This cookbook boasts solid renditions of Cuban dishes, but readers will have to suffer through the cheesy repartee among its three authors, who have a Cuban culture Web site, www.iCuban.com. A brief introduction entices with information about Cuban migration to Miami, but margin notes to the recipes tend toward repetitious and obvious exchanges. A recipe for Fried Stuffed Potatoes, for example, begins with Raúl commenting, "This is one Cuban snack that if you haven't tried, you probably don't know what in the heck it is." Still, the food itself is alluring. Avocado and Pineapple Salad is refreshingly unusual, and marinating Cuban-Style Skirt Steak in a mix of onion, herbs and sour orange juice before grilling delivers maximum flavor with minimal work. The authors nicely cover savory snacks like Cornmeal Pancakes, numerous types of empanadas, and Plantain Chips. They also remain true to authentic Cuban cuisine by not skimping on the frying, though fat-phobic Americans will probably avoid the Fried Pork Chunks. Occasionally the recipes slip into a cutesy tone (one for Cuban Bread cheerleads, "it's a little sticky, but you can do it!" then begins a later step with, "When you return from the pool..."). Overall, this effort stands out less because of its appeal than because it has so few competitors.
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Excerpted from Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban by Glenn M. Lindgren, Raul Musibay, Jorge Castillo. Copyright © 2004. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved. The Mojito
Raúl: The mojito is a classic drink in Cuba. It got its origin in the cane fields, where workers were provided with large barrels of sugarcane juice, what we call guarapo, to drink after a hot day cutting sugarcane.
Glenn: On Saturday nights, the plantation owners would spike the guarapo with a little aguardiente, a crude form of rum; thus began a long tradition of Saturday night Cuban parties!
Jorge: As time went on, the workers began adding yerba buena, a type of mint leaf, to the barrel for flavor. Today the best mojitos are sill made with this leaf. If you have a Latin market in your neighborhood, you might be able to find some. It has to be fresh!
Glenn: If not, use spearmint or peppermintagain fresh from the garden. They are the best substitutes.
Jorge: Weve noticed lately that some trendy restaurants and bars have been serving a very dry mojito. The classic mojito should be very sweet!
Ingredients:
3 teaspoons sugar Juice of 1/2 lime
Fresh yerba buena (or mint) leaves 1 ounce white rum Ice cubes Soda water
Put sugar and lime juice in a glass. Crush a few fresh mint leaves into the sugar and lime juice. Add rum and ice cubes. Fill with soda water and serve with a sprig of mint. Serves 1
Ensalada de Aguacate y Piña Avocado and Pineapple Salad
Glenn: This great Cuban salad blends the sweetness of pineapple with the sour flavor of oil and vinegar.
Raúl: We know it sounds strange, but it tastes great!
Jorge: Make sure to use a good Spanish olive oil.
Glenn: For salads, an extra virgin olive oil with its lighter taste is usually the best choice.
Jorge: Dont forget to salt and pepper the dressing to taste. Many people dont think that salad needs salt, but this one truly does.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup olive oil 1/3 cup vinegar 1/3 cup orange juice 1/3 cup sugar Salt and pepper to taste
1 head iceberg lettuce, shredded 2 cups of fresh ripe pineapple chunks 1 medium sweet red onion, sliced thin 1 large Florida avocado, peeled and sliced Fresh limes
Combine olive oil, vinegar, orange juice, and sugar in a blender until smooth. Add salt and pepper to this mixture to taste. Lightly toss the lettuce, pineapple, and red onion together. Pour on the oil and vinegar mixture until everything is well coated. Adjust the amount used to your own preference, more or less.
Garnish individual salads with several avocado slices lightly seasoned with salt and pepper and a squeeze of lime juice. Serves 6 to 8.
The American Influence on Cuban Food
The American influence on food has been evident throughout Cubas history, with the peak in the 1950s. American cheese (queso Americano), American white bread (pan molde), the hamburger, peanuts roasted in the shell, Vienna sausages, and Spam are just a few of the American food items that were brought to Cuba.
Jorge fondly remembers going to the two-story Woolworths store in Havana with his sister, where he would enjoy a delicious grilled cheese sandwich made with sliced white bread and American cheese. Cubans may have gotten their inspiration from the United States, but they soon made several changes and improvements to give even these traditional American foods a Latin flavor!