Vaca frita, a shredded beef dish hailing from Cuba, is a meal bursting with flavor. This is one classic Cuban beef dish that any carnivorous traveling gourmand should know about, as the meaty plates offer reliable bites of comfort food. Yet, these tasty morsels of meat can also be enjoyed in the solace of your own kitchen, without having to step on a plane.

But what should we look for in the market when filling our carts? We spoke to Carlos Nevarez, the executive chef at North Carolina’s El Puro Cuban Restaurant, for tips on how to best recreate this recipe at home, starting with the cut we choose.

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