Cuban · main
Vaca Frita
Vaca Frita reads sourness 6.9, citrus 6.6 and umami 5.4 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Cuban main, about 34 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 5.7 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 0.8 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 8.9 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.2 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 3.9 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.9 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Sourness 6.9 · Citrus 6.6 · Umami 5.4 · Allium 4.7 · Richness 3.7 · Salinity 3.5 · Warm Spice 1.9 · Bitterness 1.1 · Heat 1.0 · Sweetness 0.8 · Nutty 0.7 · Herbaceous 0.7 · Earthy 0.6
What's in it (7)
- 2 lbs flank steak
- 1/4 cup lime juice
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, thinly sliced
- salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp oil for frying
Time & effort: about 34 min · effort: medium
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 142.4 kcal, 16.8 g protein, 7.8 g fat, 1.7 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Boil flank steak in salted water with garlic until very tender, then shred into strips along the grain.
- Marinate the shredded beef in lime juice, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Fry in batches in hot oil until the strands are crispy and browned, then top with thinly sliced raw onion rings.
- Serve with black beans and white rice.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Molokhia (Jute Leaf Soup) — Egyptian
- Mishkaki (Charcoal Beef Skewers) — Swahili Coast
- Sopa de Lima — Mexican
- Konigsberger Klops (German Meatballs) — German
- Slow-Roasted Greek Leg of Lamb with Lemon Potatoes — Greek
Keep reading: what sourness, citrus, umami mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.