APPETIZERS

fried rice balls with arroz con pollo

Fried Rice Balls Made With Cuban Arroz Con Pollo Is A Great Way To Use Leftovers

Leave a Comment / APPETIZERS, CUBAN, RICE DISHES / ,

Fried rice balls are not usually a Cuban thing, but they are a delicious Cuban appetizer when you make them with arroz con pollo.  These are essentially arroz con pollo fritters, so it’s surprising that it’s not a Cuban thing because we make fritters from just about anything, and we have so many rice dishes. 

I first got the idea to make these from Finka Table and Tap, a local restaurant serving Latin fusion food in Miami. They have these on their menu and I just loved them so much I couldn’t wait to try them at home. My mom tried these and loved them too, so they have the Cuban seal of approval.

These rice balls are a perfect way to turn leftover Cuban chicken and rice into great tapas. And I gotta say I so love a tapas party made with leftovers… like picadillo empanadas or ropa vieja sandwich and now these arroz con pollo fritters. 

fried rice balls with arroz con pollo

How To Make Rice Balls

My son tells me that these fried rice balls are an Italian appetizer known as arancini, made with leftover risotto. My Cuban arroz con pollo a la chorrera that I made a few days ago uses a short grain rice very similar to risotto. So I can use my arroz con pollo to make a similar rice ball. The sticky rice keeps its shape nicely. But the recipe won’t work as well with long grain rice. 

Ingredients for the fried rice balls:

  • 2 cups leftover Cuban arroz con pollo a la chorrera
  • ¾ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup sifted all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup panko break crumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • Vegetable oil for frying

I took a ¼ cup of rice and shaped into a patty, added about a tablespoon of shredded cheese to the center and shaped into a tight ball. I tried making these with cubes of mozzarella, but the cheese didn’t melt enough when you cooked it. So, I used the shredded cheese. It can get a bit messy stuffing the balls with the shredded cheese, but it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just make a nice, tight rice ball and then freeze for about ten minutes so they’ll hold their shape while you’re frying. 

Then take them out of the freezer, dredge them through flour, dip them in beaten eggs and coat with panko breadcrumbs. You can stick them in the freezer while you heat up the vegetable. Also, fry these on high heat, since they don’t need to be cooked through. This way, the rice balls don’t fall apart. I fried them for about two minutes per side on medium-high heat. 

Rice Balls Recipe

It’s that easy! I like to serve mine with a little siracha mayo. You can buy this ready-made or easily make your own with about a third-cup of mayo and a teaspoon of sriracha sauce. It’s a perfect sauce for these fried rice balls!

You can also make these fried rice balls with leftover paella rice or risotto. And you can stuff them with other types of cheese. Experiment with whatever you have on hand. Add a little wine and you’ve got a tapas night!

Try making my Cuban arroz con pollo or paella mixta first and then make the rice balls with the leftovers. Tell me how you like them!

bean train food for thought

I love cooking with leftovers because it can be fun finding creative ways to turn the week’s leftovers into party food. It’s like recycling… it’s good for us and good for the environment. 

But I almost threw this rice away and missed my chance to make the fried rice balls. I had made a delicious arroz con pollo a few nights ago and had just a bit left, not enough for another night. So it was off to the trash. But then I remembered the arroz con pollo fritters I had at Finka Table & Tap and my leftover rice became this amazing appetizer. 

The reason I share this story is because we tend to throw away things that can have a second life, and I’m not just talking about food. Sometimes it’s a part of ourselves or our past. But our past can be recycled. Even our pain can be put to good use in helping someone else. God has taught me that in His economy, nothing is wasted. So I’m always looking for ways to turn ashes into beauty… and leftovers into Cuban appetizers. 

I encourage you to find ways to recycle and find the beauty even in used things. 

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Rice Balls Recipe

Fried Rice Balls Made With Cuban Arroz Con Pollo Is A Great Way To Use Leftovers

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 17 minutes
  • Yield: 9 balls 1x
  • Category: appetizers
  • Method: frying
  • Cuisine: Cuban
Print Recipe

Description

Fried rice balls made with Cuban arroz con pollo are a fun way to turn leftover rice into a Cuban tapas party!

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups arroz con pollo a la chorrera

3/4 cups shredded mozzarella

1 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/2 cup sifted all-purpose flour

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Optional:

Sriracha mayo (1/3 cup mayo with 1 teaspoon sriracha)

Instructions

Prep:

  • Pulse the panko breadcrumbs to make the crumbs just a bit smaller (or stick in a ziplock bag and crush for a bit)
  • Take 1/4 cup of rice and shape into a patty. Add 1 tablespoon shredded mozzarella to the center and shape into a tight ball. 
  • Place rice balls in the freezer for ten minutes
  • Dredge the rice balls through flour, dip in beaten egg and coat in panko bread crumbs. 
  • Stick the rice balls in the freezer while you heat the oil for frying

Cook:

  • Heat two cups vegetable oil for frying over medium heat
  • Test the oil by throwing in a bit of panko to see if it’s sizzling  hot
  • Once it’s sizzling, add the rice balls a few at time so you don’t crowd them
  • Fry the rice balls for two minutes on each side
  • Drain on paper towels

Serve with sriracha mayo.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 ball

Keywords: Rice Balls Recipe, How to make rice balls, fried rice balls, cuban chicken and rice, arroz con pollo, cuban arroz con pollo, stuffed rice balls, arancini rice balls

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pork sliders

Pan Con Lechon Is One Of The Best Leftover Pork Roast Recipes

Leave a Comment / APPETIZERS, CUBAN, DINNER /

Pan con lechon is the BEST way to use leftover Cuban roast pork. But pan con lechon does not play second fiddle to Cuban roast pork. It’s a popular Cuban dish in its own right, and you’ll find it on the menu in all Cuban restaurants. You’ll often see it served at Cuban parties, too. I love to make pork sliders with my leftover pork. Also, I have a thing about tapas and mini sandwiches. 🥪😍

Cuban Roast Pork

Cuban Roast Pork With Mojo 

The star of pan con lechon is Cuban roast pork. Bone-in pork shoulder is marinated with mojo overnight and then slowly roasted for hours until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, and the skin is crispy and worth fighting over (let’s get some crackling!!). This dish is also known as lechon asado, and it’s served with congri and yuca. 

You always make enough roast pork for leftovers. This is a cardinal rule. You can even skip the rice and yuca and go straight to making pan con lechon. That’s a popular dish for parties. 

pan con lechon

Pan Con Lechon Time!

Cuban roast pork is usually served for Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) or other celebrations. So, the day after, no one wants to spend quality time in their kitchen, unless it’s for eating. That’s why Pan con lechon is perfect, because it’s quick and easy to make with the leftovers. It’s so, so good! It’s the best leftover pork roast recipe you’ll ever make. Seriously. I know Cubans exaggerate it, but not this time, I promise.

You can make this with any leftover roast pork, it doesn’t have to be Cuban, although I’m partial. What makes this dish taste so good is that the leftover pork is chopped and seared in the skillet and then finished with extra mojo sauce and sautéed onions. Mojo is a marinade and finishing sauce made with sour oranges and lots of garlic. If you can’t find sour oranges, you can use half lime and half orange juice to make it. 

