Growing up in a Cuban family, I was fortunate to be exposed to rich flavors and aromas that defined our culinary heritage. From succulent Cuban roast pork (Lechon Asado) to flavorful Chuletas de Puerco (Cuban pork chops), and from smoky Cuban pollo asado to the tender strands of Cuban ropa vieja, each dish held a special place in our hearts. However, one recipe that never failed to captivate my taste buds was these beloved Masitas de Puerco (or Masitas de Cerdo). These juicy, fried pork chunks were always a hit with my Cuban family. Today, I am thrilled to share with you our cherished Cuban p ..read more

There are two types of dessert people in the world – those who love brownies and those who don’t. Guess what type I am?! To be honest, I’ve never been a fan of cakes but when it comes to brownies, chocolate chip cookies, guava thumbprint cookies, shortbread cookies, cookies in general really… that’s my kind of dessert! Are you my people?? Then you’re in for a treat. Today, I’m sharing these rich, chewy, fudgy, chocolate brownies! After a few failed attempts, I finally made the perfect homemade brownie recipe. They taste SO GOOD! You get that rich, chocolate flavor, the dense, moist textur ..read more

To grow up in a Cuban family means pork becomes a part of your DNA. Chuletas de Puerco, or Cuban Fried Pork Chops, is a flavorful dish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions. In Cuban cuisine, pork is a staple ingredient that is used in a variety of dishes, including the classic Cuban Roast Pork (Lechon Asado) and the famous Cuban Sandwich. Another popular dish that uses pork is the Tamal en Cazuela (Cuban Tamal Casserole), a hearty casserole made with cornmeal, pork, and other ingredients. Now all you need to do is add these Chuletas de Puerco to the rotation and you’ll be ..read more

To say my Cuban mom is a fan of malanga is an understatement. She is obsessed with boiled, mashed malanga and crema de malanga. Naturally, I had to surprise her by making these Malanga Chips! Made from the root vegetable malanga, these thin slices of starchy goodness are a popular snack in Caribbean, African, and Latin American cuisines. Malanga is a staple ingredient in many traditional Cuban dishes such as bunuelos, ajiaco cubano, and sopa de pollo to name a few. Homemade malanga chips (just like my yuca chips!) can be customized to your liking, whether you prefer them lightly salted or spi ..read more

I ordered lemon pepper chicken wings from a restaurant once and they were so awful that I was determined to recreate them at home. And that I did, my friends. Crispy chicken wings are one of my favorite appetizer ideas. From garlic parmesan chicken wings to guava BBQ chicken wings, this easy-to-make dish is perfect for a crowd, game day, or even just a quick weeknight dinner. These baked lemon pepper chicken wings combine tangy lemon flavor with zesty black pepper giving them a bright and flavorful kick that’s sure to please your taste buds. Whether you bake them, air fry them or grill them, t ..read more

Growing up, every time my stomach hurt, my Cuban mom would cook malanga. Sometimes it was just peeled, boiled, and mashed, other times it was this Crema de Malanga. She would also make Sopa de Pollo (Cuban Chicken Soup) and Ajiaco Cubano (Cuban Country-Style Stew) but that’s a story for another day. Crema de Malanga is a delicious and nourishing soup that’s a staple of Caribbean cuisine made with malanga root, a starchy vegetable that has an earthy flavor. Some have described malanga as a cross between a potato and a chestnut, with a mild and delicate flavor that’s not too overpowering. Malan ..read more

Most Hispanic cuisines start their cooking process with a sofrito [pronounced soh-free-toh] which is a base of aromatic ingredients that are diced and sautéed in oil. It is a blend of ingredients used to flavor Cuban black beans, Cuban stews, Cuban rice dishes, and other recipes, including Cuban ropa vieja and Cuban picadillo. No sofrito recipe is one and the same. Most Caribbean, Latin American, and European countries have their own version of sofrito. Its color will vary depending on the recipe or cuisine. Some are orange, red, and green, and their flavor ranges from pungent ..read more

Shopping in the produce section of any South Florida grocery store means you’re going to see lots of root vegetables everywhere! I’m talking yuca, malanga, plantains, and boñiato. Root vegetables are a big part of our Cuban culture and cuisine, particularly yuca. If you want to learn all about yuca and how to cook with it, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive right in! What is Yuca? Yuca (pronounced yoo-ka), also known as cassava root, manioc, mandioca, or Brazilian arrowroot, is a starchy root vegetable from the root of the cassava plant that you often find in Latin American and ..read more

As I mentioned in my churros con chocolate post, Miamians love celebrating “chilly” weather with freshly fried churros and thick, hot chocolate. It’s become a fun tradition here even though, we won’t leave our homes if the weather drops below 60ºF. Ha! This hot chocolate recipe is not your average milky hot chocolate. It’s rich, thick, velvety, and almost pudding-like. This chocolate caliente isn’t just a drink, it’s also a dipping sauce for churros (maybe even Cuban buñuelos if you’re feeling adventurous!). To be honest, it doesn’t even have to be cold outside for you to enjoy this treat. Let ..read more

This post is sponsored by Bob’s Red Mill. All opinions are my own. To live in Miami is to know that there’s a special place in our hearts for churros con chocolate. Since it’s always so hot and humid here, on those rare days when the temperature drops (at least for a night), you can find us celebrating the very welcomed “chilly” weather with hot, freshly fried churros with Spanish hot chocolate. It’s a beloved tradition that we’ve grown to love here. That’s why I’m happy to bring you this easy churros con chocolate recipe! Because why wait for chilly weather when we get our churros fix at any ..read more