Cuban Food
Delicious and Easy to Prepare

I am very biased when I write about Cuban Food. I was born in Cuba and have been eating this Food all my life, even my Mexican wife Aliza cooks for me only Comida Cubana.

There are about 2 million Cubans living in the United States and besides being truly proud American Citizens, they have kept the food tradition for generations. You can see an English speaking ten-year-old that loves only the food “Abuela” cooks.

Arroz con Pollo is the typical Sunday dish of the Cuban family

This page is only a compliment to my Travel site and I am going to summarize what I know about the food I love.

I am not a chef and not even a cook. There are plenty of sites dedicated to recipes. So, that said, here are some of my favorite dishes.

Platanos Maduros

Tostones

Appetizers of the Cuban Cuisine

Caserola de Camarones or Shrimps
Chicharrones or pork cracklings skin
Chicken Spread or ensalada de pollo
Frituritas de Maiz or Corn Fritters
Mariquitas de Platano
Cuban Empanadas filled with meat
Malanguita frita or Malanga Fritters
Papas Rellenas or stuffed potatoes
Cuban Papa RellenaPapa Rellena
Maduros Fried ripe plantains
Tostones Green Plantains
Platanos en Tentacion are plantains baked on sugar

Arroz con Frijoles Negros

Moros y Cristianos

Cuban Food Side Dishes

Glosary:

Plantains are not bananas even if they are similar.
Banana is a fruit, plantain is a vegetable
Yuca is the former tapioca of the original Indians
Malanga same as yucca but different taste and texture
Tamales similar to Mexican but made with corn and pork
Arroz con Frijoles Negros
Cuban Arroz Moro

Cuban Potaje de Garbanzos or Chick Pea Soup

Cuban Food Soups

Potaje de Garbanzos is a chick pea soup
Sopa de carne is a Beef Stew
Caldo Gallego brought from Galicia and stayed as Cuban
Potaje de Chicharos or split pea soup
Chicken Soup is the same worldwide
Cream of Malanga is a mashed and liquefied Malanga dish
Sopa de Platano a Creamed Plantain Soup
Potaje de Frijoles Colorados or Red Beans
Sopa de Ajo or Garlic Soup
Potaje de Kimbombo or Okra Stew

Cuban Food

Cuban Food Ajiaco

Ajiaco Cubano is a heavy vegetable soup
Paella similar to the Spanish Paella
Sopa de Calabaza or Pumpkin Soup
Sopa de Cabeza de Pescado or Fish Head Soup
Sopa de Frijoles Negros or Black Bean Soup
Spiced Heirloom Bean Soup with Mint Cream

Cuban Fricase de Pollo

Main Dishes of Cuban Food

Fricase de Pollo is a Cuban Chicken Fricasse
Arroz con Pollo is chicken cooked with yellow rice
Arroz Imperial a form of Chinese Fried Rice
Arroz Moro also called Congri is Red Beans cooked with rice
Boliche a cuban Pot Roast
Bistec Empanizado is a Cuban Schnitzel or Breaded Steak
Costillitas are Cuban baby back ribs
Frita is similar to hamburger
Costillas de Cordero or Cuban Lamb Shanks
Chuletas de Puerco or Grilled Mojo Pork Chops

Picadillo of meat or turkey is the easiest Cuban dish to prepare

Picadillo – Ground meat dish of turkey, red meat or chicken
Pollo Asado en Cazuela is a Roasted Chicken with Sauce
Pollo Rancho Luna a dish or Rancho Luna Restaurant in Cuba
Pulpeta is a Cuban meat tloaf
Rabo Encendido is a tail stew
Pargo a la Santa Barbara made with a whole Red Snapper
Pollo Frito Roasted Chicken
Ropa Vieja or "old clothes" is a shredded beef in sauce
Caserola de Camarones or Shrimp Casserole
Pollo con Mojo is a Spicy Mojo Chicken
Bistec con Cebollas or Steak with Onions
Vaca Frita translated fried cow made of fried shredded beef

Cuban Flan

Arroz con Leche

Cuban Food Deserts

Flan is caramel custard
Arroz con Leche is a delicious rice pudding
Panetela Boracha is a Rum Cake
Flan de Coco, same with coconut
Pudin Diplomatico or Bread Pudding
Guava Cheese Flan
Mermelada de Guayaba is a Guava Marmalade
Tocinillo de Cielo is a Custard with lots of eggs
Merenguitos are Meringue Puffs
Polvorones con Canela or Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Torrejas Cuban versión of French Toast
Tres Leches is a sweet custard with three types of milk

The Cuban Coffee called "Cafecito"

Grand Finale the Café Cubano

There is no real Cuban meal without the Café Cubano or simply Cafecito at the end.

No matter how hard to try at home nothing compares to the Cafecito of Versailles, Larios, Sergio’s or Islas Canarias in Miami. It’s pure art.

Versailles Restaurant in "Little Havana" an icon of the Cuban Community

When I lived in Miami for 15 years every single friend or relative arriving in town was invited to one of the famous Cuban Restaurants like Versailles, Casa Larios, Islas Canarias or Sergio’s.

All of them adored Cuban Food and wanted more. Now living in Israel my only Cuban meal comes from my dear wife. She is doing excellent….

Here is a link to Restaurant Versailles in Miami

images are courtesy of wikimedia commons