Lechon asado

Another thing I love about this dish is that it doesn’t require a recipe, you can throw the stuff together, and the amount of mojo and onions you used is to taste. But don’t worry… I got a recipe for ya, to make it easy. 😉

The pan in pan con lechon is Cuban bread. If you can’t find it, you can use sub rolls.  Or, you can serve it on slider buns as I did for this post. Chances are you’re still in party mode anyway. 💃🕺

The best part is everyone gathering in the kitchen to hang out, making jokes, and teasing each other. Cubans love to tease each other!

pan con lechon with yuca fries

Yuca Fries 

How can pan con lechon be even better? Pair it with a side of yuca fries made with leftover yuca with mojo. This Cuban combo is classic! If you’ve never had fried yuca, think of them as a crunchier and creamier version of regular fries. Yuca is a dense and starchy root vegetable that’s boiled and served with mojo and onions, usually with roast pork. The leftover yuca is then cut into planks, fried, and served with pan con lechon on Day 2.

Try making the traditional Christmas Eve (Noche Buena) meal of Cuban roast pork, yuca with mojo, and congri. Then enjoy pan con lechon and yuca fries the next day… and the next day, too!

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pan con lechon

Pan Con Lechon Is One Of The Best Leftover Pork Roast Recipes

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 9 slider buns 1x
  • Category: appetizers
  • Method: stovetop
  • Cuisine: cuban
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Description

Pan con lechon is made with leftover pork roast sautéed in a pan with mojo sauce and onions and served on Cuban bread. It’s great as pork sliders for appetizers or pan con lechon sandwiches for lunch. Yum!

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb leftover Cuban Roast Pork, roughly chopped or shredded (see note)

1 yellow or white onion, thinly sliced

4 sour oranges (see note)

2 large garlic cloves, crushed

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 loaf Cuban Bread (see note)

Dash of cumin and oregano (totally optional, but I like it)

Olive Oil

Instructions

Roughly chop the pork leftovers and squeeze the sour oranges to get about a half cup of juice. If you can’t find sour oranges, use 1/4 cup each of fresh squeezed lime juice and orange juice.

Heat a skillet (cast iron is preferred) over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the skillet and sauté the pork until cooked through and crispy on the ends. The best way to do this is to let the pork cook for a few minutes on one side and then turn the pieces over and let the other side crisp up a bit. The amount of crispy edges is a matter of taste so cook more or less to get the desired texture. Remove from skillet, leaving the drippings. 

Add enough olive oil to coat the skillet and add the onions and garlic and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the heat and add the sour orange juice and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add a dash of cumin and oregano, if you like. (Mami doesn’t but she’s not watching!)

Heap the pork on the bread and top with the mojo and onions sauce. 

 

Notes

If you don’t have Cuban roast pork, you can use any leftover roast pork you have on hand.

Sour oranges can be found at Latin markets. But if you can’t find them, substitute with equal parts fresh squeezed lime juice and orange juice. Do not use lemons, though. You want that limey punch! If you do find the sour oranges, I’m having you get a few extras because they don’t always have enough juice (the juice yield can be a bit hit or miss.) If they’re juicy you won’t need to use all four.

Cuban bread can be found at Latin markets. But if you can’t find it, you can substitute sub rolls or slider buns. 

The yield is all going to depend on what type of bread you use. But if you use slider buns, I add just under two ounces of pork to each. So you could make nine slider buns or four pork sandwiches. Of course, you may have more than 1 pound of meat. In that case, make a little more mojo and onions and invite me over!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slider bun

Keywords: Pan con lechon, roast pork sandwich, leftover pork roast recipes, pork sliders, Cuban roast pork, yuca fries

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Yuca Fries

Cuban Yuca Two Ways: Yuca With Mojo and Yuca Fries

Leave a Comment / APPETIZERS, CUBAN, SIDE DISHES, VEGETARIAN /

Yuca with mojo or yuca fries are great side dishes to serve with Cuban roast pork. In fact, yuca is preferred over the usual fried plantains. As much as we love our fried maduros and tostones, yuca and roast pork are a Cuban power couple. The traditional Cuban dish we serve for the holidays consists of Cuban roast pork, yuca con mojo, and congri rice. And, of course, we have to make enough for pork sandwiches and yuca fries the next day!

Yuca With Mojo

What is Yuca

Good question! Yuca is a root vegetable that is denser and starchier than potatoes and is served boiled and smothered with mojo and onions. It has a very mild taste that absorbs all the garlicky goodness of the mojo, and the texture is creamy but firm. It’s quite a surprise when you first eat it! 

Although the texture and taste are good, what makes this dish so praiseworthy is the mojo, which consists of sour oranges, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper, and sauteed onions. When I say the yuca is smothered, I do mean smothered! In fact, I always serve a side of mojo so you can have extra!

Cuban Yuca

Yuca is a very long vegetable, and it has a thick bark-like skin. So you need to make sure you remove the top layer that’s dark brown and the second layer that’s light pink. In fact, the best way to peel the yuca is to cut a slit lengthwise and then start to peel off the skin, similar to how you would a bark. 

Cuban Yuca

It’s easier to remove the bark if you first cut the yuca into four-inch pieces lengthwise. Once the bark is removed, split each yuca piece in half or thirds. You’ll notice there’s a tough string-like piece in the center. You’ll want to remove that because it’s too tough to eat. The easiest way to remove it is after you boil the yuca. So boil the yuca until tender and remove the thick string-like center.

If you can’t find fresh yuca in the produce section, you may be able to find frozen yuca chunks ready to cook.

Cuban Roast Pork

How To Make Mojo Sauce

This is a versatile sauce that’s also used as a marinade. When you use it as a marinade you omit the onions and add a little cumin and oregano. Mojo is easy to make, and it packs such a nice citrusy punch!

To make the mojo sauce for the yuca, sauté sliced onions and crushed garlic in olive oil until the onions are softened. Then add fresh-squeezed sour orange juice at the end. If you can’t find sour oranges, you can use a combination of equal parts fresh-squeezed lime juice and orange juice. Add some salt and pepper and that’s it! You can play it pretty fast and loose with the ingredients and add as much or as little as you like to get it where you like it. You’ll find you’ll be using this sauce to top meat dishes and veggies all the time!

Yuca Fries

Make Yuca Fries With The Leftovers!

You always want to make a little extra yuca and mojo for the second day because you’ve got to make yuca fries. To make the yuca fries, slice the yuca pieces into planks that look somewhat similar to wedge fries but so much better, IMHO. When you fry the yuca, the outer skin gets super crunchy, and the inside gets creamy. This is the best way to enjoy your leftover yuca! If you want just go for the yuca fries, you’ll still need to boil the yuca and let it cool before you make the yuca fries.

Serve the yuca planks with mojo on top or on the side. Or, my favorite, serve it with a little lime-cilantro aioli. OMG! I want some right now🤤

A local fast food place in Miami called Pollo Tropical serves Yucatan fries (fried yuca), and they are the best. They also cut the yuca into tiny chunks to make the Cuban version of tater tots. So, yes, you can also cut the yuca into 1-inch pieces and make them tater tot style. If you live in Florida, you’re probably familiar with this chain. If not, stop by when you visit the state!

