Recipes Of Cuban Food

Irina is a Freelance Editor at + Co, focusing on travel, health, and parenting. She's also a Latinx writer and editor, focusing primarily on food, healthy living, relationships, travel, and cultural identity. When she's not writing her memoir about growing up Cuban and Russian, she's probably reading an audiobook or cuddling with the loves of her life: her partner Adam and their attention-loving kitties and pup. You can find more of her work on IrinaGonzalez.com.

There's no denying that Cuban food is a favorite. There's that shredded beef dish you still dream about from your trip to Miami, the plantains you know nobody could improve upon and the marinated pork you had at your friend's family's house over the holidays. You've always wanted to make one of these delicacies yourself, and now you can! If you're looking to take your sandwich game to the next level with a homemade version of the classic, or you want to try your hand at another Cuban recipe favorite, these 14 traditional Cuban recipes are sure to WOW your taste buds.

1. Arroz con Pollo (Spanish kenken and Rice): A traditional dish if there ever was one, this one-pot delicacy combines the incredible flavors of saffron and cumin to give the rice that golden hue. Make it on Sunday for you and bae, then enjoy the leftovers all week long. (via Spoonful of Flavor)

Picadillo Recipe (cuban Style)

2. Cuban Sandwich: This classic 'wich requires five key ingredients: ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. And, of course, Cuban bread. When you're pressed for time, go for a deli-style honey ham like in this easy recipe, which takes just 10 minutes to make. Don't skip out on the panini press, though, since it gives it that extra special texture of a true Cubano. (via Hapa Nom Nom)

3. Fried Sweet Plantains: These can (and should!) be served as a side dish with virtually any and every Cuban dish. All you need are ripe plantains and some fearlessness when it comes to frying them up. When choosing plantains, make sure the edges are fairly curved and the peel is almost completely black. (via Joy of Kosher)

4. Picadillo (Cuban-Style): The next time you see a ground beef sale at the supermarket, grab some to make this dish filled with extras like potatoes, raisins, olives and tomatoes. Serve with a side of plain rice, and let it soak in all of the flavors like you would with a nice chili. (via No Recipes)

Easy Vegan Picadillo (cuban Inspired)

5. Yuca con Mojo (Cuban Style Yuca): This side is often served around the holidays and is great for BBQs. Prep ahead of time and bring extra mojo sauce for dipping — or coating on your favorite ready-for-the-grill meat. (via The Curious Coconut)

6. Lechon Asado (Cuban Mojo Marinated Pork): Make extras of this delectable pork dish to serve in your Cuban sandwich or to add to your quinoa salad for an easy lunch later in the week. (via The Food Charlatan)

7. Sofrito Salsa & Tostones: Made with green plantains instead of yellow, these double fried tostones topped with a fresh salsa make perfect appetizers. Finish with a piece of avocado, a sprinkling of cilantro and maybe even a small dollop of sour cream. (via The Noshery)

Moros Cuban Recipe

8. Cuban Pumpkin Flan: Dessert doesn’t get any better than this creamy and delicious concoction full of traditional fall flavors. It’s much easier to make than you ever imagined, and you won’t be able to resist the DIY caramel after trying your hand at this recipe. (via Adore Foods)

For make-ahead meals. Although it’s traditionally prepared with russet potatoes, try using a seasonal starch like sweet potato or summer squash for an added boost of flavor. (via Saveur)

10. Papas Rellenas (Cuban Potato Balls): Snack time has never been happier than with these potato balls that are — surprise! — stuffed with a picadillo-like meat mixture. (via The Candid Appetite)

Easy Cuban Arroz Imperial (imperial Rice)

11. Cuban Chicken and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls With Fried Bananas: Although quinoa originally came from Peru, it’s easy to incorporate the healthy protein into a bowl of your favorite Cuban chicken and black beans. Don’t skip the spicy mangoes, or swap out for pineapple or cantaloupe if you favor those tropical fruits. (via Half Baked Harvest)

12. Ropa Vieja (Cuban Shredded Beef): Can't go wrong with a big pile of meat served over classic white rice. The best part is that it's mostly made in the slow cooker, which saves you hours of prep time so you can focus on more important things. Like another round of empanadas, perhaps? (via The Cooking Jar)

