by Linette Creen
It is said that Cuban food reflects the Cuban spirit: a hearty appetite for the sweetness and richness of life, and a respect for tradition spiced with the spark of adventure. Here are enticing spiced fish and seafood dishes; sweet, creamy flans; savory paella; warm, hearty black beans and rice; and tropical rum drinks. You’ll find almost 200 recipes for appetizers, soups, salads, breads, entrees, vegetables, desserts, and drinks that celebrate the colorful cuisine of Cuba, bringing its flavorful, tropical tastes to your table. Cuban cooking honors the melding of Spanish, Portuguese, and indigenous Cuban culinary traditions in dishes that have become uniquely Cuban. There are many recipes for authentic Cuban specialties, such as pastels (spiced meat patties), tostones (fired green plantains), churros (fried dough with sugar), and refreshing batidos (fruit milkshakes), as well as gourmet-style recipes for the contemporary Caribbean dishes found in Cuban restaurants. Included, too, is an invaluable guide to finding uniquely Cuban ingredients, such as plantain, yuca, malaga, and calabaza. A Taste of Cuba is flavorsome testimony to the ever-growing popularity of Cuban cuisine.