Want to try the yuca with the Cuban roast pork? Here’s the recipe for lechon asado. And, if you want to go for the full Cuban feast, make caramel flan for dessert, too.

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Yuca Fries

Cuban Yuca Two Ways: Yuca With Mojo and Yuca Fries

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 20
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 10 1x
  • Category: vegetable
  • Method: boil or fry
  • Cuisine: cuban
Print Recipe

Description

Yuca with mojo sauce is a great side dish for roast pork. This Cuban root vegetable is dense, creamy and is often eaten as yuca fries, too.

Ingredients

Scale

2–3 big yuca root vegetable (about 2 pounds)

1 sliced yellow onion

5–6 cloves minced garlic

¼ cup olive oil

Juice from 1–2 sour oranges, or to taste (see note)

Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

Boiled Yuca With Mojo

  • Heat a pot of salted water and bring to a boil. 
  • While the water heats up, slice the onions and mince the garlic.
  • Cut the yuca into 4 inch pieces and then half each piece. 
  • Peel the yuca skin (you need to remove both the dark outer skin and the pink layer underneath… see note).
  • Add the yuca to the boiling water and lower the heat to a simmer. Cook the yuca until fork tender (about 20 minutes or so).
  • Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat and cook the onions and garlic until the onions are softened but not browned.
  • Add the sour orange juice to taste.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Pour over boiled yuca. 

Yuca Fries

  • Cut the leftover boiled yuca pieces into wedges. (It’s best to cut while it’s cold.)
  • Heat 1-2 cups of vegetable oil in saucepan.
  • Fry the yuca wedges.
  • Remove from the heat and drain on paper towels.
  • Serve with leftover mojo sauce (or make some more, if you ate all if to the day before!). You can also serve the yuca with lime cilantro aioli. 

Notes

You should be able to find sour oranges in Latin markets. But if it’s not available, use a mixture that’s equal parts lime juice and orange juice. You’ll want roughly ¼ cup of juice.

If you can’t find the yuca in the produce section, you’ll probably find it in the freezer section.

The best way to peel the yuca is to cut the long yuca into 4 inch pieces. Then cut a slit into the thick bark-like skin. Peel back the bark as you would on a tree. This way, you’ll remove both the outer skin that’s dark brown as well as the inner layer that’s light pink. The pink layer is hard and is not appetizing. 

This recipe makes enough for about 6 servings of yuca and leftovers for about 3-4 servings the next day. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 10

Keywords: yuca, yuca fries, yuca with mojo, boiled yuca, yuca con mojo, yuca frita, yuca recipes, cuban yuca, fried yuca

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chicken croquettes

Chicken Croquettes Are A Super Popular Cuban Appetizer

2 Comments / APPETIZERS, CUBAN / , ,

Chicken croquettes are the bomb! (Or, as my kids would say… FIRE!) If I could only eat one Cuban appetizer for the rest of my life, I think I would have to go with chicken croquettes! Crunchy on the outside with a creamy chicken filling made with bechamel sauce, these hearty little darlings travel well, can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, or by the tray full at parties. Cubans wouldn’t know how to throw a party without these! 

chicken croquettes

Croquettes are an all-star Cuban appetizer. You’ll find them at every Cuban birthday party, baby shower, happy hour, or holiday gathering. And they come in so many flavors, including chicken, ham, fish, meat, or cheese. Today, we’re going to zero in on chicken croquettes because I had leftover chicken, and this chicken croquette recipe is the best way to use up the chicken. That’s the other thing about croquettes. They are a great way to use leftovers!

chicken croquettes

What Are Chicken Croquettes

Croquettes are made with minced, seasoned meat that’s incorporated into a bechamel sauce and then breaded and fried to make delectable tapas food. They are great by themselves, with saltine crackers or in a sandwich with lettuce and tomato. 

Known as croquetas in Spanish, these tasty appetizers are originally from French but became a tapas favorite in Spain. From there, they made their way to Cuba and the rest of the Latin American and Caribbean region. Chicken and Ham croquettes are very popular for parties because just about everyone likes these flavors. But you can find them in all kinds of flavors at Cuban bakeries and restaurants, including codfish and chorizo flavors. Or a combination of flavors like ham and Manchego cheese. 

chicken croquettes recipe

How to Make Croquetas de Pollo

The key component to making croquettes is the bechamel sauce. Once you’ve got that down, the rest is relatively easy. You need just a few basic ingredients:

  • Finely chopped or minced chicken
  • Finely diced onion
  • Butter
  • Crushed garlic
  • Flour
  • Milk
  • Nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper
  • Cooking wine
  • Parsley (optional)
  • Breadcrumbs and eggs for the coating
  • Frying Oil 

I usually make these croquettes with leftover rotisserie chicken, but you can use any chicken leftovers. If you don’t have leftovers, you can poach two chicken breasts until cooked through and let cool. If you’re using the leftover rotisserie, save the drippings to add the sauce, they are great for seasoning your chicken croquettes. Pulse the chicken meat in a food processor until finely minced, then set aside.

Heat the butter in the skillet and cook the onion and garlic until softened but not browned. Blend the milk, flour, nutmeg, salt, and pepper and add to the skillet. Cook until the sauce thickens. You should be able to run a spoon across the bottom of the pan and leave a path. Add the chicken, pan juices, and cooking wine and mix to combine. My mom likes to use Move the mix to a bowl and bring it to room temperature and then refrigerate overnight. You must give the mixture a chance to rest and chill. If the mix is not thoroughly chilled, the croquettes will burst open when you fry them. That’s no bueno.

The next step is the coating. Beat two eggs in a bowl and add 2 cups of cracker meal to another bowl. Take about 2 tablespoons of the chicken croquette mix and shape into a ball, then slightly flatten into an oval. Do this with all the mixture. Once you have the croquettes shaped, dip them in the egg and then the breadcrumbs and repeat the process. 

chicken croquettes

Once they are all coated, you can store the chicken croquettes until you’re ready to eat them, or you can fry them right away. I like to chill them for about an hour before I drop them in the frying oil. This way, there’s less of a chance of them bursting as you cook them. The bursting happens because the interior of the chicken croquette is already cooked. As the outside gets heated and cooked, the internal temperature rises. If it’s not cold enough, the inside can overheat and burst. Fry them in hot oil until they are golden on each side.

Croquettes are best when you eat them while they are still hot because the outside coating is crunchy. But they keep very well and can be eaten at room temperature or even heated up later. That’s what makes these tasty little Cuban appetizers such a crowd pleaser!

chicken croquettes

Want more Cuban appetizer recipes? Check out my Cuban Tapas Party recipes!

The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook

Looking for a Good Cuban Cookbook?

I love the The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook affiliate link! The recipes are very authentic and traditional, similar to what I grew up eating. They have several croquette recipes including ham and codfish croquettes, plus other popular Cuban recipes.

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chicken croquettes recipe

Chicken Croquettes Are A Super Popular Cuban Appetizer

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 15–18 1x
  • Category: appetizer
  • Method: frying
  • Cuisine: cuban
Print Recipe

Description

Chicken croquettes are crunchy on the outside with a creamy chicken filling made with bechamel sauce. They make a great snack or appetizer.

