Ropa Vieja to Save a Roast
On the transformation of a quintessential Cuban dish
Ropa vieja is considered the national dish of Cuba, though its name meaning “old clothes” might not exactly hint at just how delicious it is.
The name comes from the tomato-based stew’s shredded meat, which bears some resemblance to the tattered edges of worn fabric. The legend attached to it is of a poor old man struggling to feed his family. He used his threadbare clothes in a desperate stew and prayed over the meal. Then a miracle happened: Old clothes became hearty meat stew.