Modern Cuban - by Ana Quincoces (Hardcover)

About the Book

In this cookbook, Ana Quincoces reimagines traditional Cuban recipes for today's home chefs, helping readers make timeless dishes that showcase the distinctive flavors of classic Cuban cuisine while crafting meals that are accessible to everyone.

Book Synopsis

Award-winning and refreshingly modern--Ana Quincoces brings Cuban cuisine into the twenty-first century with recipes that are bold, healthy, and irresistibly flavorful

Florida Book Awards, Silver Medal for Cooking

Serving up a fresh take on Cuban food, Ana Quincoces reimagines traditional recipes for today's home chefs in Modern Cuban. This cookbook unites generations by helping readers make timeless dishes that showcase the distinctive flavors of classic Cuban cuisine while crafting meals that are accessible to everyone.

Modern Cuban shows how to welcome guests to an inclusive culinary celebration, demonstrating how many of these much-loved recipes can be tweaked or are already good fits for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, ketogenic, and other diets. With ingredients and alternatives that are easy to find or already in most home kitchens, learning Cuban cooking has never been so simple! Readers will find instructions for preparing essentials like fragrant sofrito and tangy mojo criollo along with irresistible croquetas, yuca frita (fried yuca), sopa de platano (plantain soup), picadillo (beef hash), buttery guava-filled pastelitos (pastries), flan de coco (coconut flan), and an abundance of other delectable sides, mains, and desserts.

Accompanied by beautiful photos that present iconic dishes in a new, modern light, the recipes in this cookbook include Ana Quincoces's personal memories of her family and the food culture they passed down to her. Modern Cuban is perfect for beginners and advanced cooks alike who want to celebrate Cuban favorites in ways that honor the past and present. Above all, this cookbook is for anyone who enjoys gathering good company for great food that feeds the soul. Buen provecho!

Review Quotes

"The influence of American culture has brought about evolution in Cuban cooking. Quincoces documents these changes, contending that the beloved fundamentals of Cuban classics remain as they always were. . . . Color photographs attract almost as much as Quincoces' recipes."--Booklist

"Whether you're craving comfort food or something on the lighter side, this cookbook fuses old-school Cuban flavors with today's culinary creativity."--Flamingo Magazine

"The massive influx of Cuban refugees into south Florida following the 1959 revolution made Miami an epicenter of Cuban cuisine. The influence of American culture has brought about evolution in Cuban cooking. Quincoces (Sabor!, 2012) documents these changes, contending that the beloved fundamentals of Cuban classics remain as they always were. Fried foods play a central role, so Quincoces presents a classic version of empanadas before proceeding to a version that bakes them, thus cutting down dramatically on their fat content. The very nature of croquetas demands frying, but replacing chorizo with cheese crafts a vegetarian dish. Gluten-free alternatives include a renowned West African staple, fufù, acknowledging Cuba's debt to enslaved people. Fried pork chunks recall both Texas barbecue and Mexican carnitas but are wholly Cuban. Quincoces' lentil soup contains ham and sausage, but the hearty broth can easily be made vegan by simply eliminating those meats without sacrificing savoriness. Americans love the Cuban sandwich; Quincoces' particular rendering is less recipe than methodology. Color photographs attract almost as much as Quincoces' recipes."--Booklist

About the Author

Ana Quincoces is a lawyer turned chef, entrepreneur, and author of the award-winning cookbook Modern Cuban. Known for her unapologetic humor and deep love for Latin flavors, Ana blends tradition with innovation--making Cuban food accessible for gluten-free, keto, and vegan lifestyles. Quincoces has appeared on shows such as Food Network Star, Hell's Kitchen, MasterChef Latino, The View, The Today Show, and The Profit and starred in Bravo's The Real Housewives of Miami. She is the creator of Skinny Latina, a popular line of Latin-inspired cooking sauces and marinades. Quincoces is coauthor of The Versailles Restaurant Cookbook and the author of Sabor! A Passion for Cuban Cuisine.