Ingredients

Scale

2 Cups Finely chopped or minced cooked rotisserie chicken (reserve pan drippings)

1/4 cup finely diced yellow onion

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon crushed garlic

3/4 cup flour

1 cup milk

Dash nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon cooking wine

1 tablespoon fresh minced parsley (optional)

Coating
2 eggs

2 cups cracker meal

2 cups vegetable oil

Instructions

Prep

Finely chop the onion and crush the garlic. Mince the parsley, if you’re using.

Pulse the chicken.

Blend the milk, flour and spices in the blender. 

Cook

Heat the butter in the skillet over medium heat and cook the onion and garlic until softened but not browned.

Add the milk mixture and cook until the sauce thickens. You should be able to run a spoon across the bottom of the pan and leave a path.

Add the chicken, pan juices, and cooking wine and mix to combine. Taste and adjust seasons as desired. I sometimes add a little salt or pepper, depending on the seasoning used in the rotisserie chicken.

Chill

Move the mix to a bowl and bring it to room temperature and then refrigerate overnight. 

Coat

Beat two eggs in a bowl and add 2 cups of cracker meal to another bowl. Take about 2 tablespoons of the chicken croquette mix and shape into a ball, then slightly flatten into an oval. Do this with all the mixture. Once you have the croquettes shaped, dip them in the egg and then the breadcrumbs and repeat the process. Chill the croquettes for an hour before frying. 

Fry

Heat the oil over medium heat and test with a bread crumb before dropping in the croquettes. Make sure to fully coat the croquettes with the oil and fry until golden on each side. Gently turn them to keep them from bursting. Fry them in small batches so you don’t crowd them. It takes about 6 minutes too fry each batch. Drain on paper towels to cool a bit and then devour!

Notes

You must give the mixture a chance to rest and chill. If the mix is not thoroughly chilled, the croquettes will burst open when you fry them. 

You can also freeze at this point. They freeze well and can be kept in a ziplock bag or container for up to 6 months. You can fry them frozen, too. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 croquettes

Keywords: Chicken Croquettes, Chicken Croquettes Recipe, How to Make Chicken Croquettes, Cuban Appetizers, Cuban Appetizers, What are chicken Croquettes, croquettes, croquetas, croquetas de pollo

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double crust chicken pot pie

Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie Cuban Style Is The Best

Leave a Comment / APPETIZERS, CUBAN, DINNER / ,

This double crust chicken pot pie is like no other you’ve tasted! Instead of a cream-based filling, it has a tomato base with raisins and olives. This is a Cuban version of chicken pot pie called pastelón de pollo. You can usually find pastelón de pollo at Cuban bakeries and some Cuban restaurants. In fact, this Cuban recipe is from the famous Versailles Restaurant on Calle Ocho in Little Havana. 

Why is the Versailles Restaurant so famous? Because it’s where every politician courting the Cuban vote goes to have their photo op! It’s also where Cubans gather whenever anything happens. Of course, it’s not the only place, but certainly one of the most popular restaurants for Cubans to hang out.

The restaurant is a Cuban landmark, established in 1971 in Little Havana and still thriving today. I love to go there whenever I’m in the neighborhood. The Cuban food is delicious and feels so much like home. ?

I recently gifted myself a copy of The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook, and this chicken pot pie is one of the Cuban recipes that really caught my eye. While I love pastelón de pollo, it’s not something I had ever made at home. So, of course, I had to give this recipe a try!

What Makes This Chicken Pot Pie So Good

This pie is packed with chicken, and it’s very savory! American-style chicken pot pie is like a chunky, creamy soup in a pastry. This double-crust chicken pot pie is not soupy at all. It’s more of a meat pie. It tastes a lot like chicken fricassee, which is a fantastic Cuban chicken stew. And just like the stew, it’s so delicious the second day!

Ingredients For This Double-Crust Chicken Pot Pie

The ingredients for this Cuban chicken pot pie are very simple. You need:

  • Chicken Breast
  • Onions, Peppers, Garlic
  • Tomato Sauce
  • Raisins and Olives
  • Cooking Wine 
  • Oregano, Bay Leaf, and Cumin
  • Refrigerated Pie Crust

Except for the pie crust, these are the usual ingredients you find in most Cuban dishes. While this double-crust chicken pot pie recipe calls for chicken breast, I would prefer it with a mix of chicken thighs and breasts. I find chicken breast to be a bit dry. But I have to say the final dish, made with the chicken breast, was very moist and flavorful. The reason for this is that you cook the chicken in the delicious sauce for forty-five minutes before you bake it in the oven. 

This chicken pot pie would be a good potluck dish to make for your next get together. It can served as an appetizer or a main dish. It’s good at room temperature too. I sometimes even eat it cold, but that’s just me. My kids think I’m weird that way.?

A Word About The Crust In this Chicken Pot Pie

My one beef about this recipe is that it calls for refrigerated pie crust. But traditional pastelón de pollo uses a different type of dough. Unfortunately, the Versailles Restaurant Cookbook did not provide their dough recipe. They explained that the process was too labor-intensive for a home kitchen. So, while it was good with the refrigerated crust, it would have been even better with the traditional crust. Perhaps The Versailles Restaurant didn’t want to part with their secret recipe? I’ll forgive them for that since the recipe they did provide was so tasty!

The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook

What are some other recipes to try from this cookbook?

I love the The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook! The recipes are very authentic and traditional, similar to what I grew up eating. Their ropa vieja, picadillo, and chicken fricassee were just like my mom used to make. 

The cookbook had a comprehensive mix of appetizers, soups, main dishes, and desserts and covers most Cuban menu items. If you’re looking for an all-around good Cuban cookbook, I highly recommend this one! Some popular Cuban recipes to try include croquettes, which come in ham, chicken, and codfish varieties. And you’ve got to try the desserts! They, of course, have all the traditional Cuban desserts like flan, arroz con leche and bread pudding. But another one that’s worth the effort is the tres leches. Yup, you can expect a few more Versailles recipes soon, including the tres leches!

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cuban chicken pot pie

Double Crust Chicken Pot Pie Cuban Style Is The Best

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 hours
  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: dinner
  • Method: baking
  • Cuisine: Cuban
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Description

This double crust chicken pot pie is like no other you’ve tasted! Instead of a cream-based filling, it has a tomato base with raisins and olives. This is a Cuban version of chicken pot pie called pastelón de pollo.

Ingredients

Scale

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup chopped yellow onion

4 garlic cloves finely minced

½ cup chopped red bell pepper

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

½ teaspoon dried oregano

½ teaspoon ground cumin

1 ½ teaspoons salt, or to taste

1 whole skinless, boneless chicken breast (about 1 ½ – 2 pounds), coarsely chopped

¾ cups tomato puree

¼ cup cooking wine

¼ cup golden raisins

¼ cup chopped green olives

2 refrigerated pie crust

1 beaten egg with 2 teaspoons sugar (sugar is optional, but it adds a bit of sweetness to the crust)

Instructions

Prep

Chop the chicken breast and set aside.

Chop the onion and pepper and mince or crush the garlic cloves. 

Cook:

Heat ¼ cup of olive oil in a pan and sauté the onion, garlic and pepper until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the spices and half the salt and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken and cook about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Add the wine, tomato puree, raisins, and olives. Add the remaining salt, if needed. Reduce heat, cover and cook for about 1 ½ hours.

