12 Cuban Recipes You Must Try
If you’ve never experienced the rich, hearty flavors of Cuban food, I’m happy to introduce you!
Cuban food is a rich, hearty melting pot of Spanish, African, and other Caribbean cuisines. The majority of Cuban recipes are slow-cooked, sautéed, and/or tomato-based with spices.
If you’re looking to spice up your weekly menus, I’ve gathered these 12 Cuban recipes that range from savory dinners to sweet desserts that you must try.
1
Cuban Coffee (Café Cubano)
Un cafecito caliente con espumita is my favorite afternoon treat! Café Cubano is an espresso drink made with dark roast espresso brewed in a stovetop espresso maker then stirred with a luscious sugar foam. Whether enjoyed during breakfast, as a dessert, with strangers, or as a much-needed 3:05 pm energy boost, Cuban coffee is the heart of Miami Cuban culture.
2
Croquetas de Jamón (Ham Croquettes)
Croquetas de Jamón (Ham Croquettes) are crispy on the outside with a smooth, savory ham filling inside. You’ll cook a rich ham-studded béchamel, shape it into logs, and roll each one in breadcrumbs before frying. It’s a little hands-on, but the payoff is huge – golden, crunchy croquetas that taste just like the ones from a Cuban bakery, especially with a Cuban cafecito.
3
Pastelitos de Guayaba Y Queso (Guava Cheese Pastries)
Cuban guava cheese pastelitos are a classic Cuban dessert made with 4 ingredients: flaky puff pastry, sweet guava paste, softened cream cheese, and egg wash. Ready in 20 minutes in the oven after 10 minutes of prep. Serve these pastelitos with Cuban coffee for breakfast or enjoy them as an afternoon snack!
4
Easy Cuban Arroz Imperial (Imperial Rice!)
Cuban Arroz Imperial aka Imperial Rice. A classic Cuban comfort food dish made with layers of yellow rice, shredded chicken, mayonnaise, and melted cheese. Perfect for parties, large crowds, and any time of year!
5
Tender Lechon Asado (Cuban Roast Pork Recipe)
Experience the rich tradition of Cuban Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) with this mouthwatering Cuban Lechon Asado. The pork shoulder is marinated in a homemade garlic-citrus mojo marinade and then slow-roasted to perfection in the oven. The result is tender, juicy shredded pork with that coveted crispy pork skin, making it a delightful tradition reminiscent of holiday gatherings you'll want to savor year-round.
6
Cuban Arroz Con Pollo (Cuban Chicken + Rice)
This authentic Cuban Arroz con Pollo recipe is Mami’s recipe so you know it’s a good one! Tender chicken, simmered with Cuban sofrito, aromatic spices, Sazon, and homemade chicken stock, mixed in with fluffy yellow rice. It's an effortless one-pot dinner that practically prepares itself.
7
Arroz Con Leche (Cuban Rice Pudding)
Arroz con Leche is an easy-to-make, creamy Cuban rice pudding made with sweetened condensed milk, cinnamon, and lemon zest. The perfect dessert for any day of the week and it's unbelievably delicious!
8
Easy + Authentic Cuban Picadillo
This 30-minute Cuban picadillo is cozy, saucy, and loaded with flavor. Ground beef gets simmered with tomato sauce, spices, olives, and a handful of raisins (totally optional!). Serve it over rice for an easy weeknight dinner, then use the leftovers for aji rellenos, Cuban beef empanadas, or even pastelitos de carne. It’s the meal that keeps on giving!
9
Boiled Cuban Yuca con Mojo
One of my favorite side dishes! This simple boiled yuca recipe is made with homemade Cuban citrus-garlic mojo. This traditional root vegetable typically makes an appearance during the holiday season but you can make it for dinner on any day of the week. Learn how to make this popular Cuban side dish recipe from start to finish in just a few easy steps!
10
Frijoles Negros (Authentic Cuban Black Beans)
Frijoles negros are a silky smooth Cuban black bean recipe cooked to perfection. Learn how to make them 2 ways – using dried black beans or canned black beans. Get ready for the most flavorful Cuban side dish served over white rice!
11
Ropa Vieja Recipe (Cuban Shredded Beef)
Learn how to make authentic Cuban ropa vieja! This slow-cooked Cuban-style shredded beef dish is made with tenderized flank steak, Cuban sofrito, and spices, all simmered in a flavorful tomato-based sauce. This ropa vieja recipe requires only 25 minutes of hands-on work once the meat is tenderized.
12
Camarones Enchilados (Cuban Shrimp Creole)
Camarones Enchilados, or Cuban-Style Shrimp Creole, is a tantalizing deviled shrimp dish featuring succulent shrimp cooked in a rich tomato-based sauce infused with garlic, onions, peppers, and a blend of aromatic spices. This hearty and flavorful recipe is a celebration of Cuban culinary tradition, perfect for a cozy family dinner or for entertaining guests. This stovetop dish is ready from start to finish in about 30 minutes.
If you try any of these Cuban recipes, comment below! I’d love to hear from you!
Thank you so much for your recipes, I’ve made several and they all are great. We’ve moved from the Tampa area and now are in North West Florida and nary a single Cuban restaurant to be found. Loved the Cuban food around the Tampa area, now I’m making my own Cuban food. ♥️♥️♥️
your recipes are exactly what i grew-up eating in Cuba….thank you for sharing our
traditional Cuban food with others……muchas gracia
Caridad Nunez
I have tried many of these recipes. My husband is from Cuba and his mother taught me how to make them.
I grew up in South Miami. Father was from Matanzas, Cuba and went to medical school on Havana. Interned at University of Michigan, and did his residency in Chicago.
I love croquetas, arroz con Pollo, roast pork, and Paella.
It’s amazing to read that Cuban food is like a mixture of African, Spanish, and Caribbean flavors, and most recipes are slow-cooked. My roommate is getting married in July, and we want to find a restaurant to eat out at to celebrate sometime before then. We love trying new food, so we’ll have to find a Cuban restaurant in NJ to try.
Sofrito sounds really good! Onions, garlic, and green peppers go really well together and I cook with them a lot. I hadn’t really thought about putting them all into one dish before though. Maybe I’ll have to try some Cuban cuisine and see if tastes as good as it sounds!
My fav is lechon and pollo asado. But i am know to buy every pastel de gauyaba when I order them. And if you show up late for a family party forget about getting any croquettas they go fast.
They do! Lol