Miami is a place where food is central to life. And Miami has certain foods that define its culinary culture. For those that live in Miami or those there for a quick visit, there are certain foods to try and fall in love with. Let’s look at five of them.
Pan Cubano
Bread is one of the staples of Cuban cuisine. Crusty Cuban bread (pan cubano) spread with butter and toasted is an essential partner of thick Cuban coffee in the mornings. Add some ham, pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard to a roll and give it a press for a fantastic Cuban sandwich.
Croquetas
A croqueta offers a wondrous delight to anyone’s palate. The classic Miami croqueta features ham, but you can find any number of fillings at restaurants throughout South Florida, such as shrimp, cheese, vegetables, and ground meat. The filling mixes with a sauce and is then rolled in breadcrumbs and deep fried. Serve it with a colada or a hot cup of Cuban coffee for a perfect Miami delight.
Key Lime Pie
Key limes are definitely in a class of their own. Tarter and more flavorful than the average lime, these little citrus fruits lend themselves to the distinctive key lime pie that is well known from the Keys northward. The tart juice mixes with a smooth custard base to create the fresh, citrusy notes of a key lime pie. It all gets added to a graham cracker crust for a memorable dessert you cannot put down.
Pastelitos
Walk into any Cuban bakery and you will find rows and rows of pastelitos displayed for all to see. These baked pastries marry puff pastry with tasty fillings in both sweet and savory categories. Many people love the sweet varieties including guava, mango, and cheese fillings. However, some love the convenience and flavor of the savory tastes that include beef, chicken, ham or cheese. They go great with a hot cup of coffee in the middle of the day or late at night.
Empanadas
Meat pies are a staple in many Caribbean and Latin American countries as well as Spain. And that strong culinary tradition has made its mark on South Florida and Miami. You can get them deep-fried and baked and filled with almost any type of meat. You can choose the flavoring styles of Argentina, Colombia, etc.
