Cuban Lifestyle

Overview Eating
  • Recipes
  • Traditional Eateries

Eating in Cuba

The island of Cuba has seen many different cultures pass its shores and has been influenced by most if not all of them, in many different cultural aspects. However, one of the clearest reflections of these mixed cultural influences is certainly to be found in the island’s delightful cuisine.

  • Traditional Cuban cooking uses hints and blends of Spanish, Afro-Caribbean, Portuguese, French, Arabic and even Chinese culinary influences and techniques. This wide range of contributions makes Cuban dishes extremely unique and original, with many surprising and delicious flavors.
  • Cuban cuisine is essentially a simple, peasant cuisine, which relies on several basic ingredients. A tomato-based sauce, black beans, root vegetables (some as exotic as the boniato, the yuca, the malanga or the ñame) and the sofrito make up the foundations on which Cuban cuisine relies. The sofrito consists of onion, green pepper, garlic, oregano, and ground pepper quick-fried in olive oil, and is what gives many Cuban dishes flavor. Typical Cuban dishes include stews (ajiacos and potajes), meat dishes, black beans, boniatos and yucas marinated in mojo (hot olive oil, lemon juice, sliced raw onions, garlic, cumin, and little water.)
  • Wondering where to go out for meals in Cuba? Find out here...

A typical Cuban day

  • A typical Cuban breakfast consists of toast (tostadas) dipped in white coffee (café con leche), a combination of strong coffee and warm milk. For those who enjoy stronger caffeine, give a café cubano a try.
  • The two meals of the day, lunch and dinner, usually consist of a hearty spread, usually with dishes combining white rice, black beans and other legumes, meats and salads. Cuban sandwiches and empanadas (meat or chicken pasties) are popular for lunch, as are mariquitas, which are thinly sliced plantain chips. There are many tasty Cuban desserts to enjoy, such as the Cuban flan and bread pudding. Find some great authentic recipes right here!
  • Bakeries in Cuba have glorious finger food, especially their pastelitos, flaky pastries filled with all sorts of fillings, both savory and sweet.