If you plan to roast a whole pig, call your butcher well ahead of time. It may take a few days since most butchers have to special-order one, and you'll also need time to marinate it. Ask him to remove the head and feet unless you plan to make pig's head cheese or pig's feet as well. Vegetables and Fruits Aromatic vegetables, including onions, green peppers, and garlic, are essential to the Cuban pantry. With just these and a few tomatoes, you can make a sofrito , the base of many favorite dishes.
Avocados are ideal for Cuban soups and salads.
Plantains are members of the banana family which can be used at any point in their growth, from green and hard to overripe. They are used throughout the Cuban meal, from savory dishes to sweet. Check a plantain recipe you plan to use to determine what level of ripeness you need. Tropical tubers such as yuca , malanga , name , and boniatos are increasingly available at supermarkets in the United States. They are used in stews and as accompaniments to meat dishes.