Cuba The Cookbook by Madelaine Vazquez Galvez and Imogene Tondre

Influenced by Spanish, Caribbean and many other cultures, Cuban cuisine is a melting pot of flavors. It has often been characterized as peasant food due to the rationing system and widespread poverty. These obstacles, however, haven’t stopped the people of this beautiful island from creating delicious food to feed their families. 

Over the last few years, there has been an increased interest in all things Cuban. Recently, during a brief window, it was not such an arduous task to travel to this once forbidden locale. Photographs that depict an island lost in time with vintage cars, a 50’s vibe and colorful landscape ignited our passion to explore. Over the last few years, there has also been an increase in the number of incredible cookbooks on Cuban cuisine.

The latest, Cuba: The Cookbook by Madelaine Vazquez Galvez and Imogene Tondre, shares 350 recipes for home cooks that reflect Cuba’s multi-layered culinary history. The book is organized by course, provides the origins of the recipes and explains Cuban ingredients and what to use to substitute those ingredients you may not be able to procure.

Beautifully photographed with shots of the shorelines, the multi-colored buildings that line narrow streets and simple, approachable dishes, make this one of my favorite Phaidon titles. For a look inside please check out our   that features these recipes in our :

Please remember Eat Your Book members receive 30% off Phaidon titles when using the link provided. Special thanks to the publisher for supplying the materials for our preview as well as providing two copies of this title in our contest below.

The publisher is offering two copies of this book to EYB Members in the US, CA, UK, and AU.  One of the entry options is to answer the following question in the comments section of this blog post.

Which recipe in the index would you try first?

Please note that you must be logged into the Rafflecopter contest before posting or your entry won’t be counted. For more information on this process, please see our step-by-step help post. Be sure to check your spam filters to receive our email notifications. Prizes can take up to 6 weeks to arrive from the publishers. If you are not already a Member, you can join at no cost. The contest ends at midnight on August 17th, 2018.

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106 Comments

  • size_27  on  June 29, 2018

    Salt cod fritters / Frituras de bacalao

  • jdub1371  on  June 29, 2018

    Ground beef & Capers

  • LSanders  on  June 29, 2018

    Ropa viejo

  • Kristjudy  on  June 29, 2018

    Salt cod fritters

  • vickster  on  June 29, 2018

    Fish in Red Sauce

  • Asparagusberry  on  June 29, 2018

    Salt cod fritters for sure!

  • cora429  on  June 29, 2018

    Ropa vieja! It's a classic.

  • sgump  on  June 29, 2018

    Wow–what a collection! I'm intrigued by the Cuban eggplant.

  • sarahawker  on  June 29, 2018

    Savory corn fritters

  • desdemona246  on  June 29, 2018

    Cuban Eggplant. I entered the wrong ID and can't go back and change it on the entry.

  • jigglesfrog  on  June 29, 2018

    Corn arepas (Arepas de maíz)

  • janv  on  June 29, 2018

    Fish in red sauce

  • debgonewest  on  June 29, 2018

    Salt cod fritters

  • ktwalla  on  June 29, 2018

    Port of Prince Cocktail

  • matag  on  June 29, 2018

    Cuban fried rice

  • amyz218  on  June 29, 2018

    Goat in Red Sauce

  • eatysmith  on  June 29, 2018

    "Which recipe in the index would you like to try first?" Fresh fruit cocktail (Cóctel de frutas naturales)!

  • MiMi60  on  June 29, 2018

    Spiced fish (Pescado sobre uso) (page 168)

  • parnassus  on  June 29, 2018

    pollo relleno con tamal

  • Kimmaicutler  on  June 29, 2018

    Ropa vieja!

  • heyjude  on  June 30, 2018

    Lobster Cocktail

  • Magicmelissa  on  June 30, 2018

    Chicken cocktail

  • fluffysammy  on  June 30, 2018

    Stuffed fried Plaintain sounds so yummy

  • Zosia  on  June 30, 2018

    Pineapple chicken thighs

  • LaurenE  on  June 30, 2018

    Ropa viejo

  • jifar  on  June 30, 2018

    The stuffed arepas

  • antpantsii  on  June 30, 2018

    Shredded Pork

  • mpdeb98  on  June 30, 2018

    Queen-style chicken supreme

  • NikNik23  on  June 30, 2018

    I want to try Chicken cocktail.

  • sunset34  on  July 1, 2018

    Cuban fried rice

  • lapsapchung  on  July 1, 2018

    Onion soup (Sopa de cebolla) – I love variations of onion soup (and tomato soup) from all over the world and am always keen to try a new one

  • Dannausc  on  July 1, 2018

    Pumpkin fritters

  • Senkimekia  on  July 1, 2018

    Ropa vieja

  • riley  on  July 1, 2018

    Huevos Escalfados

  • Siegal  on  July 1, 2018

    I want to make taro root fritters

  • blazin  on  July 1, 2018

    Taro root and sesame fritters (Frituras de malanga y ajonjolí)

  • lselke  on  July 1, 2018

    Platanos rellenos. I love plantain and this sounds like an appealing variation.

  • tcjanes  on  July 1, 2018

    Havana-style chicken stew.

  • EmilyR  on  July 1, 2018

    Stuffed arepas (Arepas rellenas)

  • linby  on  July 2, 2018

    Cuban fried rice

  • dbielick  on  July 2, 2018

    Cuban paella

  • kmn4  on  July 2, 2018

    Salt cod fritters (Frituras de bacalao)

  • koolMoD  on  July 2, 2018

    Seafood tamale (Tamal a la marinera)!!!

