Jul 14 2026
Restaurants›Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center›Chicken Ropa Vieja Recipe

Chicken Ropa Vieja Recipe

Inspired by Columbia Cafe at the Tampa Bay History Center
Time50m
Serves4

Shredded chicken in a savory tomato sauce with onions and peppers.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients

Method

Preparation

  1. 1

    Cook the Chicken

    In a large pot, add the chicken breasts and cover them with water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove the chicken and set aside to cool, then shred into bite-sized pieces.

  2. 2

    Sauté the Vegetables

    In the same pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sliced onion and bell pepper, sautéing for 5-7 minutes until softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.

Cooking the Sauce

  1. 3

    Combine Ingredients

    Add the canned diced tomatoes, chicken broth, cumin, oregano, salt, black pepper, and bay leaf to the pot with the sautéed vegetables. Stir well to combine.

  2. 4

    Simmer

    Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

  3. 5

    Add Shredded Chicken

    Fold the shredded chicken into the sauce, stirring to coat the chicken evenly. Allow to simmer for an additional 10 minutes.

Serving

  1. 6

    Serve

    Remove the bay leaf and serve the Ropa Vieja hot, garnished with fresh cilantro if desired. This dish goes well with rice or tortillas.

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