Caribbean
Food of Cuba
The 6 most iconic national dishes of Cuba — real photos, key ingredients and tasty facts behind every plate.
Americas
Ropa vieja
Cuba’s best-known home-style dish, made with shredded beef simmered in a tomato-based sofrito with peppers and onions. It is savory, slightly sweet, and usually served with rice and beans.
Did you know?
Although strongly associated with Cuba, ropa vieja traces its roots to Spain’s Canary Islands and broader Iberian cooking.
Moros y cristianos
A classic Cuban rice dish of white rice cooked with black beans, creating a fragrant, deeply savory staple. Its flavor comes from sofrito, spices, and the rich bean broth.
Did you know?
The name means “Moors and Christians,” referring to the contrast between the black beans and white rice.
Lechón asado
Slow-roasted suckling pig or pork, marinated with garlic and citrus until the meat is juicy and the skin crisp. It is a centerpiece of Cuban celebrations, especially family feasts.
Did you know?
Lechón asado is especially central to Cuba’s Christmas and New Year’s Eve festivities.
Cuban sandwich
A pressed sandwich layered with roast pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard on Cuban bread. It is crisp outside, melty inside, and closely tied to Cuban communities in Florida.
Did you know?
The sandwich became especially famous in Cuban émigré communities in Tampa and Miami rather than on the island alone.
Ajiaco
A hearty Cuban stew combining meats, root vegetables, corn, and plantains into a thick, deeply flavored pot. It has long been seen as a symbol of the island’s mixed culinary heritage.
Did you know?
Cuban intellectual Fernando Ortiz famously used ajiaco as a metaphor for Cuban national identity and cultural blending.
Tasajo
A traditional dish of salt-cured, dried beef that is soaked, shredded or stewed, and cooked with tomato, onions, and peppers. It has an intense, concentrated flavor from the preservation process.
Did you know?
Tasajo reflects older preservation methods that were vital in the Caribbean before refrigeration became widespread.