Welcome to the República de Cuba: a gorgeous country situated directly south of Florida and northeast of Belize. Cuba is made up of one relatively large island and several small clusters of islands, or archipelagos. But, of course, we’re not just here to find out about Cuba itself, we’re here to learn about its food!
Cuba’s rich, yet turbulent history plays an immense part in the country’s cuisine. Similar to many countries in the area, it was first inhabited by aboriginal people whose descendants were of American (Northern, Central, and Southern) origin. Then came the Spanish (in the 16th century), who later brought African slaves; in the 19th century, slavery was abolished, and today the population of Cuba is primarily of Spanish and African descent. These two cultures, along with several neighboring countries, combine to create a unique, tasty cuisine.
There has been rationing of food in Cuba for quite some time now, so meals do not often come in courses, rather in single, filling dishes. Like many other Latin countries, most meals involve rice and beans, but in Cuba they are paired with fruit, bread, meat, and plantains. And, because Cuba is a tropical island, there is an abundance of seafood and fresh fruit.
Some common, traditional Cuban meals include: ropa vieja (shredded beef with tomato sauce), caldo gallego (white bean soup), fricase de pollo (Cuban chicken fricassee), frituritas de bacalao (salt cod fritters), and pastelitos (stuffed pastries).
Cuba is a very passionate, spicy country – but its food is not. It’s certainly flavourful, but surprisingly mild for a Latin country. If you’re looking for a bit of Cuban calor, put on your dancing shoes, do the samba, and sip a mojito.
To get you started, here’s a recipe for an authentic Cuban Mojito
Cuban Mojito
Serves 1
Ingredients
1 teaspoon sugar
Juice from one lime (about 2 oz)
5 large mint leaves (spearmint, if possible)
Ice (crushed or cubed, about 1/3 cup)
2 oz white rum
2 oz soda water
Place first three ingredients in glass and lightly smash them with a muddler, just to release the mint flavor. Add remainder of ingredients, in order of appearance, and stir gently. Garnish with mint leaves and lime.
Coming up on Wednesday, an authentic Cuban recipe! Do you have a favourite Cuban recipe? Stay tuned…