Cuba: 5 Traditional Cuban Dishes You Must Try When You Visit the Caribbean Island

Cuba is known for many things, such as its cigars, beaches, cocktails, and tasty dishes. It also became a home for famous personalities such as revolutionary icons Fidel Castro and Che Guevara and award-winning author Ernest Hemingway.

Cuban cuisine is a combination of Afro-Caribbean, Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole, with some dishes and cooking styles adopted from Mexico and Central America.

The usual food in Cuba features tomatoes, citrus, bell peppers, cumin, oregano, seafood, and more. This is usually with a side of rice, beans, or yuca, according to Food Fun Travel.

Traditional Cuban Dishes

Some of the main differences between Cuban American food and Cuban food on the island of Cuba are the years of repression and lack of access to ingredients on the island.

Ropa Vieja is one of the most recognized Cuban recipes throughout the world. It is an inheritance of the Spanish Canary Islands' peninsular culture and is considered Cuba's national dish. According to Chef's Pencil, beef is the meat used in the recipe, but it can also be done with pork or, in some cases, chicken.

Platillo Moros y Cristiano

Platillo Moros y Cristiano is a rice dish. The name roughly translates into "Moors and Christians," a poetic name referring to history. The Cuban dish is a combination of white rice and seasoned black beans cooked together in the same pot.

According to Taste Atlas, white rice represents the Spanish Christians, while black beans are supposed to be the Muslim Moors, referring to a long period of wars between the two.

Arroz Con Huevo

Arroz con huevo is basically rice topped with a fried egg, which is popular for being a lazy lunch meal throughout Latin America. The dish used to be called Comida de Pobre or poor people food. However, the meal is enjoyed by people of all socio-economic classes.

It is commonly accompanied by plantains in the Caribbean, while Spaniards pair it with a savory sofrito. It is recommended to top the meal with freshly grated cheese and chopped parsley.

Frita Cubana

Frita Cubana is a burger variety with Cuban origins. It was first invented in Havana in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Fritters originally sold these burgers from their stands called puestos.

The Cuban burger is made with Cuban rolls, ground beef, onions, and seasonings such as paprika and julienned potatoes.

Masas de Cerdo Frita

Fried pork dough or masitas is another famous Cuban way of cooking pork. The meat is diced and marinated in lime or sour orange with a little salt and fried. Masas de Cerdo Frita is normally served with mojo sauce and onion to soften the fried meat.

Arroz Con Pollo

The dish is a one-pot recipe that is a must-try. It is also an easy recipe to make on a busy work night. It consists of chicken and yellow rice and can be found all over Latin America. It is similar to paella without the fish.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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