Traditional Cuban Food
Ropa Vieja, Picadillo the Famous Cuban Sandwich and More!
Cuban cuisine is catching on all over the world! Here are some traditional favorites.
Cuban cuisine has some complicated roots. The island was home to several native ethnic groups, each of which had its own culinary tradition, when the Spanish arrived in the late fifteenth century. The Spanish added their culinary traditions to the mix, and later waves of immigrants including African slaves, French, Arabs and Portuguese all left their mark. After the Cuban Revolution of 1959, many fled the island for Florida, and in the intervening decades Miami Cuban cuisine has begun to develop an identity of its own. Here are descriptions of some favorite Cuban dishes:
Sofrito: Sofrito is a sort of sauce made of garlic, onions, peppers, oregano and tomatoes fried in olive oil. Sofrito is not meant to be eaten by itself, but rather forms a flavor base for other dishes.
Ropa Vieja (“Old Clothes”): This unappetizing-sounding dish is a Cuban favorite. Ropa Vieja is shredded beef (usually a tough but tasty cut such as flank steak) which has been slow-cooked and shredded, then served in a tomato or sofrito sauce. On your plate, it looks a little like Carolina-style pulled pork, for those familiar with it, although the taste is different. It is this shredded look that gives the dish its name.
Picadillo (Cuban Beef Hash): Made of ground beef, onions, olives, garlic, oregano, tomato sauce and raisins, picadillo is another favorite. Some recipes call for capers, cinnamon, cloves or cumin: every Cuban chef has his or her own family recipe. When prepared correctly, picadillo has a sticky, pasty texture. It is served over rice or cooked in dough to make empanadas.
Moros y Cristianos (Black Beans and Rice): Moros y Cristianos (literally “Moors and Christians”) is a popular staple all over Cuba and Miami. The black beans are slow-cooked with onion, pepper, garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano and bay leaves, and when they’re ready a sofrito usually containing bits of ham or bacon is added. The beans are served over regular white rice.
Pollo con Quimbobó y Plátanos (Chicken with Okra and Plantains): This traditional meal consists of a whole chicken that has been cut up and fried before being stewed with bits of okra, plantain bananas, onions, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, olives and lemon or lime juice. Once stewed, it is served hot over white rice.
Cuban Sandwich: Popular both on the island and in Florida, the Cuban sandwich is a traditional dish unto itself. To make one, you’ll need Cuban bread, which is a little like French bread. The bread is sliced and spread with mustard and a little butter before adding ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese and pickles. Variations include salami, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. Once assembled, the whole sandwich is heated using a sort of hot press and served warm.
