Ropa Vieja Panameña

Name: Ropa Vieja Panameña
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 120 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Panama
Ingredients: 2 lbs flank steak; 1 onion, sliced; 1 red bell pepper, sliced; 1 green bell pepper, sliced; 3 cloves garlic, minced; 2 cups tomato sauce; 1/2 cup beef stock; 1 tsp cumin; 1 bay leaf; Salt and black pepper, to taste; White rice, for serving

6 servings20 min prep120 min cookMedium Panama

♡ Sign in to save Print / Save as PDFPro

The Story Behind It

The Tale of Ropa Vieja Panameña

Story updated September 17, 2026

Ropa vieja, meaning "old clothes" for its texture of shredded beef in tomato sauce, is part of a dish family shared across the Caribbean and Latin America, with Cuba and Panama both claiming strong ties to it. Its Panamanian version reflects the country's broader Afro-Caribbean and Spanish culinary blend.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

2 lbs flank steak
1 onion, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 green bell pepper, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef stock
1 tsp cumin
1 bay leaf
Salt and black pepper, to taste
White rice, for serving

Instructions

1Simmer the flank steak in water with salt until very tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
2Shred the cooked steak into thin strips using two forks.
3Sauté onion, bell peppers, and garlic in a large pan until softened.
4Stir in tomato sauce, beef stock, cumin, and bay leaf, and simmer 10 minutes.
5Add the shredded beef and simmer 20 minutes, until the flavors meld and sauce thickens.
6Remove bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and serve over white rice.

Want Cook Mode, your own recipe photos, and unlimited calculators?

Get Home Cooking Pro

Comments

Loading comments…