Matzo Balls to Maduros: Reinventing my Cuban and Jewish Family Recipes for the Instant Pot
I came upon this recipe years ago when I was trying to get more veggies into my family's diet. I had never thought about roasting vegetables like broccoli until I had it once at a restaurant and was shocked at how great it was. The slight char on the broccoli and the crispy caramelized garlic… Continue reading Instant Vortex Plus/Omni Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Broccoli
Some form of broth is used in cuisines from just about every culture around the world. In my family recipes I use broth or stock in everything from my Matzo Ball soup to my Chili. Usually the original recipes use cubitos (bouillon cubes) or store bought broth. I still like to use cubitos when I… Continue reading Instant Pot Vegetable Broth from Scraps
Rule of thumb for Cuban food....the crazier the name, the more delicious the dish. Ropa Vieja (Old Clothes), delicious! Fufu (mashed plantains), fabulous! Rabo Encendido (Flaming Tail), heavenly! But my very favorite side dish not only has an insane name, but is probably one of the staples of Cuban cuisine. Moros y Cristianos which literally… Continue reading Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans and Rice (Moros y Cristianos)
When I thought about what recipe I should start this blog with, it took me less than 2 seconds to come up with my grandmother's Matzo Ball Soup. It started off every meal during the Jewish High Holidays. It kicked off family Thanksgiving dinner. My grandmother even kept a stash of matzo ball soup in… Continue reading IP Matzo Ball Soup
One trick to help you determine if a Cuban restaurant you are eating at is authentic is to look at their side dishes. If their menu doesn't include Yucca con Mojo, walk out! Yucca, also known as cassava, is the Cuban equivalent to the potato. It can be prepared in lots of different ways and… Continue reading Instant Pot Yucca with Mojo (Cassava with Olive Oil, Onion, and Garlic Sauce)
My favorite part about writing this blog is definitely sharing my family's recipes and learning about the history and experiences behind the dishes I make. As I have gone along I have gotten family members interested in cooking more and sharing with me their recipes and stories and even gotten a few of them to… Continue reading Instant Pot Cuban Style Split Pea Soup (Potaje de ChÃcharo)
Arroz con Pollo, or Chicken with Rice, is a common dish among most Spanish speaking cultures. Obviously all of them include rice and chicken, after that, the variations are endless. It really is a versatile dish and once you have the flavorful base down, you can add really anything you want from peas to asparagus… Continue reading Instant Pot Cuban Chicken and Rice (Arroz con Pollo)
The great thing about the Instant Pot is that for procrastinators like me, you can get the same flavor of traditional frijoles negros (black beans) without having to remember to soak them overnight and cook them all day. I mean seriously.....I ain't got time for that! This recipe is a mash up of my families… Continue reading Instant Pot Cuban Black Beans