Welcome to the Redneck Cuban Kitchen! While my ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐๐ค ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐ข๐๐ก has long been the favorite dish of both my gringo and Cuban friends, it is not my only Cuban food recipe that deserves attention. My medianoche, Monte Cristo hybrid, Elena Ruz, and Cuban Burger or "Frita" (a beef & chorizo patty, topped with crunchy fries) also deserve recognition. I grew up in Miami in a household where Monday through Thursday, we eat traditional American dishes like Mac & Cheese, Salisbury steak or Meatloaf, BBQ, Mash Potatoes, Green Bean Casserole, and more. However, come Friday night, and through the weekend, a group of characters from Cuba's countryside (often called Guajiron) would come over to drink beers and play dominos. Either that or we would meet somewhere in the Florida Keys, where we would camp almost every other weekend! With this crowd came a unique cuisine and taste profile! This is what Cubans refer to as Cosina Criolla. It is a homage to the motherland's countryside Cuban cuisine, not Havana but rather Matanzas, Camaguey, and even Pinal del Rio. This style of cooking is typically highly seasoned "BUT" not spicy. ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ๐จ๐ tends to be sweet due to reasonable amounts of garlic and caramelized onions. That means, if the recipe calls for chili powder, cayenne, or other spices, it is not authentic Cuban cuisine! In the US but especially in Tampa and Miami, where the bulk of the Cuban population resides, I have seen a lot of experimentation with traditional recipes, but when it is all said and done, they add no value and too often change the taste profile! Authentic Cuban dishes and Cuban food recipes consist of cuts of meat marinated for hours or even the day before cooking. While many cultures add sauce after cooking the meats, Cubans let the flavors soak in by slowly cooking and heavily marinating chicken, pork, and beef for extra depth and complexity. Yes, Cuban food is not about speed, and while many have hacked or get around the cooking time of many original recipes with things like pressure cookers, microwaves, and crockpots, there is just no substitution for slow cooking. I have compiled a list of traditional Cuban recipes that I will be featuring here at the Redneck Cuban Kitchen. These include favorite entrรฉes like ropa vieja, picadillo, Puerco Asado, fricassรฉ de Pollo, and escabeche. Along with various side dishes like frijoles negros, congris, Moros y Cristianos, and yucca with mojo (garlic sauce). Of course, a meal of Cuban dishes is never complete without coffee and dessert-like buรฑuelos, a traditional Cuban flan, pudding de pan, arros con leche, and more. Since we'll be doing a lot of cooking on the grill, I look forward to showing you how to make a famous Cuban Mojitos, the rum-laden daiquiri, which was Hemmingway's favorite drink at Havana's El Floridita, Crema de Vie, and more. Cuban Food Recipes for American (Gringos) We don't live in Cuba, and being true to many Cuban food recipes is often very challenging! While my prime objective here at the Redneck Cuban Kitchen is to respect and stay true to the original recipe, I understand that substitutes might be required. Making many of the dishes featured here at the Redneck Cuban Kitchen for those who live in Miami, Hialeah, and even Tampa may not be an issue. However, for someone in Chicago or even Dallas, it might be a challenge. I live in Southwest Florida, and things like Cuban bakeries, pastelitos, Cuban coffee, and even Cuban bread are rare commodities typically requiring a drive of over 20-30 minutes. One perfect example is sour oranges! Yes, sour oranges are a thing, and while relatively abundant all over the island, it is somewhat rare in the US. Sour oranges are at the core of many Cuban dishes since it is the mojo's main ingredient! Many YouTube videos and recipes say that a 50/50 mix of orange and lemon juice is a good substitute, but I'm afraid I have to disagree. After a lot of experimenting, I think that the best option is 1 cup of orange juice, half a cup of grapefruit juice, and a half cup of lemon juice. Cuba is so renowned because the island nation was an important port for trade, and many Spaniards who lived there brought their culinary traditions with them. Because of this, one of the main influences on Cuban cuisine is Spain. Other culinary influences include African slaves brought to Cuba and French colonists who came from Haiti. It is also worth noting that because Cuba is an island, seafood significantly influences the cuisine. Another contributing factor to Cuban cuisine and taste profile is Cuba's climate, which frequently produces fruits and vegetables in Cuban dishes. That is why delivering an authentic recipe will have its challenges! Nevertheless, I will try to stay true to my Cuban heritage! #Redneck #Cuban #Food #CubanFood #Recipes #CubanDishes #RopaVieja #Picadillo #CubanPork #Congris #MorosyCristianos #Mojo #CremaDeVie #CubanFlan #RedneckCubanSandwich #CubanBread
