## Cuban Salad: A Refreshing and Flavorful Delight
Cuban salad, a vibrant and refreshing dish, is a delightful combination of fresh vegetables, herbs, and a tangy dressing. With its origins in the culinary traditions of Cuba, this salad showcases the country's love for bold flavors and zesty ingredients. It is a staple side dish at Cuban gatherings and celebrations, often served alongside roasted meats, grilled fish, or as a light and healthy meal on its own. This article presents a collection of Cuban salad recipes that capture the essence of this classic dish, offering a range of variations to suit diverse tastes and preferences. From the traditional Cuban salad with its tangy citrus dressing to unique interpretations that incorporate tropical fruits and flavorful herbs, these recipes promise an explosion of flavors that will transport you to the heart of Cuba.
**Variations of Cuban Salad:**
1. **Classic Cuban Salad**: This recipe stays true to the traditional Cuban salad, featuring a medley of diced tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, bell peppers, and fresh herbs, all tossed in a vibrant citrus dressing made with lime juice, olive oil, and a touch of garlic.
2. **Tropical Cuban Salad**: This variation adds a tropical twist to the classic Cuban salad by incorporating sweet and juicy mango, pineapple, and papaya. The dressing is a harmonious blend of lime juice, coconut cream, and a hint of chili powder, creating a delightful balance of tangy, creamy, and slightly spicy flavors.
3. **Avocado Cuban Salad**: This recipe elevates the classic Cuban salad with the addition of ripe and creamy avocado. The avocado adds a rich and velvety texture, complementing the crisp vegetables and tangy dressing.
4. **Black Bean Cuban Salad**: This hearty and protein-packed variation incorporates black beans, adding a boost of fiber and plant-based protein to the salad. The dressing is a flavorful blend of lime juice, cumin, and cilantro, giving the salad a distinctly Cuban flair.
5. **Quinoa Cuban Salad**: This recipe combines the classic Cuban salad with the goodness of quinoa, creating a wholesome and nutritious meal. The quinoa adds a nutty flavor and a boost of protein, making this salad an excellent option for vegetarians and vegans.
6. **Grilled Shrimp Cuban Salad**: This recipe takes the classic Cuban salad to the next level by incorporating succulent grilled shrimp. The shrimp adds a savory and smoky flavor to the salad, making it a perfect choice for a light and flavorful lunch or dinner.
CUBAN SALAD
Cuban salads typically are refreshing, yet uncomplicated, and they're always a nice addition to what often can be a heavy Cuban meal. Served with a loaf of crusty Cuban bread isn't a bad idea either!
Provided by lutzflcat
Categories Salad Vegetable Salad Recipes Tomato Salad Recipes
Time 20m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine romaine, tomatoes, avocados, onion, and black beans in a large bowl; toss to combine.
- Whisk lime juice, honey, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl. While constantly whisking, stream in the olive oil until dressing is well combined.
- Drizzle some of the dressing over the salad, toss, taste, and add more dressing if desired. If there's any extra dressing, refrigerate for later use.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 536.1 calories, Carbohydrate 33.8 g, Fat 43.7 g, Fiber 16.1 g, Protein 8.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.2 g, Sodium 384.7 mg, Sugar 8.9 g
CUBAN AVOCADO, WATERCRESS, AND PINEAPPLE SALAD (ENSALADA DE AGUACATE, BERRO, Y PIñA)
Provided by Maricel Presilla
Categories Salad Side Christmas Lunch Tropical Fruit Pineapple Avocado Watercress Vegan Vegetarian Pescatarian Dairy Free Wheat/Gluten-Free Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher
Yield Serves 6 to 8
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Preparing the Watercress
- Place the watercress in a colander and rinse under cold running water to remove any grit or sand. Discard any yellowing leaves and remove the tough stems; for this salad, you want only the leaves and tender stems. Pat dry with paper towels and refrigerate while you prepare the rest of the salad.
- Broiling the Pineapple
- Preheat the broiler. Place the pineapple slices on a baking pan and sprinkle the sugar evenly on top of them. Broil about 4 inches from the heat source, turning once, for 10 minutes on each side, until lightly golden brown. Let cool, then cut into 1-inch cubes. Set aside.
- Preparing the Dressing
- Place the garlic, olive oil, vinegar or lime juice, cumin, salt, and pepper in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Taste for seasoning. Set aside.
- Peeling the Avocado
- Cut the avocado(s) lengthwise in half around the pit and remove the pit. Place the avocado halves cut side down on the work surface and slice lengthwise into 1-inch-wide wedges. Peel each segment by hand or with a paring knife, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
- Assembling the Salad
- Place the watercress in a medium bowl and toss with half the dressing. Arrange on a large platter.