  • Scotsman61  on  July 2, 2018

    Savory corn fritters

  • ravensfan  on  July 3, 2018

    Shrimp cocktail (Cóctel de camarones)

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Fish and parsley croquettes (Croquetas de pescado al perejil)

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Rice and pork (Arroz con cerdo)

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Crab empanadas (Empanadas de cangrejo) [Luis Pous]

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Rice with chicken and vegetables (Arroz con pollo y vegetales)

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Havana-style chicken stew (Pollo guisado a la Habanera) (page 190)

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Cuban paella (Paella a la Cubana) (page 130)

  • SallyCristina  on  July 4, 2018

    Galician soup (Sopa Gallego) (page 82)

  • ladybrooke  on  July 4, 2018

    I'd make the Egg and vegetable scramble (Pisto a la Cubana) first.

  • Nkrieda78  on  July 5, 2018

    I would make the Stuffed Arepas first!

  • poppym  on  July 5, 2018

    Ropa Vieja! Definitely the first.

  • jmay42066  on  July 6, 2018

    Rice and pork (Arroz con cerdo)

  • debbiehb  on  July 8, 2018

    Green split pea soup (Potaje de chícharos)

  • mcconnell106  on  July 8, 2018

    ropa vieja

  • monasli  on  July 9, 2018

    Orange chicken thighs

  • ameliark  on  July 10, 2018

    I like the sound of Imperial rice with chicken (Arroz imperial con pollo)

  • Lmocooks  on  July 11, 2018

    Potatoes with cheese and Cuban oregano

  • lauriesk  on  July 11, 2018

    The first recipe I would try is the garlic chicken.

  • Ishtar  on  July 12, 2018

    Cuban turnovers

  • lisambb  on  July 14, 2018

    Ropa vieja

  • Whyvette  on  July 14, 2018

    Ropa vieja is one of my favorite dishes. Will enjoy making it.

  • Julia  on  July 14, 2018

    Black eye pea fritters and Tamale casserole.

  • irinastiles  on  July 14, 2018

    Ropa vieja

  • lgroom  on  July 15, 2018

    Ropa vieja

  • Curlyfatkins  on  July 15, 2018

    Elbow macaroni with chicken (Coditos con pollo)

  • HomespunHouse  on  July 15, 2018

    Pumpkin fritters

  • hpadvantag  on  July 16, 2018

    Fish stew recipe sounds good!

  • jennifersbrown  on  July 16, 2018

    Growing up in Miami, I used to love going to Versailles for the ropa vieja, so that's definitely what I would try making first.

  • PeavineBlues  on  July 16, 2018

    Pernil o pierna asada

  • tararr  on  July 17, 2018

    Goat in red sauce

  • Sfgordon  on  July 17, 2018

    arroz con platano maduro!

  • kennethjohngilmour  on  July 17, 2018

    Savory corn fritters (Frituras de maíz saladas)

  • Katiefayhutson  on  July 17, 2018

    Cuban paella

  • fbrunetti  on  July 18, 2018

    Fish and parsley croquettes

  • artthecat  on  July 18, 2018

    Savory corn fritters

  • circ2000  on  July 18, 2018

    Ropa vieja…

  • sequoia55  on  July 19, 2018

    Havana-style chicken stew.

  • mduncan  on  July 19, 2018

    Green split peas and vegetables

  • RNJessicaK  on  July 20, 2018

    Crab Empanadas & Cheese Fritters

  • jezpurr  on  July 21, 2018

    Pumpkin fritters!!!^_^

  • lindaeatsherbooks  on  July 22, 2018

    Taro root and sesame fritters (Frituras de malanga y ajonjolí)

  • katehenderson  on  July 23, 2018

    Sweet Potato Gnocchi!

  • jd5761  on  July 25, 2018

    Savoury corn fritters for me

  • VeryVigario  on  July 25, 2018

    Cuban paella

  • lpatterson412  on  July 26, 2018

    Stuffed Crepes!!

  • starzine  on  July 31, 2018

    Corn arepas.

  • Sheli  on  August 1, 2018

    Ooh, I love Masas de cerdo fritas and I've never made it. That's first!

  • ixoye2u  on  August 1, 2018

    Ropa Vieja

  • beetangsurat  on  August 1, 2018

    I love taro so want to try making the taro root fritters.

  • ebs  on  August 1, 2018

    Pumpkin fritters

  • Coffeebean  on  August 3, 2018

    Cuban fried rice

  • t.t  on  August 4, 2018

    Fried green plantains (Tostones / Chatinos)

  • banba1  on  August 4, 2018

    I'd try the Drunken chicken thighs!

  • Radley  on  August 6, 2018

    Cheese fritters sounds yummi

  • mph993  on  August 10, 2018

    Yuca with Cuban carnitas (Tapas de manioca cubierta con carnitas Cubana) [Acela Matamoros Traba] – love bitter orange

  • rachael_mc  on  August 11, 2018

    Bread with suckling pig (Pan con lechón)

  • Steben  on  August 11, 2018

    Las Tunas-style stew (Caldosa Tunera)

  • orchidlady01  on  August 11, 2018

    Cuban paella (Paella a la Cubana)

  • mayastonecastle  on  August 12, 2018

    Cuban sandwich

  • kedmiston  on  August 12, 2018

    Tamale casserole.

  • auntietina  on  August 14, 2018

    Corn and cream cheese soup. It sounds so simple but I bet it's delicious.

  • NaomiH  on  August 15, 2018

    Corn stew with pork (Guiso de maíz con cerdo)

Seen anything interesting? Let us know & we'll share it!