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EATING CUBAN:  120 Authentic Recipes from the Streets of Havana to American Shores

By Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs

Introduction by Ana Menendez

Review by Marty Martindale

Most of us can get our hands on a ticket and travel to just about any place in the world we wish. Not so with Cuba, and it’s been so for a long time. Soon, however, we may get to go, enjoy the night beat, savory foods and fun things Latino. Here’s a chance to bring your Cuban food expectations up to date.

Cuba has a large uniqueness. She lives under strict restriction of goods. Yet, by calling upon their many ethnic backgrounds -- Spanish, African, Chinese, French and Native American – and sticking to Cuba’s geographical restrictions, some  pretty interesting recipes result. The cookbook, Eating Cuban, presents recipes in six parts:  The Roots, Creole Classics, Street Food, New Wave Cooking and Beverages.

Check these:

• Galician White Bean Soup with white beans, chorizo onion, green pepper, garlic,ham hock, collards and potatoes.

• Creamy Pumpkin Soup:  olive oil, onion, garlic, cinnamon, nutmeg, cream, pumpkin Cuban bread croutons and parsley.

• White Bean and Potato Salad:  Red potatoes, white beans, onion, vinegar, cumin, garlic, olive oil parsley and lettuce leaves

• Sweet Potato Pudding:  sweet potatoes, sugar, lime zest, cinnamon, egg yolks, cinnamon, rum and whipped cream

• Pickled Onions:  red and white onions, vinegar, allspice, oregano, bay leaves, peppercorns, a jalapeno chile.

• Avocado Gaspacho El Bambu:  avocados, lime juice, cucumbers, onion, broth, yogurt, fresh cilantro, red radishes, bell pepper, green onion tops

• Guava Barbecue Sauce:  Guava paste, tomato paste, molasses, vinegar, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, dry mustard, chile-garlic sauce, dry sherry and cilantro

• Cream Cheese Ice Cream:  cream cheese, sugar, fresh lemon juice, vanilla, heavy cream and milk

At the end of the book find a Glossary of Cuban Ingredients and Cooking Terms, Sources for Cuban Cooking Ingredients and a list of Some Favorite places for Eating Cuban both in Havana and in the U.S.

Marty Martindale owns FOOD SITE OF THE DAY.

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