Every cuisine is composed of different cooking varieties and various recipes that are unique in their own way. Cuban cuisine is one of the popular ones of all. It is based on other famous cuisines such as Spanish, Arabic, French and Chinese. Apart from the gradually cooked meats, this cuisine is hugely popular for stews as well. More specifically, you should never miss out on the soups that are served with great delicacy. The use of beans along with rice is prominently found in dishes of Cuban origin. Beef is preferred more than chicken and lamb owing to traditional aspects.
Arroz con pollo is a special dish that is made of rice and chicken. It is delicious to taste and very popular in Western Cuba. As Cuba was a colony of Spain, the influence of Spanish recipes is very much in evidence. Most of the dishes prepared suit people who live in tropical climate. Although the recipes made with beef are not as popular as some other meat varieties, Boliche is one dish that is prepared from roasted beef. Other popular varieties such as viandas, criollos and tamales are a great hit with the locals as well as visitors.
Quoted From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_cuisine
“A typical meal would consist of rice and beans, cooked together or apart. When cooked together the recipe is called either “Congri” (red beans and rice) or “Moros” or “Moros y Cristianos” (black beans and rice). If cooked separately it is called “Arroz con/y Frijoles” (rice with/and beans). A main course (mainly pork or beef), some sort of vianda (not to be confused with the French viande which stands for “meat”, this term encompasses several types of tubers, such as yuca, malanga, and potato, as well as plantains, unripe bananas and even corn), a salad (usually simply composed of tomato, lettuce and avocado, though cucumber, carrots, cabbage and radish are not uncommon). Curiously, typical criollo meals largely ignore fruit, except ripe plantains, which are usually consumed together with the rice and beans. Tropical fruit could be served, however, depending on each family’s preferences. Usually, all dishes are brought together to the table at once, except maybe for desserts.”
Meanwhile, finger foods are prized recipes when it comes to the cuisine of Western Cuba. It is common to use eggs in a majority of the dishes prepared in this region. Also, pastelitos is a kind of puffed pastry that is hugely popular among vegetarian lovers.
As far as cuisines of Eastern Cuba are considered, they are greatly impacted by the African delights. Congri is a special dish that is prepared with the perfect mix of rice and red beans. Mofongo is one unique food variety belonging to the Dominican Republic.
In addition to all these dishes, you get to know about the features of Cuban cooking through several other recipes that have forayed into Cuba from Northern Spain.
If we talk of Cuban cuisine, then we are talking about fusion cuisine: the fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean dishes. Later on….More at Traditional Cuban cuisine
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