- Add the pineapple and avocado to the same bowl and toss with the rest of the dressing. Mound the pineapple and avocado over the bed of watercress. Garnish with the slivers of red onion and serve immediately.
EASY CUBAN SALAD
This refreshing salad relies on a few ingredients and the addition of a brightly flavored citrus dressing.
Provided by Bibi
Time 15m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Combine olive oil, lemon juice, orange juice, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in a 1-pint container or jar with tight-fitting lid. Tightly close the lid and shake until the ingredients are well blended. Refrigerate until ready to toss with the salad, or up to 3 days.
- Combine chopped romaine, tomato wedges, sliced radishes, sliced red onion, and chopped avocado in a large bowl. Add as much dressing as you like, and toss all ingredients. Refrigerate unused salad dressing.
- Serve dressed, tossed salads on individual salad plates.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 190.4 calories, Carbohydrate 7.7 g, Fat 17.9 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 2.5 g, Sodium 299.9 mg, Sugar 2.7 g
KICKED-UP CUBAN SALAD
Steps:
- For the salad: Add the avocado, lettuce, red onion, jalapeno and pineapple to a large bowl.
- For the dressing: Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, cumin, cayenne and salt in a small bowl. Pour some of the dressing over the salad and toss, adding more if desired. Reserve any extra dressing for later use.
GLAZED SUGAR LOAF PINEAPPLE AND LOBSTER SALAD GARNISHED WITH TOASTED COCONUT AND CUBAN STYLE CITRUS GRILLED SHRIMP
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Mix vanilla seed, sugar, and rum together in a large bowl. Add the pineapple and marinate for 15 minutes. Cook pineapple with melted butter in large pan over medium-high heat in batches until pineapple has caramelized. Cool and cut into small diced pieces. Set aside.
- Cut tails lengthwise and crack shell. Pull out meat but keep tail attached at tail end. Season with Bijol, salt, and pepper. Brush with butter. Roast until cooked, approximately 15 minutes, basting with butter a few times. Cool and dice.
- Combine lobster, pineapple, mango, papaya, water chestnuts, red pepper, carrots, bamboo shoots, chives, and cabbage and mix gently with 1/4 cup of the Lime Mango dressing.
- Preheat a grill: Cut sugar cane into 4 skewers, about 4 to 5 inches long. Season with Bijol, salt, and pepper. Mix butter, zest, and fruit juice then brush shrimp with butter mixture. Grill, basting with butter mixture until shrimp is fully cooked.
- Place 3 to 4 pineapple chips on bottom of plate and place coconut in center of chips. Fill coconut with salad. Garnish with lengthwise chips and pineapple leaves. Spoon a tablespoon of dressing on each plate. Lean shrimp skewer against coconut and plate at an angle.
- Start by adding everything from lime juice to cilantro and blend.using a burr mixer, hand held electric mixer or whisk. Slowly add in oil while continuing to blend. Season with salt and pepper.
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. For the pineapple chips: Peel and cut the pineapple in half width-wise. Cut small wedges out of the pineapple to create thin flower slices. Cut other half lengthwise to remove the core. Dip into simple syrup and place on a silicone mat or parchment paper on a sheet pan at 200 degrees in oven for about 4 hours until dried out to create chips.
- Bring all ingredients to a simmer in a small saucepan. When the sugar is dissolved, remove from the heat and allow to cool. Remove the vanilla bean.
CUBAN BEAN SALAD
Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisines and closely resembles that of other Caribbean nations such as Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and Panama of Central America. While various parts of the island were influenced by many different immigrants, the Cuban cuisines developed locally, from the influences and demographics specific to each area. Prep time = cook time. Recipe from www.tasteofcuba.com/courtesy of Kraft Foods and posted for ZWT5.
Provided by kitty.rock
Categories Black Beans
Time 10m
Yield 8 cups, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 16
Steps:
- Mix oil, cilantro. lemon juice, vinegar, cumin, jalapeno pepper and oregano in large bowl until well blended.
- Add remaining ingredients; mix lightly.
- Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
- Stir gently just before serving.
- NOTE: Salad may be prepared the day ahead. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.
- SUBSTITUTE: Lime juice may be substituted for lemon juice if desired.
