Cuba: Recipes and Cuisine

Cuban cuisine is built around rice, beans, vegetables, chicken, pork and tropical fruits. While cooking on the island has become austere under Castro, the expatriate community in southern Florida has kept Cuban cuisine alive and vibrant. La cocina cubana, like most Caribbean cooking, has been influenced by a wide variety of sources — Spanish, African, Taino, even Chinese. Sofrito and alcaparrado season many dishes. Ropa vieja, moros y cristianos, paella, Cuban sandwiches and roast pork are popular dishes.

Typical Cuban Dishes

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A list of typical Cuban dishes and foods. Use it to help you plan a Cuban-style meal, party or festival.

Appetizers

Croquetas de Jamón (Ham croquettes)
Mariquitas (Plantain chips)
Papa Rellenas (Stuffed potato balls)
Tostones (Fried plantains)

Soups and Stews

Ajiaco (Beef stew)
La Caldosa (Meat and vegetable stew)
Sopa de Frijoles Negros (Black bean soup)
Sopa de Plátanos (Plantain soup)

Salads

Ensalada Mixta (Mixed green salad)

Sandwiches

Sandwich Cubano (Pork and cheese sandwich)

Poultry

Arroz con Pollo (Chicken with rice)
Pollo al Bloqueo (Blockade chicken)
Pollo en Fricasé (Chicken fricassee)

Meats

Bistec de Palomilla (Cuban fried steak)
Boliche (Stuffed pot roast)
Chorizo (Spicy pork sausage)
Lechon Asado (Roast pork)
Picadillo (Ground beef hash)
Ropa Vieja (Shredded beef)
Vaca Frita (Flank steak fried with onions)

Fish and Seafood

Langosta Criolla (Lobster braised in chili sauce)
Pargo a la Criolla (Red snapper in creole sauce)

Vegetables and Beans

Congri (Red beans and rice)
Fufu (Mashed plaintains)
Moros y Cristianos (Black beans and rice)
Yuca Frita (Cassava fries)

Breads and Grains

Congri (Red beans and rice)
Congri Orientál (Yellow rice with beans)
Media Noche (Grilled ham and cheese sandwich)
Moros y Cristianos (Black beans and rice)
Paella (Rice with chicken and seafood)
Pan Duro (Crusty bread)

Sauces, Condiments and Oils

Achiote (Annatto oil)
Alcaparrado (Seasoning mix of olives, raisins and capers)
Mojo (Garlic sauce)
Salsa Criolla (Tomato-onion-pepper sauce)

Preserves

Mermelada de Guayaba (Guava marmelade)

Desserts

Bunuelos (Fried figure-eight donuts)
Churros (Deep-fried pastry dough)
Coco Quemado (Coconut pudding)
Cucurucho (Coconut candy)
Guayaba con Queso (Guava with cheese)
Natilla (Caramel custard)
Pan Dulce (Sweet rolls)

Beverages

Batidos (Fruit milkshakes)
Café (Strong, sweet coffee)
Cuba Libre (Rum and cola with lime)
Guarapiña (Fermented pineapple juice)
Guarapo (Sugarcane juice)
Mojitos (Rum, lime and mint cocktail)

Cuban Recipes

Arroz con Pollo

(Latin chicken with rice)

Fufu

(West African mashed yams)

Mojo

(Latin-Caribbean garlic sauce)

Tostones

(Caribbean fried plantains)

Yuca Frita

(Latin American cassava fries)

Pollo en Fricasé

(Caribbean chicken fricassee)

Moros y Cristianos

(Cuban black beans and rice)

Sofrito

(Latin flavoring base)

Sopa de Frijoles Negros

(Caribbean black bean soup)

Mojitos

(Cuban rum, lime and mint cocktail)

Batidos

(Cuban fruit and milk smoothies)

Sandwich Cubano

(Cuban pork and cheese sandwich)

Congrí

(Cuban beans and rice; see Moros y Cristianos variations)

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