5 Foods to Try in Cuba

    When traveling to Cuba, sampling the local cuisine is one of the pleasures enjoyed by visitors. Below are five foods you should try on your trip.

    Tostones

    Tostones are a popular Cuban comfort food. The word comes from the Spanish verb “tostar,” which means “to toast.” In Cuba, they may also been known as tachinos or chatinos. Tostones are made using green plantains, which are peeled, sliced, and fried twice. After the first frying, they are pounded flat with a specially-made utensil called a “tostonera” and once flattened, they are fried again until crisp and golden brown.

    Tostones (Photo Courtesy | Instagram @panman28)

    Bacán, or Green Banana Meat Pie

    It has been said that the name of this dish relates to the Cuban word meaning “very good” or “awesome.” It is made with green plantains, ground pork, garlic, sour orange juice, eggs, butter and oil. A real delicacy of Cuban cooking, it is indigenous to the Baracoa region on the northern coast of Cuba. The area produces a lot of bananas, and this tasty pie makes good use of green bananas, which can also been made with stewed crab, coconut milk, and seasoned with lime.

    Bacán (Photo Courtesy | Instagram @uncorona)

    Pasteles

    These pastries feature sweet fillings made with a variety of fruit pulp. There is also a version that uses a cream cheese filling, and some may even be filled with spicy beef, chicken or ham and cheese. The meat fillings usually include raisins and green olives. Both the sweet and savory versions are topped with a sweet glaze. An excellent snack food.

    Pasteles (Photo Courtesy | Instagram @inked_carlos)

    Pulpeta, or Cuban Meatloaf

    The Cuban take on meatloaf is cooked on the stovetop and contained hard boiled eggs inside. Made with ground beef and ground ham, it was originally referred to as a “sausage” dish, but does not contain sausage. While the eggs are a traditional ingredient, the origin of this tradition remains unknown.

    Pulpeta (Photo Courtesy | Instagram @2cubangirls)

    Yucca Chips

    These chips are a popular alternative to French fries. They are made with cassava, a yucca resembling a sweet potato.

    Yucca chips are rather popular when it comes to Cuban snacks. Also known as the cassava, a root vegetable that closely resembles a sweet potato. Cassava is high in carbs and also contain fairly high amounts of Vitamin C and calcium. These snack chips taste like a combination of potatoes and pumpkins. They are sweeter if the yucca has been harvested during a rainy season. The chips are made by slicing the cassava into very thin pieces ad deep-frying them in vegetable oil. Often served as a side dish with a main meal.

    Yucca Chips (Photo Courtesy | Instagram @corganic_market_food)

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