Arroz a la Cubana is actually a Spanish dish, but this is the Filipino version. I’ve had this dish in the past back in my hometown, but it was my first time to prepare this dish here in the U.S.

I was meal planning and was just browsing the web for new recipes to try when I came across this dish. I hadn’t had it in a while so I thought I might as well add it on the menu for the week.

We always have the Arroz a la Cubana with rice. I mean, in my home country, we always had rice with every meal. Nothing is better than having this dish or any viand for that matter paired with rice.

The addition of raisins to this dish is something that I find interesting too. Both my husband and son do not like raisins, so they just had to put those delicious tiny black things on the side of their plates. 🙂

I tweaked the recipe that I found online and here’s what I came up with in case you want to give it a try too.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. ground pork
• 1/2 lb. ground beef
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1 tsp. garlic, minced
• 1 medium-sized red onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into squares
• 1 oz. raisins
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 3 tbsp. soy sauce
• 8 oz. can tomato sauce
• 2 pieces bay leaf
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. In medium-high heat, saute’ onion and garlic until onion is translucent.
2. Add pork and beef and cook until brown.
3. Pour in soy sauce and tomato sauce.
4. Stir and add bell pepper, raisins, peas, carrots and bay leaves.
5. Stir and simmer until vegetables are cooked, about 5 minutes.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Serve on top of steamed rice.

Such an easy and quick dish to prepare with very little ingredients. Got to love recipes like that when you don’t have enough time to prepare elaborate dishes.

Can you tell how good it is? 🙂

Happy Foodie Friday, friends! Enjoy the weekend!