While the chicken is cooking, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a pie pan and place one of the pie dough discs in the pan and gently mold. The recipe calls for trimming the pie crust to fit the pie pan, but I found that some of the dough shrinks a bit, so I did not trim. With the tines of a fork, poke a few holes on the bottom and sides of the pie dough. Bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool.

Once the chicken mixture is done, let it come to room temperature. Mash any large bits of chicken with the back of a spoon to make sure all the pieces are very small. 

You can also make the chicken mix the day before. If you decide to make the chicken the day before, don’t precook the bottom dough until you’re ready to bake the chicken pot pie. 

Bake:

Preheat the oven to 350. Place the cooled chicken mixture in the pie plate and cover with the second pie dough. The recipe calls for folding the edges down and over the bottom dough, but you can crimp the edges the way you would a regular pie, if that’s easier. 

The recipe calls for baking for about 20 – 25 minutes, but I ended needing to cook the dough for about Bake in the oven for about 35 minutes to get the crust golden. And I use a gas oven.

Once you take it out of the oven, let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. May be served hot or at room temperature. 

 

 

 

Equipment

Notes

This recipe makes 6-8 lunch or dinner portions or 16 appetizer portions. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice

Keywords: chicken pot pie, double-crust chicken pot pie, chicken pot pie with pie crust, chicken pot pie recipe, chicken pie, dairy free chicken pot pie, best chicken pot pie, pastelon de pollo

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Malanga Fritters

Malanga Fritters (Frituras de Malanga) Have Such A Great CRUNCH!

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What I love the most about malanga fritters is the CRUNCH! Frituras de malanga, as they are called in Spanish, are a super crunchy Cuban appetizer that’s quick and easy to make. My daughter and I love them, especially with a drizzle of Sriracha mayo or lime cilantro sauce. It’s a super Cuban recipe but not as popular as maduros or plantain chips. Well, I’m glad I can give these malanga fritters a little hype today, because they do deserve it!

Malanga

What Is Malanga?

Here I am waxing poetic about malanga fritters, and you’re probably wondering what the heck is a malanga?! Malanga is a root vegetable that’s very common in Latin America and the Caribbean. It’s creamier than a potato and more nutrient-dense. And the skin is hairy… I know, that sounds weird! It’s also skinnier than a potato.

Malanga is a great source of fiber and very easy on the stomach. In fact, when Cubans have any stomach issues, the home remedy is a nice bowl of mashed malanga (puree de malanga). Read this article to learn more about the health benefits of malanga. 

Malanga is also used in soups instead of potatoes. We make a delicious cream of malanga soup that’s actually very popular and featured on most Cuban restaurant menus. 

If you can’t find malanga for this recipe, you can try using taro. While not the same, the two are pretty similar and sometimes sold interchangeably.

Frituras de Malanga

Ingredients for Malanga Fritters

The ingredients list is super short and simple for this one:

  • Malanga
  • Minced Onions
  • Minced Parsley
  • Garlic Powder
  • Salt
  • White Pepper
  • Vinegar

The onions and the parsley should be finely minced. You’ll notice in my recipe photos there are some bigger pieces of parsley… that’s just mami (aka Bean Train) doing her own thing while my back was turned ? I think it’s better when everything is finely minced, but mami likes chunky stuff. You decide which version you like best (but try mine first!)

Malanga Fritters

How to Make Frituras de Malanga

These fritters have very few ingredients, so it’s an easy Cuban recipe to make. The most difficult thing is grating the malanga because it can get a bit slippery. Not slimy, just slippery so it makes grating a bit of a challenge. Weird, right? I use a paper towel to hold the malanga in place as I’m grating it. You can process it in the food processor, but the texture is better if you grate it. 

Once you’ve heated the oil in a frying pan, drop the malanga mix by tablespoons into the hot oil. What type of spoon you use to drop the dough into the batter will determine the shape. My mom always used a heaping spoonful and they come out an irregular oval, like you see in some of the photos. I like to use a mini ice cream scooper to give them a more rounded look. Also, you can make the malanga fritters a bit bigger, but I like how crunchy they are when they’re small. I serve them with a lime-cilantro sauce or Sriracha mayo. It just kicks it up a notch?

As with most fritters, frituras de malanga are best eaten hot. They tend to get soggy if you let them sit too long. So, I suggest you make as many fritters are you think your crew will eat and save the remaining dough in the fridge to make another day. The dough keeps in the refrigerator for a few days. This recipe should make about 24 fritters.

If you can find malanga, I hope you give these a try. This is a delicious Cuban appetizer to serve at your next tapas party… with a glass of sangria, of course. ¡Buen provecho!

Frituras de Malanga

Want more recipes for Cuban appetizers? Check out my Cuban Tapas Party recipes!

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Frituras de Malanga

Malanga Fritters (Frituras de Malanga) Have Such A Great CRUNCH!

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 15
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 24 1x
  • Category: fritters
  • Method: frying
  • Cuisine: Cuban
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Description

These malanga fritters (aka frituras de malanga) are a super crunchy cuban appetizer perfect for tapas. If you’re not familiar with malanga, it’s a root vegetable that’s creamier and more nutrient-dense than potatoes. 

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups grated malanga (about 3 malangas)

½ cup finely diced onion

1 teaspoon grated garlic

2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley

2 teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon white pepper

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1 beaten egg

2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions

Peel and grate the malanga using a box grater affiliate link (or use a food processor). While you can use a food processor, the texture is much better if you grate it. The last little bits are hard to grate, so you may want to use the food processor for those bits or discard them. 

Finely dice the onions and the parsley. (My mom tends to leave the parsley a bit bigger, but I prefer it finely diced!)

Malanga Fritter Dough

Add the rest of the ingredients to the grated malanga. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper.

Malanga Fritters

Heat the vegetable oil in a medium frying pan on medium-high heat for about 5 minutes, then drop the malanga mixture by tablespoonfuls into the hot oil. Fry for about 7-8 minutes or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Add a little salt and serve. 

Makes 24 fritters. 

Equipment

Notes

Grating the malanga is a bit of challenge because malanga is slippery. I use a paper towel to get a firmer grip on the malanga. You need to use the side of the grater with the smallest holes. 

Fry only the ones you intend to eat right away, as fritters get soggy if you let them sit too long. Then, you can refrigerate the uncooked dough for another day. The dough keeps for a few days in the fridge. 

Serve with sriracha mayo or lime cilantro sauce. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2 fritters

Keywords: malanga, malanga fritters, frituras de malanga, cuban appetizers

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Pan Con Tomate

Pan Con Tomate Is An Easy Spanish Tapas

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Pan Con Tomate is a very traditional Spanish tapas that is deceptively simple and so, so amazing! I must confess that I just recently tried this, although it’s something my mom loves and has told me about literally for decades. It just seemed too simple to be a “thing.” But I stand so, so corrected!

Pan Con Tomate is basically bread with tomato… see what I mean? It sounds so basic, so meh. But don’t dismiss it until you’ve tried it!! It’s similar in taste to Italian bruschetta but simpler, more subtle, and a great complement to a Tabla Mixta (cheese and charcuterie board). You can eat it on its own or pile on some cheese and Spanish ham. 

