Welcome friends lovers of kitchen and good eating! In Paulina Cuisine we are in permanent recipe exploration, which can luckily take us to many places, without moving home.
Today we travel to the beautiful Cuba, to enjoy a plate of old Cuban clothes .
This super tasty recipe, despite its little tempting name, consists of a delicious scattered meat , which is served with tomato sauce and is accompanied with rice and fried bananas , which gives it the very well Cuban final touch.
In this note, we will thoroughly explore everything related to the recipe for old Cuban clothing , from its origin, the legends around its name, the ingredients that cannot be missing and what is necessary to prepare it at home. To travel!
Content table
About old clothes
Cuban old clothing is a traditional Cuban cuisine that consists of cow meat (beef) crumbled and cooked in a rich tomato, onion, pepper and spices sauce.
The result is a mixture of intense flavors and a soft and juicy texture that makes it an irresistible delight. It is typically accompanied by white rice and ripe fried bananas, creating a comforting and very substantial dish.
Origin and history of Cuban old clothing
The history of Cuban old clothing is as rich as its flavor. It is said that this dish has its roots in the traditional cuisine of Spain, as well as rice to Cuban or chicken rice , specifically in the Canary Islands region.
The Canarian immigrants who arrived in Cuba in the nineteenth century brought with them the recipe of " old clothing ", which consisted of crumble and cooking leftover meat with vegetables and tomato sauce.
Over time, this recipe adapted to the ingredients available in Cuba and became an emblematic dish of the island. The tradition of preparing old Cuban clothes on special occasions and family gatherings was rooted in Cuban culture, making it a symbol of hospitality and generosity of the island's cuisine.
Why is it called old clothes
The name " old clothing" may seem strange, but it has a logical explanation. The story tells that the name comes from the appearance of crumbled meat, which resembles pieces of old and torn cloth.
However, there are some legends around the creation of this dish. One of the most popular, although anecdotal, is related to a Cuban fisherman who, after a long day at sea, returned home empty and hungry.
Having not fresh fish to cook , his wife decided to take the flesh that they had at home, crumble them to make them more and cook them in a tomato sauce with vegetables. While the meat cooked over low heat, the aroma filled the house and attracted the attention of the neighbors who began to ask what they were cooking.
The wife, not wanting to reveal that it was leftovers, joked saying that she was cooking " old clothing ." The answer generated laughter and curiosity among the neighbors, but when trying the dish, they were surprised by its flavor.
Other names of the typical Cuba food old clothes
While in Cuba it is known as old clothes , this dish has other names and variants in different parts of the world.
- Mechada Meat: In Puerto Rico, it is known as "Mechada Meat." The preparation is similar, with crumbled meat in a tomato sauce and spices.
- Old Dominican clothing: In the Dominican Republic, you also enjoy a version of this dish, which although it shares similarities with the Cuban version, usually has its own turn.
- Picadillo : In some places in Latin America, especially in countries such as Mexico and Nicaragua, there is a dish called “Picadillo” that resembles Cuban old clothing . But instead of beef, the chopper is prepared with minced meat (ground).
- Meat stew: In some places in Spain and Latin America, this dish also is called " meat stew ." Although recipes may vary, they share the cooked meat base in a tomato sauce and spices.
Key ingredients of old beef clothing
The preparation of this recipe requires specific ingredients that give it its characteristic flavor. The meat for old clothing is, without a doubt, the main component. Tender and lean cow meat is used, such as the skirt or the entrails ( stern ), which is cooking over low heat until it can be easily crumbled.
The sauce of old Cuban clothes is also fundamental. This sauce is made from crushed tomato, the cooking juice of the meat, onion, pepper, garlic and spices such as the laurel.
The combination of these ingredients creates a thick sauce and full of flavor that permeates the flesh and makes it even more delicious.
How to make old Cuban clothes
The preparation of this typical food of Cuba, old clothing, can vary slightly from one recipe to another, but the fundamental steps are the same. First, the meat is cooked over low heat until it is tender and can crumble.
Then, in the second part of this recipe for old Cuban clothing the tomato sauce is prepared and mixed with crumbled meat. The dish is cooking over low heat so that all flavors are mixed and the meat absorbs the sauce.
The traditional accompaniment of white rice and fried bananas gives the Cuban characteristic final touch to this dish.
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Cuban old clothing recipe
Yields: 4 portions
Preparation time: 1 hour and 30 minutes (approximately)
Ingredients for old clothing recipe
- 500 grams of lean meat (skirt or entrails)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 red pepper, in strips
- 6 garlic cloves
- 4 mature, peeled and crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon of cumin
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 4 bay leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil
- White rice and ripe fried bananas to accompany
How to make old Cuban clothes step by step
- In a large saucepan, heat a little olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the meat and cook it until it is brown everywhere. Cover with water, 2 bay leaves and 3 garlic cloves (a glass of white wine can be added).
- Bring to boil and lower the heat. Cook for about 45 minutes, 1 hour. Reserve 1 cup of cooking broth. Let the meat cool and weed with a fork. Reserve.
- In a large pan with a little oil, add the onion, pepper and 3 chopped garlic cloves. Cook until the ingredients are tender.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, the cooking cup of cooking, cumin, paprika and bay leaves. Mix and cook for about 15 minutes without covering.
- Reduce the heat and add the dismembered meat, integrate so that the meat is well permeated with the sauce. Cover and cook for about 15 more minutes. Salpimentar at ease.
- Serve the old Cuban old clothes on white rice and fried ripe bananas.
