Local food map Miami (United States)
Miami guides
Recipes 21
Pick a recipe
All Miami recipes
Vaca Frita — traditional dish from Havana, United States
Main course Meat

Food Flavour DNA

Nutritional Values

🔥500kcal
💪40gProtein
🌾5gCarbs
🥑35gFat
🌿1gFibre
⚖️250 gServing

* Per serving · 250 g. May vary.

Vaca Frita

How to order / say it
Say it Vaca Frita — [BAH-kah FREE-tah]
Order I'd like the Vaca Frita, please.
Locally Quisiera la vaca frita, por favor.
Say locally

Pan-fried shredded beef with garlic and lime.

Why try it?

Vaca Frita is essential for understanding Miami's Cuban culinary influence, representing traditional techniques and flavors shared by Cuban communities.

How it tastes

This dish offers crisped beef with deep garlic flavor and zesty lime, served hot, usually accompanied by rice and black beans to temper its rich taste.

Origin & History — first documented: 1940

Originally a Cuban dish, Vaca Frita became prominent in Miami during the 20th century as Cuban immigrants settled in the city, bringing their beloved recipes.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • 🥩 400 g Steak
  • 🧄 3 cloves Garlic
  • 🍋 2 Lime
  • 🧄 1 Onion
  • 🫒 2 tbsp Oil
  • 🧂 1 tsp Salt

Method

  1. 1 Boil the steak until tender, then shred it.
  2. 2 Marinate the shredded beef in lime juice and minced garlic.
  3. 3 Fry sliced onions in oil until soft.
  4. 4 Add beef and fry until crispy.
keyboard_arrow_up