I tried Pan Con Tomate for the first time at Bulla Gastrobar, one of my favorite tapas bars in Miami. We ordered a Tabla Mixta and an order of Pan Con Tomate to go with it.  And sangria, of course! I devoured it. I just couldn’t wait to make it at home and show it to you!!

Pan Con Tomate

Super Easy Recipe

This requires no cooking and can really be done with just four basic ingredients in ten minutes tops. The tomato topping is literally grated tomato with a bit of salt and pepper. That’s it! Here are the steps:

  • Cut the baguette loaf into 3-4 pieces crosswise and then split each piece in half, like you would for a sandwich. Or you can cut it into thin diagonal slices, similar to crostini.
  • Brush a little olive oil on the bread and toast it.
  • Cut a tomato in half and gently squeeze to remove most of the seeds. Then grate each half into a bowl using a box grater. Add a little salt and pepper.
  • Cut a garlic clove in half and rub it on the toasted bread.
  • Spread a layer of the grated tomato on top of the garlic-rubbed toast. 
  • Drizzle with a bit of olive oil.
  • Pile on extra toppings if you’re so inclined.
  • Daintily devour it with wine or sangria. 

Easy to make and easy to make it disappear!

Pan Con Tomate

Quality Ingredients Go Into This Pan Con Tomate Recipe

The beauty of this Spanish tapas dish is that it’s so very simple to make. But for this Pan Con Tomate tapas to shine and be all it’s meant to be, you need quality ingredients to build it. Here’s what you need:

Loaf of Bread – You need a good quality loaf of French bread or Ciabatta for this Pan Con Tomate recipe. I used a baguette loaf from a great local baker – shout out to Zak the Baker bread, available at my local Whole Foods.

Tomato – You want a nice, firm, vine-ripened tomato for this. I tried an heirloom tomato, thinking that would be best, but I found it not as good as the vine-ripened tomatoes. 

Garlic – make sure to use fresh, fresh garlic! I tried this recipe with some poor little leftover garlic cloves the first time I made the Pan Con Tomate, and the garlic flavor was not strong enough.

Olive Oil – You need a drizzle of good quality olive oil. It brightens things up and adds just the right notes. Has to be olive oil.

Prosciutto – This is optional, but I highly recommend it! The traditional ham to use for this is Spanish Iberico Ham or Serrano Ham. But me and my peeps really love prosciutto, so I used that instead.  

Manchego Cheese – Again, totally optional, but a great addition. 

spanish tapas

This is the perfect, easy start to a lovely meal or tapas party. Or a great way to get date night off to the right track ?

Try it with a pitcher of red wine sangria… now you’re talkin’!

bean train food for thought

I must admit I can be such a brat! For years my mom would gush about how good Pan Con Tomate (bread with tomato) was. And how she grew up eating Pan Con Aguacate (bread with avocado – aka avocado toast), and I would roll my eyes and refuse to try them. 

When I was growing up and hearing about these dishes, it sounded so ethnic. It was stuff old Cubans ate, but not for young Americans. I just wanted to be American and eat hamburgers and apple pie. I suppose every immigrant child goes through a phase like this as they try to assimilate and fit in with other kids. 

Now the joke’s on me, because everybody loves avo toast and my trendy tapas bar serves Pan Con Tomate. I really should have listened to my mother. ?

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Pan Con Tomate Recipe

Pan Con Tomate Is An Easy Spanish Tapas

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 5
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: appetizers
  • Method: toast
  • Cuisine: spanish
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Description

This simple and delicious Pan Con Tomate is a traditional tapas recipe that’s super quick and easy to make. It requires no cooking and can be done with just four basic ingredients in ten minutes tops. Try it with a little prosciutto, wine and cheese. You’ll love, love it!

 

Ingredients

Scale

Loaf of French baguette bread

1 garlic clove

¼ cup olive oil, more or less (I usually don’t measure this, just drizzle as I see fit 😉

3 vine-ripened tomatoes

Salt and pepper

Instructions

  • Cut the baguette loaf into 3-4 pieces crosswise and then split each piece in half, like you would for a sandwich. Or you can cut it into thin diagonal slices similar to crostini.
  • Brush a little olive oil on the cut sides of the bread and toast it.
  • Cut the tomatoes in half and gently squeeze to remove most of the seeds. Then grate each half into a bowl using a box grater affiliate link. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cut the garlic clove in half and rub it on the cut sides of the toasted bread
  • Spread a layer of the grated tomato on top of the garlic-rubbed toast
  • Drizzle with a bit of olive oil
  • Cut into smaller pieces if desired
  • Optional: top with Iberico ham or prosciutto

Notes

Serve with cheese and charcuterie board. 

Calorie count does not include ham. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: slice

Keywords: Pan Con Tomate, Pan con tomate recipe, spanish tapas, traditional spanish tapas

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sweet sangria

Fruity Sangria Recipe That’s So Easy and Delicious

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I just love this fruity sangria recipe! My hubby said it was the best sangria he’s had, and we have had our fair share of sangria ???

Sangria is just such a party drink! You can dress it up with whatever fruit you fancy and make it more or less strong, just right for your crowd. Can you just picture yourself with a pitcher of sangria (to share, of course), a nice cheese board or some BBQ tapas on a lazy Saturday afternoon? I know I can!

What is Sangria?

Some of you may be wondering what I’m going on about. Is sangria a cocktail? Is it a wine? 

Sangria is a Spanish wine punch made with red wine, liquor, fresh fruit, a little mixer, and a dash of sweetness. It’s usually served with Spanish tapas, cheese boards or appetizers. Sangria is served cold, with ice cubes. It’s like a wine cooler but sooo much better!

Sangria is definitely on the sweet side so you can easily drink more than you realize. It tastes so good and refreshing that I can overindulge (I’m a lightweight and feel tipsy after two glasses of wine). That’s why I usually water down my glass with a little extra ice. 

red wine sangria

What’s The Best Wine For Sweet Sangria?

You can use any sweet red wine, but it doesn’t have to be a specific one. I used Merlot for this fruity sangria recipe, but you can use pinot noir, zinfandel, or a red blend. Depending on the wine you use, you may want to adjust the amount of sweetness you add.

The other beauty about sangria is that you can use a cheap red wine, so it’s perfect for a crowd. You can also adjust the potency by adding more or less of the mixers  and ice cubes. 

fruity sangria recipe

What Fruit Goes In Sangria? 

Oranges and limes are the most common fruit for sangria. My fruity sangria recipe has oranges, limes, and apples, but you can add other fruits if you like. For example, you can try it with blueberries, grapes, or strawberries. However, it shouldn’t be something that can get too mushy, so I would avoid bananas.

How To Make Sweet Sangria At Home

You can buy sangria ready-made at the store and just add fruit. But what’s the fun in that? Sweet sangria is easy to make and only takes ten minutes. Here are the ingredients you need for this fantastic wine punch. You can start out with my fruity sangria recipe and then adjust the amounts of each ingredient to suit your tastes. I tend to like my sangria on the sweet side and not so boozy, but you can add more or less of brandy, less mixer or simple syrup to suit your palate.

Red Wine – you can use merlot, pinot noir, zinfandel, red blends. Cheap wine is fine!

Mixer – you can use lemon-lime soda. I used Sprite. 

