Spanish Influence On Cuba's Cuisine Today

387 Words1 Page
bulb-icon

Recommended: Preventing hunger in cuba

The history of Cuba has a major impact on its cuisine today. Cuban food and culture is rich with Spanish influence, due to the fact that Cuba was Spain’s first colony in the Caribbean. This cuisine has been influenced by not only Spain, but also Africa and Portugal. This causes their cooking style to have a unique twist compared to the other islands in the Caribbean. As a result of rationing, many food items are limited for Cubans, such as meats. Therefore, foods that are more available are used in most meals, such as rice, root vegetables, plantains, fruits and beans. These ingredients are native to Cuba, which makes them more accessible. Criollo is a sauce that serves as a base for many meals. It is a combination of garlic, onion, cumin,

Show More
Related

  • The Culture Of Cuba

    1362 Words  | 3 Pages

    African, French, Portuguese, Haitian, Jamaican and Chinese immigrants helped to shape a musical and culinary heritage that 's distinctly Cuban. Cuban music exhibits an insistent beat, complexity and intensity that make it immediately recognizable around the world. The ingredients in Cuban cuisine may lack drama, but ultimately, they work together in perfectly spiced dishes that bring out new flavor notes in common ingredients" (HowStuffWorks). In Cuba, the most popular cooking style is called criollo in which the main ingredients are chicken, beef, pork, eggs, beans, rice and vegetables. Cubans use many common spices in their dishes. Some other Cuban dishes are empanadas, pan con bistec, arroz con pollo, and moros y cristianos. In Cuba western clothing has been worn for many years, but casual clothing is popular also. Latin styles of clothing like bright colored shirts and blouses and ruffled skirts have been in Cuban fashion as well as Afro-Cuban styles. Some popular Cuban holidays and celebrations are Liberation Day, International Women 's Day, Labor Day, and Christmas. There are a couple of popular sports in Cuba like boxing and football, but baseball is the most popular. Baseball is considered the national sport of Cuba. "The national baseball team of Cuba is easily the best in Latin America and often dominates regional competitions in this sport. The

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Puerto Rico And United States

    266 Words  | 1 Pages

    In our chosen country , Puerto Rico, the food is slightly different compared to the United States’ food. However, there are a few similarities.

    Read More

  • High Risk Behaviors in Mexican and Polish Cultures

    1164 Words  | 3 Pages

    The preparation and flavor of food in Mexico can vary significantly based on the region. The basis of most cuisine is rice, beans, meats, and vegetables served with either flour or corn tortillas. Dining is considered a time for socialization with varying mealtimes that can begin late into the evening. Depending on the people, their socioeconomic status can influence the availability and nutritional value of food in certain areas of Mexico. Due to geographical and climate limitations the Polish food choices are limited to potatoes, vegetables, meats and dairy products. All of which may be changed depending the growing season that can have a significant impact of food availability. The Polish American diet is frequently high in carbohydrates, sodium, and saturated fat (Purnell & Paulanka, 2008). This type of food preparation should be taken into consideration when interacting with individuals from this culture. The influence of the catholic religion impacts both the Mexican and Polish cultures...

    Read More

  • Cuban Food Research Paper

    643 Words  | 2 Pages

    The typical Cuban cuisine and common food rituals have their origins mainly in Spanish dishes, like arroz con pollo (chicken and rice) and paella; pork is served in diverse forms, chicken, and rice, and seasoned with sofrito (a mix of spices).

    Read More

  • Puerto Rico’s Culture, History, and Food

    1902 Words  | 4 Pages

    Puerto Rico better known as “Rich Port” is 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers). It sits off the coast of southern Florida. It surrounds some of the deepest waters in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Also it is a part of the Greater Antilles. Puerto Rico is composed of year-round mild climate, and has many white, sandy beaches and extraordinary hotels. Puerto Rico is made up of four main land regions: the coastal lowlands, the coastal valleys, the foothills, and the central mountains. The largest city and capital is San Juan, which is located in the lowlands. Furthermore most of Puerto Rico’s crops such as sugar cane, coconuts, and other tropical fruits are grown in the coastal valleys. Pineapples, bananas, and other tropical fruits flourish in the hot, moist climate and are sold in every marketplace. Puerto Rico is a wonderful island fill with much history, culture, tradition and different foods.

    Read More

  • Cuban Cuisine

    604 Words  | 2 Pages

    Cuban cuisine has been influenced by Spanish, French, African, Arabic, Chinese, and Portuguese cultures. Traditional Cuban cooking is primarily peasant cuisine that has little concern with measurements, order and timing. Most of the food is sauteed or slow-cooked over a low flame. Very little is deep-fried and there are no heavy or creamy sauces. Most Cuban cooking relies on a few basic spices, such as garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay laurel leaves. Many dishes use a sofrito as their basis. The sofrito consists of onion, green pepper, garlic, oregano, and ground pepper quick-fried in olive oil. The sofrito is what gives the food its flavor. It is used when cooking black beans, stews, many meat dishes, and tomato-based sauces. Meats and poultry are usually marinated in citrus juices, such as lime or sour orange juices, and then roasted over low heat until the meat is tender and literally falling off the bone. Another common staple to the Cuban diet are root vegetables such as yuca, malanga, and boniato, which are found in most Latin markets. These vegetables are flavored with a marinade, called mojo, which includes hot olive oil, lemon juice, sliced raw onions, garlic, cumin, and little water.

