This lentil vegetable soup is so good you won’t miss the meat. In this recipe, lentils are cooked with tomatoes, a combination of spices and mixed vegetables. It’s great for weeknights since lentils cook pretty fast (by bean standards). It’s a delicious meatless meal that’s hearty and satisfying.

This lentil soup is flavored with andouille sausage and vegetables. Since the andouille is so flavorful we can keep the rest of the ingredients to a minimum. It’s great for weeknights, because it comes together quickly. Plus you get a big pot, perfect for lunches and leftovers.

Carne con Papas translates to beef with potatoes. It’s a popular Cuban dish, and like most Cuban food, it’s made with simple, affordable ingredients. The ingredients in carne con papas are similar to what you’d put in a beef stew, but it is saucy instead of soupy.

This bacon and lentil soup is easy to make and delicious. In this recipe, bacon is cooked until crispy, then onions, carrots, celery and garlic are sautéed in the drippings. Add a few spices and you’ll have a hearty and flavorful pot of lentils. This soup is great for weeknights since lentils cook up pretty quick; by bean standards.

This creamy vegetable soup recipe is a snap to make and delicious. There is no cream used in this “creamy” soup. Instead we get a creamy texture by pureeing the soup. Loaded with carrots, celery, onions, pumpkin, zucchini, potatoes, sweet potatoes and plenty of garlic, this soup is satisfying, without weighing you down.

Chicken Fricassee is the ultimate in Cuban comfort food. In Spanish it’s called Fricase de Pollo, and it’s dark meat chicken braised in a flavorful tomato sauce until it is fall-off-the-bone. Tender potatoes and salty olives finish this dish beautifully. Serve the chicken fricassee on generous bed of white rice for a filling, delicious, meal.

This sausage and white bean soup is loaded with vegetables, including onions, carrots, celery and spinach. It gets a ton of flavor from Italian sausage, and creamy cannellini beans make this soup a meal! The prep work is really simple, and it doesn’t take a long cooking time to get a delicious, nourishing bowl of soup. It’s perfect for weeknights, cold nights, well… any night.

When you think Cuban food, beans are usually on the menu. In Spanish this dish is called frijoles colorados, and they’re a staple in Cuban cuisine. The beans are made with simple ingredients including herbs, spices and pork. The pork used is typically an inexpensive cut. Smoked ham hocks or shanks, sausage, or a leftover, meaty ham bone are all good options. Cuban style red beans are traditionally served with white rice as a side dish, or as a stand-alone soup.

In this recipe, chicken thighs are braised in a delicious mushroom and garlic sauce. This meal is really easy to make so it’s perfect for busy weeknights. Prep is minimal, and it comes together quickly. Serve the braised chicken thighs with noodles or mashed potatoes with a generous amount of the mushroom and garlic sauce for a satisfying meal.

This is a Cuban Corn Stew called Guiso de Maiz in Spanish. It’s a traditional Cuban dish, and like most Cuban recipes this stew is made from easy to find, affordable ingredients. Made with pork stew meat, corn, potatoes and spices, this stew is perfect for tight budgets and hungry appetites.