Brandy – if you don’t normally have brandy at home, buy a small bottle just for sangria. Cheap brandy is fine for this, too.

Triple Sec – this is an orange liquor. You can buy an inexpensive non-alcoholic version at the grocery store. Or you can use Cointreau or Grand Marnier if you have them on hand. 

Simple Syrup – you can buy this where you find the cocktail mixers at your local grocery store. Or you can make it yourself. It’s just equal parts water and sugar heated together to give the sugar a chance to dissolve. 

Orange Juice – I really prefer fresh squeezed for this. You don’t need a lot, about two oranges will do. Or use the orange juice you have on hand. 

Fresh Fruit – definitely use oranges and limes and then add other fruits you like. I like to keep it simple so I go with oranges, limes and apples. Just don’t use Granny Smith, it’s not sweet enough.

Ice Cubes – Sangria is served cold, over ice. You can add more or less ice depending on the potency you want. 

Tapas – you need this too! You can’t drink sangria without a little noshy food, it’s criminal! 

OK, noshy is a made-up word that I love to use. So a definition is in order. Noshy means foods with the potential to be nosh.

Nosh Definition: (Origin: Yiddish) a snack or light meal

sangria y tapas

Sangria Y Tapas Are A Power Couple!

Sangria y tapas go together like white on rice. You can make a simple cheese board with one or two cheeses, some crostini and a little salami or prosciutto. Add a few olives and nuts in for good measure. Or you can try some of my tapas recipes.  

Here’s a very simple cheeseboard you can make:

  • Manchego Cheese
  • Tetilla Cheese (if you can’t find this cheese, substitute a mild cheese like mozzarella)
  • Serrano Ham or Prosciutto
  • Spanish Chorizo
  • Spanish Olives
  • Candied Walnuts
  • Guava Marmalade

This fruity sangria recipe and the cheese board are quick and easy to put together and make for a lovely little party starter or date night. Cheers to you and yours!

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fruity sangria recipe

Fruity Sangria Recipe That’s So Easy and Delicious

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 10
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: cocktail
  • Method: mix
  • Cuisine: Spanish
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Description

This fruity sangria recipe is quick and easy to make and so delicious! It’s a great way to get the party started!

Ingredients

Scale

1 bottle Merlot (750 ml)

½ cup Sprite

3 ounces Triple Sec

2 ounces freshly squeezed orange juice (about 2 oranges)

1 ounce Simple Syrup

1 ounce Brandy

1 Orange

1 Lime

1 Apple (I used gala, but any sweet variety is fine – just not Granny Smith)

Ice Cubes

Instructions

Slice the orange and then cut in half. Slice the lime and dice the apple. Set aside.

Pour the wine into a pitcher. In a cocktail shaker add the Sprite, Triple Sec, Orange Juice, Simple Syrup and Brandy. Fill with ice cubes and shake. Strain the contents of the cocktail shaker into the pitcher with the wine. Add the fruit and the ice cubes and serve with tapas!

Notes

If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can just mix in a bowl or a separate pitcher. By mixing with the ice cubes, the ingredients get cold and you won’t have to use as much ice, if you want the sangria to be a bit stronger.  

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 6

Keywords: Fruity Sangria Recipe, Summer Sangria, red wine sangria, red wine sangria recipe, sweet sangria, sangria y tapas, how to make sangria, merlot sangria, wine punch

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Grilled Sausage and Peppers Montaditos For Easy BBQ Tapas

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These little grilled sausage and peppers open sandwiches made with Argentinian sausage are perfect for summer grilling! They are super easy appetizers to make while you enjoy a glass of sangria as you’re grilling this summer. They can be a starter for an epic summer barbecue or part of a no-fuss tapas party. They are so satisfyingly delicious and fun to make! 

Grilled sausage and peppers

What is a Montadito

If you’re not familiar with montaditos, it’s time you guys met. I know you’ll hit it off ?

Montaditos are a type of Spanish tapas that are mini sandwiches. They are similar to sliders and canapes. Basically, you pile on your favorite meat and toppings onto little bread sandwiches or bread slices. Once you get the hang of making them, you’ll discover all sorts of toppings to try. Consider this post your license to get creative on your own little bread canvases!

Grilled sausages, peppers and onions

Grilled Chorizo Toppings

This little grilled sausage and peppers montadito is my take on choripan, a popular Argentinian street food made with grilled chorizo topped with chimichurri. My version is bite-sized, and also includes grilled peppers and onions with cilantro chimichurri sauce.

Chorizo is an Argentinian sausage you should be able to find at your local grocery store. But if you can’t, substitute Italian sausage. 

montaditos

Summer Chill Grill

I love how chill this grill recipe is! It takes very little prep and everything cooks together on the grill at about the same time. You just need to make the chimichurri sauce ahead of time. So once your guests arrive you can hand them a glass of wine or an ice-cold beer and drink and chill with them by the grill.

Throw the sausage, peppers, and onions on the BBQ while you hang out in the backyard with your guests. The sausages and veggies cook in about 10 minutes, and you can add the bread slices on the top rack as the other items are finishing up.

Then, remove everything from the grill and slice up the sausages into thick diagonal slices and the peppers into ribbons. Place a slice of sausage on the toasted bread and pile on the peppers and onions and top with a drizzle of chimichurri sauce.

Summer Grilling Menu Idea

Once you’ve done a little noshing on these little choripan slices with your friends, you can start grilling your main dish. May I suggest churrasco steak with chimichurri sauce to keep the Argentine theme going? Keep it simple with a Grilled Veggie Salad so you don’t have to keep going in and out of the kitchen. Finish off with a little ice cream for dessert. It’s so easy, breezy! 

Give these montaditos with grilled sausage and peppers a try and let me know how you like them. ¡Buen provecho!

Backyard Barbecue Menu Cookbook
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montadito

Grilled Sausage and Peppers Montaditos For Easy BBQ Tapas

  • Author: Sandi Abbott
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 10
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x
  • Category: appetizer
  • Method: grilling
  • Cuisine: Argentine
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Description

These mini-sandwiches, called montaditos, are piled high with grilled sausages and peppers and onions and drizzled with chimichurri sauce. A delicious take on Argentinian choripan that’s perfect for your next barbecue.

Ingredients

Scale

1 loaf French Bread

1 package chorizo (Argentinian sausage) – 5 links

2 red bell peppers

1 large red onion

Chimichurri sauce

Instructions

Preheat: Heat a grill to medium heat. 

peppers and onions

Prep:

  • Prepare the chimichurri sauce. You can do this one day in advance to give the flavors a chance to deepen.
  • Cut the bell peppers and remove the ribs and seeds. Cut in as large a piece as you can. I usually cut the tops and bottoms off and then cut the body into 3 large pieces that can lay flat on the grill. 
  • Peel and slice the onion into thick slices (just under half an inch). If the slices are too thin they’ll fall apart on the grill.
  • Slice the baguette bread into ½ inch thick slices. 
  • Brush the veggies lightly with oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Let the veggies sit for about 10 minutes before putting them on the grill. 
  • Brush the bread with oil and set aside until the last 2 minutes of cooking time. 

