| Cuba is famed for its beaches, diving,
| |
| | chicken, vegetables, herbs and saffron.
|
| lifestyle and dancing. But one aspect of
| |
| | It's not a million miles from Paella, but
|
| the Cuban holiday which is often
| |
| | in Cuba, the dish has a slight variation
|
| overlooked is the Cuban cuisine, which is
| |
| | whereby it includes garlic and tomato -
|
| unfortunate because the mixture of
| |
| | it can be highly spiced, but not spicy
|
| cultures combine to make a truly unique
| |
| | hot. This one is worth trying for the
|
| combination of flavours and textures. The
| |
| | authentic Cuban experience, as it's a
|
| country's cultural influences are so
| |
| | popular Sunday lunch dish on the island.
|
| diverse as to create a unique flavour to
| |
| | Moros y Cristianos This dish translates
|
| the food - a mix of Spanish, Chinese,
| |
| | as "Moors and Christians", and its name
|
| African, Portuguese, French and Arabic.
| |
| | is supposed to hark back to times when
|
| Yet these global influences are completed
| |
| | Moors and Christians lived alongside each
|
| by indigenous local food stuffs - yucca,
| |
| | other on the island. The basis of this
|
| malanga and boniato are local root
| |
| | recipe is black beans (the Moors) and
|
| vegetables routinely used in Cuban food.
| |
| | white rice (the Christians) and the dish
|
| The main meats used in Cuban cuisine are
| |
| | is found throughout the Caribbean. Of
|
| chicken, pork and beef (though the latter
| |
| | course, the Cuban version is delicately
|
| is subject to rationing as government
| |
| | spiced giving it a unique localised
|
| property, so is harder to find) usually
| |
| | flavour. Ropa Vieja Don't let the Spanish
|
| marinated in citrus juices and slowly
| |
| | translation of this put you off ("old
|
| roasted until tender. It's simple, but
| |
| | clothes) - Ropa Vieja is one of the more
|
| delicious, and something that will see
| |
| | popular dishes in the Caribbean, and as
|
| you hunting out the best restaurants
| |
| | ever the Cuban version leads the way in
|
| throughout your Cuban holiday. Cuba is
| |
| | terms of delicate spicing. The basis of
|
| also home to even simpler snacks and
| |
| | the dish is shredded beef, vegetables in
|
| light treats. Masitas de Puerco Fritas
| |
| | a sauce (usually tomato based). As with
|
| (lightly fried pork cuts, slow cooked
| |
| | much Cuba cuisine, local belief is that
|
| until tender), Pinchos (kebabs) and
| |
| | it tastes better on the day after
|
| Fritas (the Cuban hamburger, spiced with
| |
| | preparation, when the flavours have had
|
| shoestring potatoes and onion) all put
| |
| | greater opportunity to mingle. Cuban
|
| this country's fast food to shame not
| |
| | sandwiches These make a wonderful lunch
|
| only in terms of value, but flavour. So
| |
| | food - and were made popular on the
|
| below is a quick list of some of the
| |
| | island in the 1930s with sugar cane
|
| dishes to look out for while enjoying a
| |
| | workers. Using Cuban bread (similar to
|
| holiday in Cuba. A quick note of warning
| |
| | French and Italian loaves), the sandwich
|
| for vegetarians, before I begin though:
| |
| | is lightly toasted and typically contains
|
| You're likely to be considerably less
| |
| | roast pork (sometimes marinated in garlic
|
| gushing about Cuba's food than your
| |
| | or citrus), ham, dill pickles and swiss
|
| carnivorous friends. The concept of
| |
| | cheese and mustard. Once you have had one
|
| vegetarianism for ethical, health or
| |
| | of these you will crave them for the rest
|
| religious reasons is virtually unheard
| |
| | of your days! Costillitas These are
|
| of. You should still be able to find
| |
| | mouth-watering babyback ribs, marinated
|
| something, either from the large
| |
| | in typical Cuban fashion with citrus,
|
| quantities of local fruit or the handful
| |
| | garlic and herbs and then cooked slowly
|
| of rice and bean dishes available, but
| |
| | for the best part of an hour to guarantee
|
| Cuban cuisine is unlikely to be a
| |
| | tenderness. They are then typically
|
| highlight of your vacation. Chicharrones
| |
| | served with black bean and rice. I've
|
| These are hot thick belly cuts of pork
| |
| | barely scraped the surface of Cuban food
|
| with skin, a layer of fat and meat. The
| |
| | and drink here - the beverages, for
|
| flavours and textures to combine for a
| |
| | example are unique and the deserts
|
| tasty (though not necessarily good for
| |
| | (unsurprisingly for an island with so
|
| you!) snack. You may find these sold in
| |
| | much sugar cane) are some of the sweetest
|
| Cuba's markets and cafes, and are the
| |
| | I've ever tasted. Hopefully this should
|
| perfect antidote for a growling stomach
| |
| | convince you that a holiday in Cuba can
|
| while exploring. Masitas de Puerco Fritas
| |
| | be just as focussed on the food as a
|
| As mentioned above, these are pork chunks
| |
| | vacation in one of its more culinary
|
| slow cooked until tender and then fried
| |
| | renowned holiday rivals.
|
| lightly in their own oil. Often these are
| |
| | Emma Lelliot is the general manager of
|
| served with sliced onions and 'mojo'
| |
| | Captivating Cuba, an independent
|
| sauce. Surprisingly filling for something
| |
| | specialist in Cuba holidays. With
|
| considered a lighter snack! Arroz con
| |
| | offices in Havana and the UK, Captivating
|
| Pollo This chicken and rice dish is
| |
| | Cuba offer expert local knowledge for
|
| actually popular throughout Latin America
| |
| | island visitors.
|
| - its principally made up of rice,
| |
| |
|
