Cuban soups and stews are hearty, comforting, and packed with flavor. From smoky bean soups and rich stews to creamy root vegetable soups and classic chicken soup, there's something here for every craving. Browse the collection and find your next favorite!
Ajiaco
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Ajiaco is one of Cuba's most iconic soups-a hearty dish packed with tropical root vegetables like yuca, malanga, boniato, plantains, and pumpkin. It also features flank steak, smoked ham shanks, and pork stew meat, creating a rich, meaty broth. This labor-intensive soup takes about 2½ hours to cook, but the result is worth every minute.
Potaje de Lentejas (Cuban Lentil Stew)
A thick, filling lentil stew made with onions, garlic, smoked pork, tomato paste, potatoes, and pumpkin. Lentils cook faster than other beans, so you can have this wholesome meal ready in just over an hour.
Frijoles Colorados (Cuban Red Bean Soup)
This thick, smoky red bean soup is a staple in Cuban households. Made with ham hocks, onions, garlic, and a blend of spices, this dish can be enjoyed as a soup or served over rice. While the prep is easy, the slow cooking process develops incredible flavor.
Crema de Malanga (Malanga Soup)
A velvety-smooth soup made from malanga, a nutty and creamy root vegetable. This simple recipe includes onions, garlic, butter, olive oil, chicken broth, and milk for a rich, delicate flavor. Peeling malanga can be tricky, but we include some helpful tips in the recipe!
Sopa de Res (Cuban Beef Soup)
This Cuban-style beef soup features tender, slow-cooked beef simmered with potatoes, carrots, onions, and garlic. It's a one-pot comfort meal, best served over white rice. Cooking time is just under 1½ hours to ensure melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.
Guiso de Maíz (Cuban Corn Stew)
Cuban corn stew is a hearty, comforting soup featuring fresh corn, potatoes, smoked pork, and a tomato-based broth. The combination of corn cobs and loose kernels adds depth to the flavor. Cooking time is about 1 hour, with a little prep work involved to break down the corn.
Chícharos (Cuban Split Pea Soup)
Also known as sopa de chícharos or potaje de chícharos, this is a thick, smoky split pea soup made with smoked pork, vegetables, and spices. It's hearty, budget-friendly, and packed with flavor.
Sopa de Pollo (Cuban Chicken Soup)
A true Cuban classic! This homemade chicken soup is made with a rich broth, pumpkin, potatoes, carrots, celery, corn, and fidelini noodles. It takes time to make from scratch, but the deep, homemade flavor is unbeatable.
Sopa de Plátano (Plantain Soup)
A simple yet flavorful soup made with green plantains, onions, garlic, and broth. It has a thick, starchy texture and works well as a starter or light meal.
Chickpea Soup (Sopa de Garbanzos)
This Cuban-style chickpea soup (sopa de garbanzos) is hearty and flavorful. It's made with smoked pork shanks, canned chickpeas, vegetables, and spices-all simmered together to create a rich, satisfying soup that tastes like it's been cooking all day.
Caldo Gallego (Cuban-style White Bean Soup)
This Spanish-inspired soup has become a Cuban favorite. It's loaded with white beans, smoked ham, beef, chorizo, and vegetables. You'll find it in many Cuban restaurants, but it's even better when made at home.
I hope you enjoyed this collection of Cuban soups and stews and found a new recipe to add to your menu. Thanks for reading, and happy cooking!
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Amanda
My husband is from the Yucatán in Mexico, not all but a lot of the same ingredients seem to be used there as well,I’ve had some soups that are pretty similar to theses like the lentil soup
Elizabeth
Hi Amanda, I don't know a lot about the region but it is a tropical climate like Cuba. Perhaps that influences the produce grown and the cuisine that comes from it.
Julie
You can cut cooking time by making these in a pressure cooker.
Maritza
These recipes are wonderful and not knowing how to cook very well, I find these "recetas" extremely well explained and easy to follow. Thanks a million!
Elizabeth
Thank you Maritza, I'm so happy to hear that!