Traditional Cuban Food: Sofrito, Picadillo, Black Beans, Sandwiches and More

Cuban food is a combination of influences from the French, Portuguese, Africans, Arabs, and Spaniards, giving it a unique taste. With the large numbers of Cuban immigrants in the state of Florida, many of these dishes can now be easily obtained in the United States as well as Cuba.

Traditional Cuban food: Chicken

One of the more traditional Cuban-style meals is Pollo con Quimbobo y Platanos, which translates to chicken with Okra and Plantains. This tasty meal is based on cut up pieces of chicken that is fried and then stewed with onions, plantain bananas, chopped okra, garlic, peppers, tomatoes, olives, and lemon juice. Some Cuban chefs prefer to use lime juice as the flavor base for their Pollo con Quimbobo y Platanos. This Cuban food is generally served over a plate of white rice.

Traditional Cuban food: Sauce and hash

Sofrito is a common Cuban sauce that is used to flavor other dishes. It is usually made from onions, peppers, oregano, tomatoes, and garlic. It gets its zesty flavor from being fried in olive oil before being added over the top of another food.

Cuban beef hash, also called picadillo, is a paste made from onions, garlic, oregano, olives, tomato sauce, raisins, and ground beef. Almost every Cuban family has their own version of picadillo, with ingredients like cinnamon, cloves, cumin, capers, and more being added to give this Cuban food its own individual taste. Cuban beef hash is usually served with rice or used as the filling in an empanada.

Traditional Cuban food: Ropa vieja

Ropa vieja translates directly as "old clothes," which does not sound very tasty. On the contrary, this traditional favorite Cuban food is shredded beef that is slow-cooked and served with a sofrito or other tomato-based sauce. The most common type of beef used for Cuban ropa vieja is flank steak, but other cuts of meat can also be used. It appears similar to pulled pork, but obviously is made of beef instead and will have a much different flavor.

Traditional Cuban food: Black beans

Cuban black beans and rice are known as Moros y Cristianos. This popular Cuban recipe consists of delicious slow-cooked black beans, garlic, paprika, cumin, oregano, onion, bay leaves, and pepper. Moros y Cristianos is served over standard white rice, often with a ham or bacon sofrito sauce.

Traditional Cuban food: Cuban Sandwich

The Cuban Sandwich is not only popular in Cuba, but it has become a local favorite in Florida because of the large Cuban population in the state. The sandwich starts off with Cuban bread that is covered with butter and mustard. Then sandwich fillings such as pork, ham, pickles, and Swiss cheese. Some types of Cuban sandwiches also include mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, or salami. After the sandwich is stacked, it is put into a hot press and heated until the cheese melts.