Cuban

We were going to have a party last weekend. At midday on Saturday the skies were blue and the roads were clear. By 2 p.m. there were 3 inches of settled snow and it was still snowing heavily. We cancelled.

Now we have food for an army and only the two of us to eat it. I expect we'll manage. I had planned a gentle Cuban theme to the meal, based on recipes from "A Taste of Old Cuba"

This is an interesting book, which I hope has truly authentic recipes from Cuba even if they are rooted in a period before the Cuban revolution. Many of them are impossible to veganise effectively as they rely on meat as their principal ingredient but the poor people's food is based on rice and beans and what good socialist vegan could eschew those?

Black beans, plantains, rice, all these things are well represented across the internet but there was a recipe for a side salad which appealed to me for its novelty and style, Guacamole Cubano.




To make enough salad for six to eight servings you will need;

1 ripe pineapple
2 large avocados (ripe but not mushy)
a small red onion (or part of a larger one!)
Olive oil
Lime juice
Salt

Peel, core and divide the pineapple flesh into small cubes. I don't have recommendations for the best way to tackle a fresh pineapple but I usually take off the top tuft and bottom to make flat ends, peel by slicing downwards from top to bottom with a very sharp knife, pick out any 'eyes' that are left and then slice into quarters to make removing the core easy. Catch as much juice as you can. I wouldn't use tinned pineapple for this dish.

Cut the avocados in half, remove stones, peel and dice into similar sized pieces to your pineapple bits.

Slice the red onion finely.

Mix all the fruit and vegetables into a bowl and then dress with equal parts of good olive oil and lime juice whisked together. Add salt to taste.

It seems to me that this very simple preparation could do with a little jazzing up in the form of some chilli pepper but actually served with black beans, rice and fried sweet potato chips (no plantains in Sainsburys this week) it adds sweetness and variety without being overpowering so bear that in mind when making it as part of a full menu.

If you'd like to learn a little more about life in present day Cuba try reading the Havana Times, written by Cubans about themselves.