All About Cuban Cuisine
The East Caribbean island of Cuba has a rich cultural heritage from which has arisen culinary conventions that are as vibrant and varied as the range of cultures that have made a contribution to the development of this distinct and delectable cuisine. As well as the traditional influence of the native peoples of Cuba, the Spaniards brought their own culinary styles, colored by those of the Moors who held enormous parts of Spain for many years. The slaves that were brought from Africa made important culinary and cultural contributions, with other culinary practices being brought to the island with the French colonists fleeing rebellions in Haiti.
As these various influences came together, an unmistakably Cuban flavor and style evolved, which is reminiscent of country peasant fashions of cooking by oral practice and eye, rather than relying on specific measurements and the making of dishes that tend towards the simple and hearty, and that can be left on their lonesome to broil. Fussy, heavy sauces are unusual and deep-frying is just not a favored cooking method. The island country, naturally, uses a great deal of seafood in its cuisine, which inspires the utilization of straightforward cooking methods and spicing that is supposed to augment, not smother, natural flavors.
The most typical spices employed in Cuban cuisine are garlic, cumin, oregano and bay or laurel leaves. Sofrito is also preferred, and used in a large range of dishes, from those of beans to those of meat to the ones that are made of a base of tomato ketchup. A typical sofrito is made from green pepper, onion, garlic, oregano and black pepper fried in olive oil until the pepper, onion and garlic are soft and translucent and the flavors mix to perfection.
The dense, nutritious, energy manufacturing veg typically used belie the African and native races ‘ influence on the cuisine of Cuba. Yuca, malanga, boniato, and plantano are among these, and are often boiled together with complementary vegetables and served simply, drizzled with olive oil and speckled with sliced fresh onion “a satisfying, buttressing and simple dish for a hard working folk.
Meat are sometimes prepared using island flavoured marinades of that use lime juice or the juice of a sour spread of the orange as a base. Then, the meat are roasted or broiled really slowly with spices, often for ages. Beans and rice are an indispensable part of most meals, with black beans being well commonly known as a Cuban specialty.
Cuban cuisine is also prominent for its baked products, which include a variety of turnovers. Some are filled with spiced meats and other types feature an especially Cuban blend of cream cheese and guava paste. Flan is among Cuba’s most loved pudding items.
In Cuban cuisine, the subtle flavours of healthy foods are enhanced by cooking and spicing methods engineered to bring out the finest in each element of a dish. The culinary practices of Cuba are a delight to the tongue, naturally, but they also offer a interesting glance into a culture which has brought together many varied elements to create a cohesive full.
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Mikaela Brandon shares simple pointers on how to Cuban Meals by going to www.themomtastics.com.
Filed under Food by on Jan 20th, 2012.