Cuban "themed" appetizer

[katluvr]

I am going to a friends house on Thursday.
She is making Roast Cuban Pork, black beans and rice, plantains adn creme caramel for dessert (and YES, she is an excellent cook).

I am to bring an appetizer. So in lieu of taking "chips and salsa" ...what can I make (fairly easy) and take?

Any ideas? I tried searching, but found complicated things or not many appetizers and she is doing the plantains.

(yes, I know technically w/ all that food we don't need an appetizer!)

HELP!:eek:

[Pedal Wench]

A tropical fruit salad, or a green salad with tropical fruits thrown in - mangoes and pineapples to cut through the other heavier foods.

[kacie tri-ing]

Plantains?

[lph]

A large caipirinha for each. After that everything tastes appetizing. :p

[OakLeaf]

Aren't those Brazilian?

What about some type of ceviche, or vegetable "ceviche?"

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

In Puerto Rico (many foods in common with Cuba) they used to serve small slices of thick guava jelly on slices of soft mild white 'farmer's cheese'. I often see guava jelly in the 'ethnic foods' section of the regular supermarket. You can use papaya or mango jelly instead too.

Of course there's always fried blood sausage as appetizer..... :cool:

[Zen]

Plantains?

Do you not know what they are or do you not know how they're an appetizer?

[kacie tri-ing]

:DI did not know if she would like the idea :D And they are really very south american....I love them...salty and fried:p

[katluvr]

lph...had to look those up...they are Brazilain.
We are "wino's" so will probably do wine.

BleekerSt_girl...I had those at a wind tasting. Yum, but worry they are more dessert like.

Oak...cerviche...hmmmmmm, maybe

I was thinking of a "dip" like appetizer. I could make a salsa and make it more...cuban... thoughts!

Thanks for all the input (and so fast!)

K

[Zen]

Saltines and Velveeta.

[katluvr]

Saltines and Velveeta.

yeah...which there was a "cuban" cheese and crackers. I would love to take the easy way out!

[Zen]

Put a little piece of roasted red pepper on top :)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I was thinking of a "dip" like appetizer. I could make a salsa and make it more...cuban... thoughts!

That's easy- black bean dip with some jalapeno and fresh cilantro chopped in.
Saltines for the dip might indeed be more 'Cuban' than the usual corn chips. Corn/tortilla stuff is more a Mexican thing...the Caribbean is more rice and beans and bread based.

[pfunk12]

Mojitos? ;)

[Owlie]

Mojitos? ;)

I like the way you think!

[pfunk12]

Mojitos contain lime(s). They aren't 100% liquid. So I think they can be considered an appetizer! :p


I like the way you think!

[OakLeaf]

Mojitos contain lime(s). They aren't 100% liquid. So I think they can be considered an appetizer! :p

Fruit (lime) and vegetable (mint). There ya go! :D

Oh, and the one I had tonight was garnished with a slice of sugar cane. That's got to be another food group.

[katluvr]

I am still in a dilemma...I wanted to be creative, but I also wanted an easy way out.

I may concede to chips and salsa (yeah, not cuban)
Or cheese and crackers (using a spicy cheeses--and yes not cuban)

But now the mojito thought is hanging out there....hmmmmmmm, should be easy, light and refreshing...just maybe.

Thanks!
K

[Crankin]

Ever since that TdF ad for Mojitos a couple of years ago, we have been making them once in awhile. The liquor store even gave us a free pestle thing (there's a proper name for this thing) to mash the ingredients.
Go for it.

[Zen]

Muddler is the tool