    Read More

  • New Cuban Cuisine

    967 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Cuban style of cooking is simple in concept but complex in flavor. Much Cuban food owes its heritage and tradition from Africa and neighboring, Caribbean cultures. However, there are two distinctive styles of cooking: "the classic" whose techniques and ingredients have been in use for a long time across the island, and "the new," labeled nuevo Cubano, which adds a variety of herbs and spices from other cuisine and emphasizes presentation. For example, the province of Oriente, in eastern Cuba, is well known for its contribution of spicier and more robust dishes to the cuisine of the island due to the influx of Haitian and Jamaican immigrants to the island beginning in the 1790's. In the states, Cubans, too, have opted to choose hot peppers, like blazing scotchbonnets and serranos, to prepare recipes such as black bean salsa.

    Read More

  • Culture In The Guatemalan Culture

    1043 Words  | 3 Pages

    Josephine parents are from Central America and therefore is her culture. In her culture the head of the family decides solely on the meals menu. The head of the family, the father, has to be heeded and since they try as much to conserve their culture, they will prefer having their traditional foods to others. The traditional food of the Latin Americans is mostly fried and therefore, most of Josephine’s food will have a lot of fats. Guatemala’s cuisine is depended on their religion and the Maya cuisine is responsible for the largest share of their traditional foods. The key ingredients involved are corn, chilis and beans. On her mother’s side (from Honduras), their most popular dish is baleada which represents their gastronomy. The meal has flour tortilla folded and filled with refried beans and Parmesan cheese or sour cream. Sometimes they may decide to add roast meat or scrambled eggs. The mothers are responsible for cooking the family’s meal which is mostly their traditional food. Both the Guatemala and Hondurans enjoy freedom of worship with Christianity their main religion. They are very friendly people and open in

    Read More

  • Spanish Influence on American Culture

    849 Words  | 2 Pages

    The term Hispanic is one used in today's world as a description of the culture and people from all countries which were at one time under Spanish rule. In America the influence of Hispanic culture is evident. Hispanic culture affects certain things such as media, food, people, and in particular education. In certain states at least half of the population is full of Hispanics. With every passing day, the Hispanic population increases rapidly. Because of this Hispanics increase more and more jobs have become bilingual; schools have changed curriculum to meet the needs of Hispanic students, and the Spanish culture is being taught to American students. As the Hispanic population grows, the increase in changes of American education has grown as well.

    Read More

  • West African Culture

    1341 Words  | 3 Pages

    Of African origin are such specialities as gumbo and pralines, West Indian callaloo and duckandoo (a dish of greens and a dessert based on sweet potatoes), the Brazilian condiments dende oil and spicy hot sauces. Jamaica's bammy bread and the pan bread so beloved in the southern United States are both said to have their origin in the flat round cassava breads typical of Africa. Seeds and the plants of sesame, okra, some melons, and certain varieties of greens as well as yams, together with many techniques of bread making, and the use and combination of spices, are also all credited to the ingenuity of the African cook.

    Read More

  • Cuba

    1394 Words  | 3 Pages

    Catholicism is the major religion of Cubans, which accounts for the 47% of the population, Protestants, 4%, Santeria, 2% and other African cults which are also being practiced by Catholics. The island’s political structure is Socialist republic and its official language is Spanish. The climate ranges from sub-tr...

    Read More

  • Gastronomy In Peruvian Culture

    103 Words  | 1 Pages

    When a visitor or even a Peruvian tries any Peruvian dish, they might not know that what they are eating is the result of a fascinating evolution of foods and cultures. Certainly, Peruvian gastronomy goes beyond only cooking; it is a compendium of events, characters, and customs since food involves different nutritional elements: biological, historical, economic, cultural and social that reveal fundamental aspects of a country’s diet and lifestyles (More, Pablo). In Peru, this has been occurring since the beginning of the Andean culture, the encounter with the Spanish culture its important period of acculturation, the Republican era and up to its present.

    Read More

  • A culture of my own

    623 Words  | 2 Pages

    To begin with, the Cuban culture is one of much loudness and joyous music. Growing up, there was never a day that I did not wake up to the sound of loud salsa music blaring. Or to the loud voices of my mother or grandmother talking. To anyone else this “talking” would surely be mistaken for an argument or fight. Cuba is where salsa music and the conga drum originated so we tend to be very prideful of this. One of the greatest salsa singer/writer was the late Celia Cruz. She was somewhat of a hero

    Read More

  • Mafia Influence On Cuban Culture

    1016 Words  | 3 Pages

    For my research paper I am examining, “how large of an influence did the Mafia have in Cuba and how did their presence affect Cuban-American relations and pre-existing Cuban Culture?” Ever since I was young I was highly interested in organized crime and the mysteries behind the way that society operated. Interestingly and also not so fortunately the organized crime network hits my family at a personal level. My father grew up in Brooklyn, and while his direct lineage including himself was straight and clean, some of his uncles took a more crooked path in life. More specifically, my extended family had some tight affiliations to Sammy “The Bull” Gravano. Before I digress, these real life and personal stories on top of my aforementioned interest

    Read More

  • Spanish Food

    878 Words  | 2 Pages

    Spain, the third largest country in Europe, has a strong history and diverse culture dating back to when the Iberians first inhabited the land. The country lies between the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and the land ranges from mountains to meadows. Over hundreds of centuries, many different civilizations have inhabited the land influencing the people there today. From the Visigoths and Celts to the Romans of the Middle Ages, Spain has received a rich history and background. One of the strongest of its cultures is the food. All of these cultures brought a particular type of food and combined and blended with the food that exists there today. Spain is very popular for olives, vineyards, and citrus fruit. Another well-liked food is garlic, including varieties of peppers and spices. Once spice specifically—golden saffron—is essential in many recipes, including the Spanish Paella. There are many distinguished Spanish foods that encompass the daily life and culture of the country.

    Read More

More about Spanish Influence On Cuba's Cuisine Today

Open Document