If you’ve ever had Cuban food then you know how uniquely delicious it is. Cuban cuisine is influenced by several different cultures that blend beautifully.
Drawing inspiration from African, Spanish, and Caribbean styles, Cuban food is famous for being heavily marinated and cooked slowly creating wonderfully bold and flavorful food.
From breakfast and lunch to dinner and dessert, there is a Cuban recipe for every time of day. You are sure to be satisfied when you try any one of these 17 Cuban recipes.
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17 Best Cuban Recipes
Have a Cuban cuisine-inspired day with Cuban eggs benedict or Cuban huevos habaneros for breakfast to a dinner of ropa vieja or Cuban picadillo. You’ll have Cuban food for days when you try these 17 best Cuban recipes.
1. Cuban Eggs Benedict
Breakfast is often said to be the most important meal of the day so why not start your day off right with Cuban eggs benedict?
Cuban eggs benedict is created by topping toasted bread with marinated and slow-cooked shredded pork shoulder, warm ham and Swiss, a poached egg, mustard hollandaise, and chopped pickles.
https://www.carolynscooking.com/cuban-eggs-benedict/
2. Cuban Huevos Habaneros
Spice up your boring breakfast by whipping up some Cuban Huevos habaneros. This recipe creates 2 perfectly portioned individual servings of this spicy breakfast dish.
Loaded with red, yellow, and orange bell peppers, habanero peppers, red onions, and tomatoes, this dish is incredibly flavorful and colorful. Crack two eggs on top and bake until browning and bubbly.
https://www.thestarvingchefblog.com/2015/04/huevos-habaneros.html
3. Sofrito Egg Scramble
For this recipe, Sofrito is a sauce made from red bell pepper, celery, onion, chipotle chilies, garlic, diced tomatoes, and cilantro that serves as a flavorful for the egg scramble.
Mix eggs with some milk and scramble then add in some sofrito. Serve the egg and sofrito mixture on toast and top with sliced avocado and fresh cilantro.
https://www.runningtothekitchen.com/sofrito-egg-scramble/
4. Cuban Bread French Toast
Who knew the secret to good French toast was stale bread? Day-old bread soaks up more of the egg mixture than fresh bread does.
Cuban bread is dipped in a mixture of half-and-half, eggs, honey, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract. Once cooked, it is topped with maple syrup and/or powdered sugar.
https://thenovicechefblog.com/cuban-bread-french-toast/
5. Savory Cuban Oatmeal
Not all oatmeal has to be sweet and topped with brown sugar. This savory oatmeal with a Cuban spin will have you rethinking the way you cook oatmeal.
Perfect for brunch or lunch, this creative and savory oatmeal is made with green pepper, onion, black beans, chicken broth, garlic, oil, and balsamic vinegar.
https://afewshortcuts.com/savory-cuban-oatmeal/
6. Cuban Sandwich
This hearty sandwich is melty, crunchy, savory, sweet, and all things wonderful. If you can’t find Cuban bread, don’t worry. You can substitute French or Italian bread.
A cast-iron skillet or panini press works best for making this sandwich that is loaded with sliced roasted pork, sweet honey ham, melted Swiss cheese, dill pickles, and tangy mustard.
https://www.savingdessert.com/cuban-sandwich-recipe/
7. Cuban Chicken Noodle Soup
Soup and sandwich is a classic lunch combination. You could pair your savory Cuban sandwich with a comforting bowl of Cuban chicken noodle soup.
This soup is full of generous chunks of potatoes, carrots, and corn on the cob. The chicken is shredded and angel hair pasta completes this soup.
https://www.cookedbyjulie.com/cuban-chicken-noodle-soup/
8. Papas Rellenas
Papas rellenas are a popular Cuban snack that is made from potato balls stuffed with ground beef. This recipe works best with cold mashed potatoes, perfect for using up those leftovers.
Assemble by forming cold mashed potatoes into a ball then flatten and make a hollow. Stuff with your meat mixture and enclose. Roll the ball in egg mixture and breading, chill, then deep fry.
https://whatagirleats.com/papas-rellenas/
9. Potaje De Lentejas
Potaje de lentejas or Cuban lentil soup is a comforting and hearty soup that has brown lentils, a variety of fresh vegetables, and is full of flavor.
