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Cuban pizza is a pizza variety that's distinguished by the dough and the sauce. The dough is a little thicker than in other pizzas and the sauce is a little bit sweeter. This is not a fancy pizza style – it's simple, comforting, and accessible.
The selection of toppings (which are baked into the pie!) usually includes ham, chorizo, pepperoni, shrimp, ground beef, lechon asado, lobster, picadillo, bell peppers, and sliced bananas, apart from the base toppings of tomato sauce and cheese, typically gouda in Cuba and a combination of gouda and mozzarella in Miami.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Pizza
MOST ICONIC Pizza cubana
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Boliche is a Cuban-style pot roast, but with a distinctive twist that sets it apart from the other pot roasts: eye round or chuck roast is stuffed with chorizo and sometimes hard-boiled eggs or olives. The meat is first seared to develop a rich crust and then slow-cooked in a flavorful broth made from a base of onions, garlic, bell peppers (often referred to as the "sofrito" which is foundational in many Latin American cuisines), tomatoes, wine, and various spices.
This simmering process not only tenderizes the meat but also infuses it with the aromatic flavors of the broth. Once cooked, the meat is sliced, revealing the colorful stuffing in each slice, and served with the sauce it was cooked in. It's typically accompanied by white rice, black beans, and sometimes plantains, making for a complete and satisfying meal.
MOST ICONIC Boliche
Arroz con maiz is a flavorful rice dish popular throughout Latin America. At its most basic, the dish consists of rice cooked together with corn, usually in the same cooking vessel. However, there are a few variations on the dish, especially in Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico.
The Cuban version uses ingredients such as chorizo, white wine, and chicken stock, while the rice is seasoned with annatto seeds and cumin.
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Elena Ruz is a unique Cuban sandwich consisting of a roll topped with turkey, fruit jam, and cream cheese. Its popularity is a result of the unusual contrast between the combined sweet and savory flavors. The sandwich is traditionally served during merienda (afternoon tea) in Cuba, either whole or sliced.
It is believed that the sandwich got its name after Elena Ruz Valdez-Fauli, a wealthy socialite from Havana who used to request this specific combination of ingredients during the late 1920s in El Carmelo Restaurant.
Frita Cubana (or simply frita) is a burger variety with Cuban origins. It was invented in Havana in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s (there's still no consensus). Originally, these burgers were sold by friteros from their stands, called puestos.
The burgers were made with Cuban rolls, ground beef, onions, seasonings such as smoked paprika (pimentón), and julienned potatoes. In 1962, Ramon Estevill brought the burgers to Miami when he opened his small eatery. Nowadays, El Rey De Las Fritas is the most popular frita joint in Miami, and the fritas are made with a spicy tomato sauce, ground beef, a soft bun, red onions, and salty shoestring potatoes.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Burger
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Pan con bistec is a traditional sandwich originating from Cuba. Although there are many versions, and the preparation varies from one restaurant to another, it's usually prepared with toasted Cuban or French bread, sliced beef steak, grilled onions, tomatoes, potato sticks, and lettuce.
In some places, it's not uncommon to see mayonnaise and ketchup in the sandwich as well. Sour orange juice or lime juice are often used as a marinade for the steak and onions. Regarding the beef, flank, top round, or rib eye steak can all be used in the sandwich, or any other part that can be cut into thick slices.
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Bistec de palomilla is a traditional meat dish. It's made with a combination of top sirloin beef, garlic, lime juice, onions, salt, pepper, and olive oil. The steak is cut super thin, marinated in garlic, lime juice, and seasonings, then pan-fried.
When served, the meat is topped with sliced onions that have been fried in the same pan with the steak. Traditional accompaniments to the dish include black beans and rice. If desired, bistec de palomilla can be garnished with chopped parsley.
Fricasé de pollo is a traditional chicken dish originating from Cuba. The dish is usually made with a combination of dark chicken meat (legs and thighs), garlic, onions, bell peppers, potatoes, olives, bay leaves, tomatoes, chicken stock, and spices such as cumin, coriander, turmeric, and oregano.
The meat is cooked in tomato sauce with all the other ingredients until the potatoes become fully cooked. Once done, fricasé de pollo can be eaten on its own or accompanied by rice or Cuban bread for mopping up the sauce. Although this is the most common way of preparing the dish, there are many variations on fricasé de pollo and every cook likes to add his own little tweaks to the recipe.
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Pan con lechón is a traditional sandwich originating from Cuba, but it's also very popular in Miami. This pressed sandwich is made with Cuban bread, lechón roasted pork, butter, onions, and mojo sauce. The bread is cut lengthwise, buttered on both sides, then topped with roasted pork, mojo sauce, and yellow onions – either raw or sautéed.
Once assembled, it's placed on a sandwich press, then served. The meat is usually marinated in garlic, orange juice, oregano cumin, and lime juice before it's roasted, while the mojo sauce consists of garlic, oregano, sour orange juice, salt, and black peppercorns.
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Vaca frita is a Cuban dish made by frying shredded skirt or flank steak. When translated, the name of the dish means fried cow, referring to the preparation process. The meat is sometimes topped with sautéed onions, and it is traditionally served with black beans and rice on the side.
If there are no black beans and rice, mashed potatoes or french fries are a great alternative for side dishes.
MOST ICONIC Vaca frita
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