Cuban Goodness

Being that I am born and raised in South Florida we have so many influences on our food.  One of my favorite is Cuban food.  Unfortunately this cuban place that me and my wife love is an hour away so we needed to find another way to get our cuban fix.  So we decided to try it for ourselves with a little call to a cuban friend for help with the Platanos.

Pork Chunk's

2 pork chops
1 onion chopped
1 cup Bitter Orange ( Naranja Agria)
3/4 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
6 cloves garlic
Salt, Pepper, Oregano, and Cumin

Cut the pork into small chunks 1 1/2" to 2" or so.  Mix onion, bitter orange, 1/2 cup Olive Oil, garlic, and salt, pepper, Oregano and cumin to taste (about a 1/2 a tsp each depending on your taste).  Put the pork into the marinade and refrigerate for 4-5 hours.  If you prepare it in the morning let it marinade until your ready to cook it that night.

Remove meat from the marinade and place in a pot with 1 1/2 cups of water and the remaining 1/4 cup of Olive oil.  Drain the marinade so you are just left with the Garlic and Onion.  Boil the pork until all the water is gone then add back in the Onion and Garlic from the marinade.  Brown the pork in the oil that is left in the pan until it is brown and has a light crust on it.


Black beans

2 can's of Low Sodium Black beans (I was feeling lazy :P )
15 bay leaves
1/2 onion chopped
4 cups of water
2 tbs Extra Virgin Olive Oil
salt and pepper

Drain the beans and wash really well in a colander/strainer. Set aside.  In a pot sweat the onions in the Olive Oil on medium heat until they are translucent.  Then add the beans.  Cook for 3 minutes or so and then add the water and the bay leaves.  Add maybe a 1/2 tsp of salt and pepper, you can always add more later.  Cover and let cook for 30 min or so.  After 30 min check and see how the water level is, add water if necessary.  Keep checking every 30 min for the next 3 hours or so.  When the beans seem to begin to fall apart let most of the water cook out of the pot.  Remove the bay leaves.


Plantains (Platanos)

4 Ripe Plantains peeled and sliced on the bias into 1 1/2" pieces
1/2 cup Canola oil


Heat up the oil on medium high heat.  Then when the oil is hot turn the heat down to medium and add the plantains.  Fry for about 90 seconds on each side until dark golden brown.  Set on a plate with a towel to absorb the extra oil.

Cuban Garlic Bread

Cuban Bread or whatever bread you have lying around
butter
parsley chopped
garlic chopped

In a small pan heated to medium add a little of the butter, parsley, and garlic.  When the butter is melted add a slice of bread and cook for 45 seconds on each side.  Garnish with a little paprika.  Repeat until done.

Yellow Rice (Arroz Amarillo)

I just used a package of yellow rice from the grocery store cooked with the package instructions.


Now after you have finished cooking and plated your meal put on the Buena Vista Social Club album and fix your self a Cuba Libre (rum and coke) and enjoy.