This soup cooks easily in one pot and is ready in under an hour. The best part about this soup is it tastes even better when it’s leftover.
https://www.casablancacooks.com/cuban-lentil-soup-potaje-de-lentejas/
10. Cuban Burger
Who doesn’t love a good, juicy burger? There is even more to love about a Cuban burger as it is bursting with flavor and is simple to make.
Using ground pork instead of beef, it is mixed with adobo seasoning and cilantro. After grilling the burger, it is topped with sliced ham, thin pickles, Swiss cheese, and mustard.
https://latinamommeals.com/cuban-sandwich-burger-cuban-burger/
11. Cuban Picadillo
Cuban picadillo is known as the ultimate Cuban comfort food. While simple to make, the complex flavors make it seem like you slaved over the stove for hours to create this savory dish.
Sautéing onions, green peppers, and garlic start this recipe off. Toss in chopped pimento-stuffed olives, tomato sauce, tomato paste, spices and let it thicken. Serve it as is, or over rice.
https://www.cocoandash.com/cuban-picadillo/
12. Pulpeta
Pulpeta is a Cuban meatloaf that is seared and then simmered in a savory sauce of garlic, peppers, onions, tomato sauce, white wine, pimentos, peas, and bay leaf.
Cuban meatloaf is coated with bread crumbs and seared to create a crunch crust. It also has a surprise when you cut into it, this recipe has two hard-boiled eggs stuffed inside.
https://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/2016/07/pulpeta-recipe/
13. Ropa Vieja
Ropa vieja is the national dish of Cuba and steeped in history. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, this traditional dish will be a family favorite.
The best meat for this dish is flank steak but you can use beef chuck pot roast too. Shred the meat and serve the ropa vieja over rice.
https://keviniscooking.com/cuban-ropa-vieja/
14. Cuban Mojo Chicken
This mouthwatering chicken is infused with a Mojo marinade that is comprised of citrus, garlic, and spices then roasted until deliciously juicy and golden brown.
The longer you let the chicken marinate, the bolder the flavors will be. You can achieve authentic flavor by using fresh sour oranges in the marinade.
https://www.lemonblossoms.com/blog/cuban-mojo-chicken/
15. Cuban Rice Pudding
Rice pudding or Arroz con Leche is made Cuban-style with cinnamon, lemon zest, vanilla, long-grain white rice, and milk then cooked until a creamy consistency is achieved.
Whole milk and sweetened condensed milk are used in this recipe to help achieve the desired creaminess. The cinnamon adds a sweet, woody flavor to this great dessert.
https://asassyspoon.com/arroz-con-leche/
16. Cuban Sugar Cookies
Cuban sugar cookies, also known as torticas de moron are another sweet treat. These rich and buttery cookies have a touch of citrus flavor achieved by adding lime zest.
These cookies are topped with a delightful dollop of dulce de leche which is a Latin confection created by heating sugar and milk for several hours creating a rich, flavorful sauce.
https://magnoliadays.com/cuban-sugar-cookies-torticas-de-moron/
17. Cuban Flan
Deliciously sweet and coated in caramelized sugar, this Cuban dessert is something you will wonder how you ever lived without it. This recipe is easy, affordable, and oh so good!
Flan is a custard-like treat made with eggs, vanilla, evaporated milk, and condensed milk then baked. The caramel topping is made by boiling sugar and water until it caramelizes.
https://www.bonappeteat.ca/trilingual-life-and-here-is-a-cuban-flan-recipe/
Wrap-Up
Cuban food has a unique flavor profile that is all its own. The hearty, bold and deliciously seasoned food will make for some incredibly flavorful meals.
Stunning breakfasts, lunches, and dinners will be a breeze to prepare and a delight to consume when you try any one of these 17 best Cuban recipes.
17 Best Cuban Recipes
Ingredients
- Cuban Eggs Benedict
- Cuban Huevos Habaneros
- Sofrito Egg Scramble
- Cuban Bread French Toast
- Savory Cuban Oatmeal
- Cuban Sandwich
- Cuban Chicken Noodle Soup
- Papas Rellenas
- Potaje De Lentejas
- Cuban Burger
- Cuban Picadillo
- Pulpeta
- Ropa Vieja
- Cuban Mojo Chicken
- Cuban Rice Pudding
- Cuban Sugar Cookies
- Cuban Flan
Instructions
- Select your favorite recipe from the list above.
- Organize all the required ingredients.
- Prepare and enjoy in 30 minutes or less!
