A Paleo Cuban Feast: Ropa Vieja with Cauliflower Dirty Rice and Greens Braised with Bacon {Whole30}
With my second round of Whole30 wrapping up, I have to say… I have discovered some awesome new recipes. Clearly, I’m going to have to write a “part 2” about all the amazing things you can do with cauliflower. This one right here, for instance. Courtney and I love Cuban food. During the short time he was living in Richmond back in 2009, our favorite restaurant was a little place called Havannah ’59, where we’d sip mojitos and eat ropa vieja with plantains. Back then, still a budding chef, I had no idea that I could easily make that sort of thing.
Except for the rice and beans, which are easily avoidable, Cuban food as actually very paleo-friendly: roasted meats, fresh sea food, avocados, plantains! The mojitos on the other hand, maybe not so much. Because the ropa vieja recipe makes more servings than the cauliflower recipe, we enjoyed this two ways: with dirty “rice” and with plantains. Both had the delicious Cuban flare we love!
Ropa Vieja with Cauliflower Dirty Rice Greens Braised with Bacon
Adapted from PaleOMG
- Ropa Vieja (Below)
- Cauliflower Dirty Rice (Below)
- Braised Greens with Bacon
For the Ropa Vieja
- 2 lbs chuck roast
- 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 6 oz tomato sauce
- 1 (14 oz) can diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1 tablespoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 1 bay leaf
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Add your onions and peppers to the bottom of the crockpot.
- Plop your chuck roast on top and cut 4 deep slices into the chuck roast and push your garlic cloves into the roast.
- Now add all your spices and salt and pepper.
- Top with your tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, capers, and bay leaf to the rest of the crockpot.
- Cook on low for 6-8 hours (or longer, if you work a 9-5).
Serves 6
For the Dirty Cauliflower Rice
- 1 head of cauliflower, stem removed and roughly chopped
- 3 thick sliced of bacon (no-sugar added, for Whole30)
- 4 oz tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions:
- Add your chopped cauliflower to a food processor and pulse to rice. With a large cauliflower, I do this in 2-3 batches.
- Add your bacon to a large skillet and cook until crispy and brown. Set aside and crumble, once cool.
- Add your cauliflower, tomato sauce and spices to the saucepan. Mix thoroughly then cover.
- Let cook for about 10-12 minutes, stirring randomly to help incorporate all the flavors.
- Stir in your bacon bits.
Serves 4
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[…] Ropa Vieja with Cauliflower Dirty Rice and Greens Braised with Bacon This dish will make you feel like you’re at your favorite Cuban restaurant. The pork is equally awesome with dirty rice as with fried plantains. The difficulty in this dish is in the fact that you’re making three separate components – no single component is hard. Serves: 4 for the rice, 6 for the pork Difficulty: Hard Good for: When you’re missing a fancy meal at your favorite restaurant […]