Cook:

  • Grill the veggies until they have some char and color but aren’t burned. Grill the sausages until they are cooked. Don’t poke the sausages as you grill them because the juices will drain and you’ll end up with a dry sausage. 
  •  Sausage temperature should be about 160 degrees. Grill times will vary based on your grill and the thickness of the veggies. But following are my grill times:
  • Onions Bell Peppers: about 5 minutes per side for a total of 10 minutes
  • Sausages: 10 minutes total, turning them as you go so all sides get cooked evenly. 
  • Bread slices: 1 minute on each side, total of 2 minutes, placed on the top rack for indirect heat (really depends on the thickness and where you place them on the grill). They should be lightly toasted.

Assembly:

  • Remove the veggies and sausages and give them a few minutes to rest. If you plan to remove the charred skin on the red bell peppers, place them under a foil tent to steam a bit to make the skin removal easier. (I like the char, so I skip this step)
  • Slice the peppers into ribbons. The onions will be easy to pull apart once they are off the grill.
  • Slice the sausages diagonally into about ½ inch slices. 
  • Top each slice of bread with a slice of sausage, add a few ribbons of peppers and a few onion rings. 
  • Drizzle with chimichurri sauce.

Notes

The measurements are pretty fast and lose. You can adjust the thickness the bread and sausages to your liking and pile on as much of the onions and peppers as you like. Same goes with the sauce. The more you add the messier they’ll be, though, so start small and see how it goes.  

Calorie count includes chimichurri sauce, but prep time does not. The sauce takes about 30 minutes, but you should give the chimichurri sauce a few hours to let the flavors get to know each other. 

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 3 slices

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Cuban Tapas Recipes

Cuban Appetizers To Make For World Tapas Day

Leave a Comment / APPETIZERS, CUBAN, ENTERTAINING / ,

Tapas are the best party food, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate World Tapas Day than with these delicious Cuban appetizers. This is one holiday that’s totally worth celebrating because it’s just made for hanging out with friends, drinking wine, and noshing on party food. So, let’s get the party started with these fun and delicious Cuban appetizers.

World Tapas Day is either June 16 or 17, depending on the calendar you follow. But you can celebrate it anytime you feel like it. I like to celebrate it every month. And I’m sharing some of my favorite Cuban tapas recipes to help get you in tapas party mode.

Spanish Tapas Montaditos

I love, love, love montaditos and you will too when I ‘splain what they are. These Spanish tapas are made of little baguettes filled with delicious meats, cheeses, and other sweet and savory goodies. The Spanish root word for montadito is montar which means to mount. So, these little pieces of bread are mounted with tons of delicious toppings. I like to think of them as my little bread canvas where I can get creative and inventive. Here are two fun Cuban tapas recipes to try.

ropa vieja sandwich

Cuban Ropa Vieja Montaditos

These impressive little Cuban ropa vieja appetizers are perfect for a tapas party! They come together quickly and can be assembled and finished later. If you don’t have ropa vieja leftovers, you can get the recipe here and enjoy it for dinner the night before. If you don’t have ropa vieja, you can try pulled pork, or use whatever leftovers you do have on hand. Top with a little cheese and olive, pepper, or a little spicy sauce. 

smoked salmon avocado toast

Smoked Salmon Toast (Montadito)

I called this recipe Smoked Salmon Toast, but you can also call it a montadito. These smoked salmon toasts are an easy Cuban tapas recipe to make and requires no cooking. Smoked salmon and avocado piled high on a crostini with a lemon and caper gremolata is the perfect dish for breakfast, brunch, or a tapas party. Now, I know these are technically not Cuban, but they are made by a Cuban, and avocado toast is a Cuban thing anyway… we were eating avocado toast (aka pan con aguacate) way before it was trendy ??❤?

Grilled Sausage And Peppers Montaditos

These little grilled sausage and peppers montaditos made with Argentinian sausage are perfect for summer grilling! Enjoy a glass of sangria as you’re grilling this summer. They can be a starter for an epic summer barbecue or part of a no-fuss tapas party. They are so satisfyingly delicious and fun to make! 

Pan Con Tomate

Pan Con Tomate Traditional Spanish Tapas

This simple and delicious Pan Con Tomate is a traditional tapas recipe that’s super quick and easy to make. It requires no cooking and can really be done with just the four basic ingredients in ten minutes tops. Try it with a little prosciutto, wine and cheese. You’ll love, love it!

chicken croquettes

Chicken Croquettes Are Party Platter Favorites!

Chicken croquettes are party animals! They are the life of every Cuban party and it’s no wonder. Croquettes are crunchy on the outside with a creamy chicken filling made with béchamel sauce. They are also great as a snack or for breakfast. You can switch things up by swapping the chicken filling with ham or fish. So perfect for tapas!

Cuban Appetizers with Leftover Picadillo

I love to turn my leftovers into tapas party food, especially Cuban picadillo. It’s the perfect filling for tons of Cuban appetizers, like empanadas and stuffed tostones cups. Oh, and quesadillas… not a Cuban appetizer but in the Latin family ?

beef and cheese empanadas

Beef Picadillo Empanadas

These cheesy ground beef empanadas are a very popular Cuban appetizer that’s easy to make and can be fried or baked. I filled these empanadas with picadillo, but you can try other savory fillings. Ropa vieja (used in the montadito recipe above) would also be great here. 

Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas

Picadillo Ground Beef Quesadillas

Quesadillas are another great canvas for creating delicious tapas. I love using my leftover picadillo to make these cheesy ground beef quesadillas, but you can use any leftovers you have on hand. That’s one of the many things I love about quesadillas! Just open up your fridge and pull out your leftovers, a little cheese, some peppers, and onions and you got the makings of some great party food. 

Cuban appetizers

Stuffed Fried Plantain Tostones Cups

Tostones are twice-fried green plantains and a go-to side dish for many Cuban dishes. But they can hold their own as a Cuban appetizer, especially if you turn them into tostones cups. Follow my tostones recipe to make these fun little cups and then you can fill them with picadillo or ropa vieja topped with cheese. Or fill them with shrimp ceviche cocktail.

Crunchy Malanga Fritters Are Great As An Appetizer or Side Dish

These malanga fritters (aka frituras de malanga) are a super crunchy cuban appetizer perfect for tapas. If you’re not familiar with malanga, it’s a root vegetable that’s creamier and more nutrient-dense than potatoes. They are great on their own, with a little dipping sauce or as a side for soups, stews or salads.

shrimp ceviche cocktail

Shrimp Ceviche Cocktail

This Shrimp Ceviche Cocktail recipe is easy to make and is a great, refreshing appetizer for summer parties! I like to serve them with plantain chips or tostones cups, but they are also wonderful with tortilla cups. Ceviche is a popular Latin American appetizer and is usually made with lime juice, onions, and peppers. This version has a tomato base and spicy habanero peppers for a little heat.

Cuban Deviled Eggs

Cuban Deviled Eggs

These Cuban deviled eggs, or huevos endiablados, are made with saffron. This Spanish spice is usually used to make paella and adds a subtle and distinctive flavor to this classic deviled egg recipe. Top it with bacon or a Spanish olive and they make a great appetizer for your next tapas party. 

Now no tapas party would be complete without a pitcher of sweet sangria. Make a pitcher to enjoy with the great apps by using my Fruity Sangria recipe.

So, now that you’re fortified with some great Cuban tapas recipes and a pitcher of sangria, go forth and party. 

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