Culinary Traditions Of Cuba
by: Kirsten Hawkins
The East Caribbean island of Cuba has a rich cultural heritage from which has arisen culinary traditions that are as vibrant and varied as the variety of cultures that have contributed to the development of this distinct and delicious cuisine. In addition to the ancient influence of the native peoples of Cuba, the Spaniards brought their own culinary styles, tinged by those of the Moors who held huge parts of Spain for centuries. The slaves that were brought from Africa made significant culinary and cultural contributions, with other culinary traditions being brought to the island with the French colonists fleeing uprisings in Haiti.
As these various influences came together, a distinctly Cuban flavor and style evolved, which is reminiscent of country peasant styles of cooking by oral tradition and eye, rather than relying on specific measurements and the creation of dishes that tend towards the simple and hearty, and that can be left on their own to simmer. Fussy, heavy sauces are unusual and deep-frying is simply not a favored cooking method. The island nation, naturally, uses a great deal of seafood in its cuisine, which encourages the use of simple cooking techniques and spicing that is meant to enhance, not smother, natural flavors.
The most common spices used in Cuban cuisine are garlic, cumin, oregano and bay or laurel leaves. Sofrito is also popular, and used in a wide range of dishes, from those of beans to those of meats to those that are made from a base of tomato sauce. A typical sofrito is made of 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 blend to perfection.
The dense, nutritious, energy producing vegetables commonly used belie the African and native peoples’ influence on the cuisine of Cuba. Yuca, malanga, boniato, and plantano are among these, and are often simmered together with complementary vegetables and served simply, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with chopped fresh onion – a satisfying, strengthening and simple dish for a hard working people.
Meats are often prepared using island flavored marinades of that use lime juice or the juice of a sour variety of the orange as a base. Then, the meats are roasted or simmered very slowly with spices, often for hours. Beans and rice are an essential part of most meals, with black beans being well known as a Cuban specialty.
Cuban cuisine is also notable for its baked goods, which include a variety of turnovers. Some are filled with spiced meats and other types feature a particularly Cuban blend of cream cheese and guava paste. Flan is among Cuba’s most beloved dessert items.
In Cuban cuisine, the subtle flavors of healthy foods are enhanced by cooking and spicing methods designed to bring out the best in each component of a dish. The culinary traditions of Cuba are a delight to the tongue, naturally, but they also offer a fascinating glimpse into a culture that has brought together many varied elements to create a cohesive whole.
About The Author
Kirsten Hawkins is a food and nutrition expert specializing the Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food. Visit http://www.food-and-nutrition.com/ for more information on cooking delicious and healthy meals.
For those who live in the western parts of the world, the best and easiest way to taste Chinese food is to visit your favorite Chinese restaurant in town unless you know someone who can cook Chinese food for you. Popular Chinese restaurants in the area I live are getting a lot of customers everyday and most of the time its impossible to go for a dinner without reserving a table early.
There are several reasons for Chinese cuisine to be so popular among the people in western countries. Number one reason is the taste. Most dishes are made using a variety of tasty sauces, oils and added spices giving that ‘yummy’ taste you love. At the same time, these oils and sauces are responsible for the high calorie amounts in those dishes. A regular potion of a single dish we have at a typical Chinese restaurant can contain more than 500 calories, which certainly is not good news if you are trying to lose weight.
First of all, you have to understand what people eat in China is different to what we buy from Chinese restaurants in the west. In western versions, vegetables and meats in most dishes are heavily battered and/or fried in fattening oils making them unhealthy most of the time. To make matters worse, certain vegetables soak these fattening oils, further reducing the nutrition value of these dishes.
The aim of this article is to educate people about the high calorie content of non-authentic Chinese dishes, not to prevent people from eating such food. Knowing what you eat will certainly help you control the amount of calories you intake, specially for those who worry about their body weight.
According to the data I have collected, a regular serving of a soup will contain about 100 calories. Appetizers such as spring rolls will also contain about 100 calories. Combine them with main dishes you generally eat and the total calorie intake of your meal can get very high.
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You can read further on ‘Calories In Chinese Food‘ by visiting ‘Everything Calories‘, a neat little website I use to publish some of my weight-loss related articles.
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