Satisfy Your Craving for Cuban Dishes

Start with staples from Cuban cuisine: black beans and rice. The simple side is great on its own, but when jazzed up with avocado, cumin, tomato, and a little balsamic vinegar, the staple goes from average to over-the-top. Serve on its own or mix in a little cooked chicken for a hearty lunch or light supper. Recipe: Cuban Beans and Rice

Traditional Cuban sandwiches are served with ham and pork, so we're keeping it simple and only adding Swiss cheese and sliced pickle. Pick up a fresh baguette for best flavor. Wrap the sandwiches in aluminum foil to prevent over-browning and cook for about fifteen minutes in the oven. Recipe: Cuban Sandwiches

Spice up pizza night by serving individual pies on a crispy flatbread, made from toasted flour tortillas. Top the tortillas with corn, cooked chicken, black beans, and a drizzle of lime juice for bright flavor. Cook on the grill or in the oven for a few minutes, or until the Monterey Jack cheese melts. Recipe: Cuban Chicken Pizza

Serve up a warm dish flavored with vanilla, cinnamon, and cloves. Don't let the coconut milk fool you–this dish isn't your standard sweet pudding, but rather a tasty, delicately-spiced dish perfect for cool evenings or those times you crave quintessential comfort food. Recipe: Arroz con Coco

Marinate pork in a sweet-tart mixture of pineapple juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, allspice, and mustard for about 20 minutes, or overnight if you have time. The chops cook quickly, so prepare the ingredients the night before and leave the pork to marinate. When you get home the next day, dinner can be on the table in about 15 minutes. Recipe: Cuban Pork with Pineapple

Break out the ice cream maker and get started on a company-worthy sundae. Dark-roasted coffee beans, rum, and vanilla give the homemade ice cream its rich flavor. Top with dulce de leche, a sugary caramel syrup made with milk, sugar, and baking soda. Recipe: Cuban Coffee Ice Cream with Dulce de Leche

Update the cuisine's staples, beans and rice, by serving them in a unique style. The black bean patties, flavored with garlic, cumin, spicy cheese, and red onion, are a great vegetarian alternative to the usual burger. Serve the meaty patties over a fresh rice side, prepared with diced pineapple and chopped cilantro. Recipe: Cuban Black Bean Patties with Pineapple Rice

Shortcut bold Cuban flavor by making a simple bean dip and adding Cuban-style black bean soup mix. Lime juice, cumin, and ground chipotle chile powder add fresh flavor to the smooth dip, which can be served with chips as an appetizer, or in a burrito with pulled pork or chicken for a main dish. Recipe: Cuban Black Bean Dip