Cuban Soul

A joyful Cuban cookbook from chef and rising star Mika Leon that offers 100 comforting family recipes highlighting Cuba's bold and complex flavors.

Food has always been the heartbeat of Mika Leon’s big, boisterous Cuban family. Her grandfather opened one of the first Cuban family-run restaurants in Valencia, Spain after fleeing political instability in his home country during the 1970s. When unrest then arose in Spain in the 1980s, her family moved to Miami where they ran a cantina from their backyard, and where Mika got her start in the family business. These warm memories and strong flavors built the foundation of Mika’s cooking and inspired her to start a catering company, which led to her first food truck, and eventually her own restaurant, Caja Caliente.  

Cuban Soul brings Mika’s family traditions to readers' kitchen with classic Cuban recipes and modern riffs for beginners and seasoned home cooks alike. There's everything from appetizers such as Empanadas de Carne (Beef Empanadas) to fully-loaded sandwiches—because one of the best things about being Cuban is the sandwich game. There’re also hearty pots of soup, stews, and beans that’ll warm readers' souls and flavorful takes on Cuban mainstays such as Pastelón (Plantain Lasagna) and Lechón Asado (Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder). Classic Cuban desserts and drinks including Pastelitos de Guayaba y Queso (Guava and Cheese Pastries) will have readers dancing the rumba in the kitchen.  

Featuring vibrant and lively photography alongside Mika’s personal stories, this book is a love letter to Cuban cuisine and the generation of cooks who’ve keep Cuban family traditions alive.  

• "As a total newbie when it comes to Cuban food, I feel that we’ve struck gold with Mika as our culinary ambassador. Her warm, joyful energy and bright, beautiful recipes invite you into a cuisine that she has so appropriately labeled as 'comfort food with a little extra swagger.' I love it!!”
  Molly Yeh, New York Times bestselling cookbook author and TV host
• "This book is a must-have for anyone who considers themselves a lover of food, a home cook ,or a cookbook geek. I have known Mika since the first days of the food truck and followed her career closely. I have eaten her food on many occasions and have been lucky to dine at one of her family's (justifiably) famous food gatherings. This isn't just another book about Cuban food. It is superbly written, has deep roots, and comes to you fully flavored. And it will change the way you look at food and seasoning! The recipes—and the food that comes from them—are addictively delicious. I love cooking from this beautifully bound set of edible memories."
  Chef Andrew Zimmern