Cuban food recipes are a fusion of Caribbean, Spanish and African cuisines. The Cuban recipes share techniques and spices with the African and Spanish cooking with a little Caribbean influence in flavor and spices. A noteworthy though not so prominent Chinese influence can also be seen in the Havana area. The Cuban food recipes developed locally and to the surprise of a number of visitors from America or Europe, the Cuban cuisines have no similarity with the Mexican cuisine. The Cuban food recipes also differ from the Latin American cuisine and other parts of the U.S. The Cuban food recipes are different in the western and eastern Cuba.

Food recipes in Western Cuba: – The Western Cuban cooking is basically criollo but its style can be differentiated from criollo in Havana. There is a noteworthy influence of China in the dishes like sopa china, an onion and egg soup and arroz salteado. Rice is generally not used with beans and flour is also a commonly used cooking ingredient. Some Havana cuisines use alcaparrado frequently which is a mix of raisins, caper and olives. Alcaparrado is used in several Cuban food recipes and is also cooked with ground beef to provide stuffing of meat for several Cuban finger food or pastries. This cuisine is very popular with the Cubans.

Other popular dishes and finger foods of western Cuba and Havana are the fruit filled Cuban puff pastries, croquetas which is a dish comprised of small cylinders filled with paste prepared from ground beef, béchamel sauce, fish, cheese or chicken, papas rellenas, niños envueltos and picadillo. The western Cuban cuisines include wider use of eggs and its products such as omelettes and fried eggs. Fish dishes are also very popular in the coastal areas but lobster is used sparingly although Cuba has a highly developed lobster fishing companies. The Cuban food recipes were always of inland origin so fishes and the other sea products are used only in the coastal areas; crab being another food staple in these regions. The other popular dishes of western Cuba are arroz con pollo, paella and empanada gallega.

Food recipes in Eastern Cuba: – The eastern Cuban cuisines are influenced heavily by the Caribbean and African cuisines. The biggest contribution made by the foreign influence is the Congrí oriental, that is rice and cooked red beans. Many dishes that have their roots in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic are popular in eastern Cuba in different forms. One such cuisine is mofongo which mashed plantations and is also stuffed with pork, seafood or chicken.

Sandwiches: Popularity of Cuban food recipes: – The Cuban sandwiches account for the popularity of the Cuban food recipes. These sandwiches are prepared with the traditional Cuban bread which is a long loaf and instead of oil lard is used which provides extra moisture and a distinct flavor. A Cuban sandwich that is a simple traditional sandwich prepared with sliced roasted pork, thinly sliced cheese, yellow mustard and sweet pickles is the most popular item among the Cuban food recipes. After compressing the sandwich, it is heated in a grill known as “la plancha” and finally cut diagonally into two. Some people add lettuce and tomato but many Cubans consider it as Americanization of sandwiches. Another popular form of Cuban sandwich is the medianoche sandwich which is made like the traditional Cuban sandwiches but the Cuban bread is not used and it is replaced by egg loaves. The other popular Cuban sandwiches are Pan Con lechón, Pan Con bistec and frita.

Coming soon: A traditional Cuban bread recipe!

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