1 Cuban Flan
This may be the richest custard ever. Made with eggs and poured into a pan coated with caramelized sugar then oven-baked, flan can be served warm or cold. The syrup made by the liquefying caramel is the major attraction. In Cuba, try flan with sweetened shredded coconut. It’s available at most restaurants and can even be purchased “to go” at bakeries.
2 Tocinillo de Cielo
This Cuban dessert it similar to flan. Its name literally translates to “bacon from heaven,” but it doesn’t taste like bacon or look like bacon and there is no bacon among its ingredients, and no one knows why it has this name. Fortunately, it doesn’t matter because it is wonderfully sweet and enjoyable. Two types are available at Cuban bakeries: one offers a slightly lemony citrusy flavor, while the other features an almond taste. Both are delicious.
3 Chicharrones de Pollo
These small pieces of chicken are marinated in a citrus mixture, coated with flour and then fried. They represent a Cuban version of fast-food chicken nuggets only much better. Usually served with rice or beans or a side of cassava to make a full and delicious meal.
4 Ajies Rellenos
A traditional main dish in Cuba is the stuffed pepper. The Cuban version has an intense meaty flavor that is missing from recipes in other parts of the world where the peppers may be stuffed with rice. Wine is frequently incorporated to give the dish a warm, rich flavor.
5 Little Boxes of Heaven
Because Cubans are very resourceful, the food stands located throughout Havana and other cities and on the beaches sell small cardboard boxes filled with the staples of Cuban cuisine. They may include the famous “Christians and Moors” rice and beans dish with pork, for example. Plastic cutlery has been difficult to find in Cuba, so the boxes feature a cut-out shaped like a spoon that pops out for use as a utensil to scoop out the contents. In other words, the box offers a self-contained meal, usually at the cost of one dollar.