13. Cuban Croquetas: If you've never had a traditional Cuban croquette before, you're seriously missing out. This ham version is about as easy as it comes. Take out that trusty food processor and get to work! (via Cooking Channel)

Arroz Con Pollo (cuban Chicken & Rice Recipe)

14. Cuba Libre: Nothing like a rum and Coke with a squeeze of lime to cool you off on a hot day. An ideal, sweet sip to wash down any of the dishes here. (via Palachinka)

15. Baked Eggs With Cuban Sofrito: Wake up your taste buds right with a spoonful of punchy sofrito served atop simple baked eggs. (via Dolly and Oatmeal)

16. Cuban Chicken With Chili-Roasted Yams: A quick marinade in mojo sauce — a traditional mix of citrus, garlic and spices — infuses every part of this succulent roasted chicken with incomparable flavor. Feel free to switch things up by applying the blend to pork and more. (via Feasting at Home)

Cuban Shredded Beef (slow Cooker) Recipe

18. Classic Daiquiri: It's time to return to the classic Daiquiri. Rum, lime juice, simple syrup and a few shakes with ice is all it takes to create one smooth sip. (via Uncommon Caribbean)

19. Cuban Shrimp Tamales: A mix of fresh corn and corn flour sets Cuban-style tamales apart from their Mexican counterparts. The highly seasoned shrimp filling is a real treat. (via The Washington Post)In the mood to travel but light on time or money? Well, these 17 Cuban recipes are the quickest (and easiest) way to feel like you're exploring the streets of Havana. As it turns out, some of our favorite weeknight dinners actually originated in Cuba, like arroz con pollo and chicken empanadas, and we think it's about time you eat your way through the country's cuisine. We also can't forget all the contributions Cubans gifted to our cocktail hours either; be sure to round out your meal with a mojito or strawberry daiquiri to really get the full experience.

You might notice that Cuba and its cuisine borrow a lot of influence from Spain (it was the first and last colony in the region, after all), as well as from African and Caribbean traditions. The island nation's staple foods, like rice, black beans, and hearty root vegetables, are key components to many traditional dishes, and you can see them all beautifully represented just by digging into a bowl of ropa vieja (the national dish of Cuba). In Cuba, ropa vieja is traditionally served with steamed rice and black beans. If you want to go all in, you could even whip up a batch of maduros (fried sweet plantains), which are another Cuban specialty.

Cuban Food & Drink Ideas

If you want to add a bit of Cuban flavor to everything (and we hardly blame you), you'll definitely want to familiarize yourself with mojo-style seasonings and marinades. We have yet to run out of ways to utilize this citrus-y, garlicky blend. It makes a killer dipping sauce for our air-fryer tostones, adds perfect amounts of zip to this yuca side dish, and is a perfectly summery marinade for shrimp.

Best known for being the national dish of Cuba, ropa vieja actually originated in Spain. This classic beef stew features shredded flank steak tossed in a flavorful sauce of tomato, onion, and pepper. While many traditional recipes simmer the beef in stock until tender before shredding and incorporating it into the separately made sauce, our one-pot version cooks the beef and the sauce together.

Classic tostones are a delicious savory plantain snack made with unripe green plantains. (Maduros, on the other hand, are made with ripe sweet plantains.) Though they’re typically twice fried, these air fryer tostones are as crispy as the classic version with a fraction of the fat—and there's no scary pot full of hot oil!

Traditional Cuban Food, A Pleasure To Enjoy

A warm and spicy black bean soup always hits the spot: deep purple-black color gives way to rich creamy consistency, spiced just right with fragrant onions, hot jalapeños, cumin, and chili powder. A little tomato paste, cooked until lightly caramelized, adds a layer of sweet umami that takes it over the top.

Though there is no agreed upon origin story of the mojito, the refreshing cocktail most likely originated in Cuba. It utilizes ingredients native to the island to make the drink, namely sugar cane, lime, and mint. Add in the rum and soda water, and you’ve got a classic mojito ready to bring the beach vibes.

You know it's going to be a good sandwich when it requires a whopping 5 hours of tender, loving care. Our Cuban sandwich, also known as the Cubano, is of the South

Cuban Picadillo Recipe