Ropa Vieja Sliders for Delicioso Cuban “Football Food”

These ropa vieja sliders are good for snacking anytime. But they’re perfecto for game-day feasting and what we’ll be making for Super Bowl this Sunday. This treat is from one of our all-time favorite Cuban cooks, Patty Morrell-Ruiz, aka Chef Patty. Patty is the author of The Essential Cuban Cookbook. Last week, she showed us how to make her legendary ropa vieja, and this is what Patty does with the leftovers. (Which is why she always doubles her ropa vieja recipe. It’s all about leftovers, she says.)

Note: If you don’t have time to make ropa vieja from scratch, you can use any kind of savory filling, such as this arepa stuffing: carne mechada and even Cuban-style picadillo or Puerto Rican-style picadillo.

But, seriamente, they’re doubly delicioso with Chef Patty’s ropa vieja.

We asked Patty how these sliders fit into her Cuban cooking heritage, and how they became her family’s Sunday afternoon must-make snack.

Q: Who first taught you to make these delicioso ropa vieja sliders?

Chef Patty: Honestly, I can’t remember when I first made this or who taught me, this dish just kind of appeared one day, like a culinary miracle. One minute I was staring at leftover ropa veja, and the next, I was thinking, “What if I top it with gooey mozzarella cheese, then be extra and add a garlic mayo?” Because let’s be real, when it comes to food, more is always more.

Q: How do these sliders fit into your Cuban cooking heritage?

Chef Patty: Ropa vieja is like a warm hug from my abuela. This classic dish is a piece of my heritage, my family, and Sunday fam jams. With ropa vieja sliders, it is like I’m taking the best of Cuban tradition and giving it a little modern twist. And the addition of the garlic mayo definitely feels like I’m honoring my roots.

Q: How often do you make this dish?

Chef Patty: I usually make ropa vieja for Sunday family dinners or whenever I’m craving some serious comfort food. Whatever the reason, I always double up on the recipe because leftovers are where the real magic happens. That way, I have plenty to turn into sliders, which are a must at my house, especially on game day.

There’s just something about a handheld sandwich that screams “football food.” You really can’t go wrong with a bite of nostalgia and comfort food while you’re yelling at the TV.

Q: How are your ropa vieja sliders different from others you’ve tried — and why do you think yours are más delicioso? 

Chef Patty: I have to humbly say I have created a slider masterpiece! [She laughs.] We’re talking tender, flavorful saucy beef piled onto soft Hawaiian bread, melted cheese, a touch of garlic mayo goodness, and parsley butter brushed on top of the rolls for that extra oomph. It’s like a flavor explosion in every bite.

For more of our favorite of Patty’s Cuban dishes, check out her Cuban pollo a la chorrera (the winner of our arroz con pollo food fight), her arroz congri, and her chorizo and black bean dip, another perfecto party appetizer and Sunday game-time snack.

Ready to Make Patty’s Ropa Vieja Sliders?

Ropa Vieja Sliders for Cuban-Inspired “Football Food”

Recipe by Patty Morrell-Ruiz

5.0 from 1 vote

Cuisine: Cuban

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

25

minutes

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp butter, softened

• 1 pack King’s Hawaiian Original Sweet Rolls (12 rolls)

• 1/2 cup garlic mayo (recipe below)

• 3 cups leftover cooked ropa vieja (see Chef Patty’s recipe)

• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

• 3 Tbsp parsley butter (recipe below)

• 
  For the Garlic Mayo

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise

• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced

• 2 garlic cloves, smashed into a paste

• 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1/4 tsp kosher salt

• 1 pinch ground black pepper

• For the Parsley Butter

• 3 Tbsp butter, melted

• 1 Tbsp fresh parsley, minced

• 1 pinch kosher salt

Directions

• Make the Garlic Mayo
• Combine mayonnaise, parsley, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
• Stir to combine and set aside.
• Make the Parsley Butter
• Combine melted butter, parsley and salt in a small bowl.
• Stir to combine and set aside.
• Prep and Bake the Ropa Vieja Sliders
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Brush the bottom of an oven-proof pan with softened butter.
• Slice the entire sheet of rolls through the middle with a serrate knife, keeping the bread rolls’ tops and bottoms intact.
• Place the bottom sheet of the rolls in the buttered pan.
• Spread the garlic mayo evenly over the layer of bread.
• Add the ropa vieja mixture, followed by the mozzarella cheese and the top half of the rolls.
• Cover the pan with tin foil. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
• When it’s ready, remove from oven. Brush the parsley butter on the top of the rolls.
• Transfer the uncovered pan back to oven for 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven, slice into 12 individual rolls. Serve right away, nice and hot. Enjoy!

Notes