{
  "id": "CAT04-R11",
  "slug": "cat04-r11-vaca-frita-crispy-shredded-beef",
  "url": "https://www.thisisflorida.us/florida-recipes/recipes/cat04-r11-vaca-frita-crispy-shredded-beef.html",
  "title": "Vaca Frita (Crispy Shredded Beef)",
  "category": "Meals (Cuban-FL, citrus, pork, chicken, rice)",
  "category_id": "CAT04",
  "language": "en",
  "yield_servings_base": 4,
  "servings_scale_options": [
    2,
    4,
    6,
    8
  ],
  "prep_time_minutes": 20,
  "cook_time_minutes": 140,
  "total_time_minutes": 160,
  "primary_cooking_method": "STOVETOP",
  "primary_food": "beef",
  "vegetarian": false,
  "allergens": [],
  "ingredients": [
    "2 pounds flank steak",
    "8 cups water",
    "2 bay leaves",
    "2 onions (1 halved, 1 thinly sliced)",
    "6 garlic cloves, minced",
    "1/3 cup lime juice",
    "2 teaspoons salt",
    "1/2 teaspoon black pepper",
    "1/2 teaspoon ground cumin",
    "3 tablespoons vegetable oil",
    "1 lime, cut into wedges"
  ],
  "directions": [
    "Cut the flank steak into 3 or 4 pieces. Put it in a large pot with the water, the halved onion, bay leaves, and 1 teaspoon of the salt. Wash hands and the board after handling raw beef.",
    "Bring to a boil, skim off any foam, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer partly covered 1 1/2 hours, until the beef is very tender.",
    "Check the beef with an instant-read thermometer. Beef is safe at 145°F with a 3-minute rest, but it needs to cook far hotter, close to 200°F, before it shreds. Lift it out and cool 10 minutes.",
    "Shred the beef into thin strands with two forks. Toss with the lime juice, garlic, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and cumin, then refrigerate 20 minutes to marinate; this time is included in the cook time.",
    "Scrub the lime for wedges under running water before cutting. Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook half the sliced onion 3 minutes.",
    "Add half the beef, press it flat, and cook without stirring 4 to 5 minutes, until crisp underneath. Flip in sections and cook 3 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining oil, onion, and beef.",
    "Serve hot with lime wedges.",
    "Chill leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if the room is above 90°F)."
  ],
  "food_safety": "Wash hands and boards after handling raw beef. The beef passes the 145°F safe point long before it is tender enough to shred. Keep the shredded beef in the refrigerator while it marinates, and chill leftovers within 2 hours (1 hour if above 90°F).",
  "skill_taught": "Simmering, shredding, and pan-frying beef until crisp.",
  "source": "This Is Florida — Florida Recipes v1.0",
  "license_note": "Free to read on thisisflorida.us. Do not scrape for commercial republishing without permission."
}