CUBAN BLACK BEANS AND RICE WITH FRUIT SALAD
Categories Soup/Stew Bean Vegetarian High Fiber Wheat/Gluten-Free Dinner Winter
Yield 6-8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- 1. Sort, wash and soak beans; drain and rinse beans. 2. In a 4-quart pot, saute onion in butter or coconut oil until tender. Add beans, broth, bay leaves, thyme, oregano, salt, and red or cayenne pepper. Bring to boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer until beans are tender, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. 3. While beans are cooking, rinse the rice. Place in another pot with the water and salt. Bring to boil, reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 50-60 minutes. 4. After rice has been started, make the fruit salad in a large bowl. 5. When beans are tender, stir in the greem pepper and rum. Cover and simmer 15 minutes. 6. Serve beans over rice in wide soup bowls. Top with fruit salad and then a dollop of sour cream.
CUBAN POTATO SALAD
Make and share this Cuban Potato Salad recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Gay Gilmore
Categories Potato
Time 12h30m
Yield 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Peel (or not) the potatoes and boil with a good bit of salt.
- Drain and then cube when cool.
- Add salad ingredients to potatoes.
- Mix Dressing ingredients and then toss with salad ingredients& potatoes.
- Best if let to set overnight in the refrigerator, but let sit on counter 30 minutes before serving for the flavors to be most apparent.
CUBAN GARLIC SALAD DRESSING
Make and share this Cuban Garlic Salad Dressing recipe from Food.com.
Provided by FloridaGrl
Categories Salad Dressings
Time 10m
Yield 2 cups
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Mix all ingredients throughly with wire whisk. Serve at room temperature.
CUBAN BLACK BEAN SALAD
Make and share this Cuban Black Bean Salad recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Vicki in AZ
Categories Black Beans
Time 10m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Toss together beans, yellow and red peppers, celery, onion and parsley.
- Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, garlic& cumin and toss into bean mixture.
CUBAN-STYLE TILAPIA SALAD
Betty Crocker Cookbook for Women shares a recipe! What's for dinner? How about a main-dish salad with good-for-you fish. You can have this one on the table in 30 minutes.
Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens
Categories Entree
Time 30m
Yield 4
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- In 1-cup glass measuring cup, beat all dressing ingredients with wire whisk.
- Set oven control to broil. On rack in broiler pan, place fish; spray tops of fish with cooking spray. Sprinkle tops of fish with 2 tablespoons lime juice and the seasoned salt. Broil with tops 4 to 6 inches from heat 6 to 8 minutes or until fish flakes easily with fork.
- Meanwhile, on each of 4 plates, arrange 1 cup salad greens. Divide pineapple among plates. Place fish on or next to greens. Sprinkle greens and fish with mint. Serve with dressing.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 230, Carbohydrate 17 g, Cholesterol 75 mg, Fat 1/2, Fiber 2 g, Protein 28 g, SaturatedFat 1/2 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 390 mg, Sugar 12 g, TransFat 0 g
CUBAN POTATO SALAD WITH SCALLION VINAIGRETTE
Steps:
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the potatoes until tender, about 10 minutes. Set aside. When cool, transfer to a large bowl and combine with black beans.
- In a blender combine the scallions, sour cream and lemon juice. Pulse a few times to mix, then puree until smooth. Add salt, pepper and mayonnaise. Blend just to combine. Garnish with chopped chives.
- Drizzle vinaigrette over salad, then toss until potatoes and beans are well coated.
CUBAN BEANS AND RICE SALAD
From Cooking Light.Per 1 cup serving: 184 calories, 4.6 g fat, 4.9 g protein, 32.8 g carb, 4 g fiber, 0 mg cholesterol.
Provided by ratherbeswimmin
Categories Rice
Time 20m
Yield 6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Add the first 6 ingredients to a bowl; toss gently to combine.
- Add in remaining ingredients; toss well.
- Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 235.4, Fat 4.7, SaturatedFat 0.7, Sodium 197.5, Carbohydrate 41.2, Fiber 6, Sugar 0.9, Protein 7.3
CUBAN POTATO SALAD
Make and share this Cuban Potato Salad recipe from Food.com.
Provided by threeovens
Categories Potato
Time 30m
Yield 8 portions, 8 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender, about 10 minutes; drain, then combine with black beans in a small bowl. Allow to cool.
- Meanwhile, in a blender combine green onions, sour cream and lemon juice; puree until smooth; add salt, pepper and mayonnaise.
- Blend until combined; pour over potatoes and beans.
- Toss until well coated; garnish with chives.
CUBAN SALAD
Make and share this Cuban Salad recipe from Food.com.
Provided by Dienia B.
