieces and stir-fry it with carrots, snap peas, and broccoli. You can serve it with rice or noodles.
- Vaca Frita Salad: You can portion the cooked steak into thin slices and serve it on mixed green with tomatoes, avocados, and light dressing for a refreshing meal.
- Vaca Frita with Chimichurri: You can serve vaca frita with a little chimichurri sauce for a herby and zesty flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Rice and Black Beans: Rice as a plain base and black beans for rich protein, and earthy flavour provide a classic Cuban combination.
- Cuban Yuca (Cassava): You can try boiled yuca with a garlicky dipping sauce containing a little starchy, nutty flavour that works well with beef.
- Cuban Salad: You can try a simple salad with tomatoes, lettuce, onions, and cucumbers generally dressed with a light vinaigrette. It provides a crispy and fresh flavour that goes well with steak.
- Garlic Rice (Arroz con Ajo): The garlic rice smells nice and goes well with the strong flavours of the steak.
- Fried Plantains: You can try fried plantains or crispy fried plantains with the vaca frita, which provides a delicious mix of flavours and textures.
Storing and freezing
Storing
- Before storing, let the vaca frita cool at room temperature. It avoids condensation, which may lead to sogginess.
- You can store the vaca frita in plastic wrap or aluminium foil or in an air-tight container. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let the vaca frita cool at room temperature. If it is in large amounts, you can portion it into little portions for easy thawing and reheating.
- Ensure to wrap the vaca frita in a foil or plastic wrap. For an extra layer of protection, you can put it in a container or freezer bag.
- You can put it in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the vaca frita recipe highlights the delicious flavours of Cuban cuisine. This recipe contains marinated beef cooked until turns crispy and served with zesty onions. Whether you are an experienced cook or just beginning with Cuban cuisine, this recipe helps you prepare a delicious and comforting meal.
If you want to improve the taste of Cuba, preparing the vaca frita can be a good choice. You can experiment with variations, save this recipe and share the result with your friends and family. With its satisfying texture and bold flavour, it will surely be a hit.
Read More:- Crawfish Fettuccine Recipe
Vaca Frita Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs skirt steak or flank steak
- 1/2 cup sour orange juice or 1/4 cup orange juice and 1/4 cup lime juice
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- Fresh cilantro optional, for garnish
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- In a bowl, add minced garlic, sour orange juice, dried oregano, ground cumin, salt and pepper.
- Put the skirt steak in a shallow dish or a resealable plastic bag and pour the marinade over it, by ensuring that the steak is fully coated.
- Put it in the refrigerator to let it marinade for at least an hour or up to 8 hour for better flavor.
- Remove the steak from the marinade and dry it using paper towels.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high flame. Cook the steak in the skillet until thoroughly cooked and brown, it may take around 4-5 minutes per side.
- Take the steak out from the skillet and let it rest for a few minutes.
- In the similar skillet, add a little more olive oil if required. Add the sliced onions and cook them until turn soft and brown, it may take around 6- minutes.
- Mix in the lime juice and cook for more 1-2 minutes.
- Slice the rested steak thinly against the grain. Return the steak to the skillet with the onions and mix them together.
- You can top it with fresh cilantro or lemon wedges on the side.
