> [!META]- Inline Metadata > [tags:: #recipe #recipe/cuisines/latino ] > [cuisine:: Latino] > [rating:: 10] ## Ingredients Divisions for each phase in subheaders below - 2 pounds flank steak - 2 cups water (enough to submerge beef) - 2 bay leaves - 1 large white onion, quartered - 10 cloves garlic, smashed, divided - 4 for the beef, smashed - 4 for the onions, smashed - 2 for mojo sauce, grated or mashed with molcajete - 2 teaspoons sea salt, divided - 1 green bell pepper, sliced - 1-½ teaspoons ground cumin, divided - 1 tsp for the beef - ½ tsp for mojo sauce - 1-½ teaspoons ground oregano, divided - 1 tsp for the beef - ½ for mojo sauce - 1-¼ teaspoons black pepper, divided - 1 tsp for the beef - $1/4$ for mojo sauce - 1 yellow or Spanish onion, quartered and thinly sliced - 1-½ teaspoon sea salt (to sauté onions) - 1 tsp for the beef - ½ for mojo sauce - ⅓ cup plus 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided - ⅓ cup for mojo sauce - 2 tbsp for onions - 3 tbsp to fry the beef - ⅓ cup freshly squeezed orange juice - ⅓ cup freshly squeezed lime juice - 2 limes, cut into wedges *Optional sides* - Rice and black beans - Yuca ### Steak in Instantpot - 2 pounds flank steak - 2 cups water (enough to submerge beef) - 1 large white onion, quartered - 1 green bell pepper, sliced and seeds removed - 4 cloves of garlic, smashed - 2 bay leaves - 1 tsp ground cumin - 1 tsp ground oregano - 1 tsp black pepper - 1 tsp sea salt ## Mojo sauce > [!NOTE] > Consider doubling this recipe. The sauce is delicious, easy to make, and you will certainly want more. When I made this recipe with only 1 lb of steak, this was just barely enough. - 2 garlic cloves, grated or mashed with molcajete - $1/3$ cup of orange juice - $1/3$ cup lime juice - $1/3$ cup olive oil - $1/2$ tsp ground cumin - $1/2$ tsp black pepper - 1 tsp salt ## Sauteed Onions - 2 tbsp olive oil - 4 garlic cloves, smashed - 1 yellow or Spanish onion, quartered and thinly sliced ## Frying the Vaca - 3 tbsp olive oil ## Tools - Instant Pot - Chef's knife - Molcajete ## Directions 1. Cut the flank steak into long vertical pieces and then cut each piece in a half. 2. In the Instant Pot, add 2 cups of water, 2 bay leaves, the quartered onion, 4 smashed garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, sliced or diced green bell pepper, spices (cumin, oregano, pepper), and the flank steak pieces. Add more water if needed to cover the meat. 3. Seal the lid and set the Instant Pot to the pressure cooker setting. Cook at high pressure for 15 minutes, plus natural release. 4. When the beef is done, transfer to a cutting board, and shred with two forks. Transfer the shredded beef to a baking dish or plate. 5. Make the [[Instant Pot Vaca Frita#Mojo sauce|mojo sauce]]: In a small bowl whisk the orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, ground cumin, oregano, black pepper, and 2 grated garlic cloves until well blended. Consistency should be like salad dressing. 1. Consider doubling the recipe 6. Pour ¾ cup of the mojo over the shredded beef and mix to combine. Let the beef marinate for 30 minutes. 1. Consider using double for 2 lbs of flank steak. 2. This should leave at least $1/4$ cup of mojo sauce, unless doubling 7. In a large frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat, and add the onions. Sauté until the onions are translucent. 8. Add the remaining 4 smashed garlic cloves and sauté for a minute until fragrant. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the mojo sauce, transfer the onions to a plate, and set aside. 9. In the same frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high heat. Spread half of the marinated shredded beef mixture in a single layer. Fry for about 3 minutes per side without stirring until crispy. Transfer to a platter. 10. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan, and fry the second batch of beef. Transfer the crispy beef to the platter. 11. Scatter the sautéed onions over the top of the beef, and serve with rice, beans, boiled yuca, mojo sauce, and lime wedges on the side. ## Source Copied from [Mashed](https://www.mashed.com/399949/a-tasty-cuban-dish-that-will-never-let-you-down/) with few, if any changes. It's that good of a recipe! ## Notes Takes close to an hour and a half total, mostly due to the the time for the Instant Pot to reach pressure and then to naturally depressurize, as well as the 30 minutes for the cooked steak to marinate