Categories Cuban
Time 15m
Yield 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- in blender
- mix garlic seasoning juice vinegar
- slowly add oil.
- for salad
- plate lettuce
- top with tomato slices down center
- radishes on sides of tomatoes
- onions rings on top of tomatoes.
- and avocado slices on outside edge of plate.
- serve dressing on side.
CUBAN FLANK STEAK WITH AVOCADO AND TOMATO SALAD RECIPE - (4.5/5)
Provided by cndrela13
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Place all of the Mojo Sauce ingredients in a small food processor, or blender. I have a "Bullet" which I love and is perfect for making the mojo sauce. Place the flank steak in a zip lock bag or shallow dish. Add the sauce; l let marinate in refrigerator for 2 hour to overnight. Remove the flank steak from the marinade; place remaining marinade in saucepan. Let steak stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Grill the flank steak to your desired doneness. As you can see from the picture, we like ours on the rare side. Let the cooked steak stand for 10 minutes before thinly slicing across the grain. Bring the marinade in the saucepan to a boil. Let it cook for several minutes; it will begin to thicken. Place the avocado, tomato and onion into a bowl. Add the heated mojo sauce to the salad. Serve on the side of the steak, or on top. Your preference.
CUBAN ORANGE BLACK BEAN SALAD
Steps:
- Add beans, orange zest, juice, and sugar stirring to dissolve sugar. Season with salt and pepper, cook for 4 minutes. Add orange pieces and stir to recombine. Cut remaining oranges into rounds and cut away the rinds. Serve beans on orange slices
CUBAN BEAN SALAD
Categories Salad Bean Side No-Cook Quick & Easy High Fiber
Yield 10-12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 15
Steps:
- Mix dressing ingredients, olive oil, cilantro, lemon juice, vinegar, cumin, jalapeno, and oregano in a large bowl. Add remaining salad ingredients to bowl and stir well. cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
CUBAN RANCH SHRIMP SALAD #RSC
Ready, Set, Cook! Hidden Valley Contest Entry. This tropical Cuban twist on deep fried shrimp will have you transported to the aromas of a hot Havana Night....The savoury Ranch flavours married to the sweet coconut create a gastronomic delicacy that is truly special.
Provided by miamimamas
Categories Weeknight
Time 30m
Yield 7 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- 1. Combine dry ingredients of bread crumbs and grated coconut in a medium size bowl and set aside.
- 2. Beat two eggs inn a small bowl and set aside.
- 3. Pour Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix into small bowl.
- 4. Devein the shrimp.
- 5. Now starts the assembly line: For each shrimp, dip them into the egg wash, then into the Hidden Valley Ranch mix. Then dip again into the egg wash.
- 6. Finally coat the shrimp in the bread crumb mixture.
- 7. Heat Cooking oil and only deep fry the shrimp when the oil is quite hot until golden brown.
- 8. Combine greek yogurt, chives and a splash of lemon juice.
- 9. Serve the shrimp standing in a large dollop of yogurt mixture.
- garnish with avocado or lemon slices.
CUBAN CUCUMBER SALAD
Make and share this Cuban Cucumber Salad recipe from Food.com.
Provided by michellebsalazar
Categories Cuban
Time 1h
Yield 4-6 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 5
Steps:
- Slice cucumbers lengthwise and remove seeds. Slice each half into 1/2 inches pieces. Place them into bowl and sprinkle on salt. Toss gently and let sit for 30 minute Drain well.
- Place Cucumbers into a serving bowl and add chilis, lime juice, and garlic. Toss well. Cover and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour. Serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 28.4, Fat 0.2, SaturatedFat 0.1, Sodium 585.5, Carbohydrate 6.8, Fiber 0.9, Sugar 3.1, Protein 1.2
Tips:
- Use ripe, in-season tomatoes: This will ensure the best flavor and texture for your salad.
- Choose a good quality olive oil: This is the base of your dressing, so it's important to use a good one. Look for an extra virgin olive oil from a reputable brand.
- Don't overdress the salad: A light dressing is all you need to enhance the flavors of the salad, not overpower them.
- Add some fresh herbs: Fresh herbs like cilantro, parsley, or oregano will add a pop of flavor and color to your salad.
- Serve the salad immediately: Cuban salad is best enjoyed fresh, so serve it as soon as it's made.
Conclusion:
Cuban salad is a delicious and refreshing side dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own taste preferences. With its vibrant colors and bold flavors, Cuban salad is sure to be a hit at your next gathering. So next time you are looking for a quick and easy salad recipe, give Cuban salad a try. You won't be disappointed!
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