Before I became vegetarian, I remember saying I could never be a vegetarian because I couldn’t imagine giving up Carne Con Papa. So deep was my love of this classic Cuban comfort food. Carne Con Papa is akin to American Pot Roast with a few key differences: white wine vs. red, and cumin and oregano vs. rosemary and thyme . Cubans like Americans are very keen on their meat and potatoes. In fact, most in my family believe that if there’s no meat on the plate, it’s not really a meal.

This recipe is a Cuban American version which takes the best ingredients from both to create a mouthwatering and flavorful meal. I love this recipe because the aroma in the kitchen while it is cooking is fantastic. Plus this recipe doesn’t take 6-8 hours like the traditional one does. If only I could tell my 14 year old self, not to worry, one day you’ll be able to taste carne con papa again without all the guilt.

3-4 Servings

Ingredients:

1 1/2 TB Olive Oil

1 Green pepper diced

1/2 Red pepper diced

2 Cloves of garlic minced

1/3 medium onion diced

1 package Gardein Beefless Tips

3 Carrots sliced

2 Celery stalks sliced

1/2 C Green beans cut into 1″ pieces

1 1/2 C Veg Stock

1/2 C Red Wine

1 Small to medium potato cut into large chunks

1 6 oz can tomato paste

1 tsp thyme

1 tsp rosemary

1 tsp salt

pinch of garlic powder

Directions:

Heat olive oil in a large (≥ 6 qt.) pot on medium. Add onions, peppers and garlic. Cook 2-3 minutes. Add the beefless tips and cook 3-4 minutes. Add celery, carrots, green beans and cook 4-5 minutes. Add broth, wine and spices and bring to a boil. Add potato and tomato paste. Reduce to low to medium heat and cook 20-30 minutes stirring occasionally. For last 5 minutes, reduce heat to simmer and leave pot slightly uncovered until sauce is thick and potatoes are tender. Serve over white rice or all by itself with some avocado on the side. Buen provecho!

Nutrition facts per serving (4 servings)

Calories: 320

Fat: 9.2 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Potassium: 665 mg

Carbs: 40 g

Fiber: 8.5 g

Sugars: 16.1 g

Protein: 17.7 g

Vitamin A: 118%

Vitamin C: 149%

Calcium: 9.9%

Iron: 24%