Arroz a la Cubana is a Spanish rice dish with variations in different countries. It typically includes rice, ground beef or beans, tomato sauce, and fried eggs. The dish is popular in Spain, Peru, and the Philippines, and can be cooked in various ways. Some recipes exclude the protein and include only white rice, tomato sauce, and eggs. Filipino recipes add ground beef and serve it with cooked Saba plantains. Cuban-style rice dishes include extras such as hash browns, peppers, raisins, and sugar snap peas. The traditional Cuban rice dish is Moros y Christianos, which includes white rice and black beans.
Arroz a la Cubana describes a traditional Spanish rice dish, also known as Cuban-style rice or arroz cubano. The basic ingredients include rice, ground beef or beans, tomato sauce, and fried eggs, but other items are sometimes added. Despite its name, there is no concrete evidence that this dish originates from Cuba, although it is a staple in many Cuban households. Arroz a la Cubana is popular in Spain, Peru and the Philippines, and can be cooked in a variety of ways, usually from recipes passed down the family tree.
Some standard Spanish recipes for Arroz alla Cubana cut out the protein and include just white rice, tomato sauce, and eggs. The rice is steamed or boiled, and the sauce can be prepared in a variety of ways. Sofrito is a Spanish-style tomato sauce made with garlic, onions and green peppers, all finely chopped and cooked with the tomatoes in Spanish olive oil.
When plating arroz a la Cubana without meat, the rice is scooped onto the plate and an indentation is made in the middle. The sofrito or tomato sauce goes into the hollowed out center and drizzles down the side of the rice. The fried egg is made easy, meaning it is cooked on one side, then flipped and lightly cooked on the other side just enough to cover the yolk. The egg sits on top of the rice and tomato sauce mixture.
Filipino recipes for arroz alla cubana add ground beef to the dish and serve it with cooked Saba plantains. The saba banana is common in the Philippines and is usually fried in its skin, then peeled, sliced and placed on the side of the plate. In this version of Arroz Cubano, the fried eggs are side up and the bright yellow yolk is left uncovered.
Being a traditional dish, the ingredients of Arroz a la Cubana can vary, depending on who is cooking and where they live. Some Cuban-style rice dishes include extras, such as hash browns, peppers, raisins, and sugar snap peas. These additions are usually sauteed with the ground beef and plated to one side of the rice. The bananas go to the other side and the eggs still go on top.
Few Cubans will claim Cuban-style rice dishes cooked with ground beef and tomato sauce. Real Cuban rice is actually called Moros y Christianos, which translates to Moors and Christians, also known as black beans and rice. The ingredients in this traditional Cuban meal include white rice and black beans, prepared with garlic, onions, ham hocks, salted pork, and a variety of herbs and spices. This version does away with the ground beef, tomato sauce, and egg, and beans are poured over or mixed with the rice.
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