Cuban bread is well-known and widely consumed in Latin American cuisine. It is different from other pieces of bread because of the lard or vegetable shortening added while making the bread dough. The bread is served with butter for breakfast or in a hot coffee mug.
Some like to make Cuban sandwiches as well. The problem with this type of bread is that it goes bad quickly because of its lack of preservatives. So, if you can’t find any Cuban bread in a nearby market or want bread that will last a long time, we have listed the top substitutes for Cuban bread.
The fat enhances the taste of the bread. However, it quickens the process of drying the bread, making it not a great choice for long-term use. As a result, Cuban bread is consumed fresh on the day it is prepared. Many chefs make the bread without lard to prevent drying.
The top and sides of the bread have a firm, papery, toasted, golden-brown crust. The interior, on the other hand, is delicate and flaky.
The ingredients used are simple, like flour, yeast, salt, sugar, lard or vegetable shortening (an optional ingredient), and cornmeal. The overall process is like baking a simple loaf of bread and has no out-of-this-world technicalities involved.
If you’ve already tasted a piece of Cuban bread, you know it’s delicious! However, these pieces of bread are extremely hard to come by. That is why people often look for alternatives.
Regardless of how you intend to use this bread, you should consider the three key qualities of the Cuban loaf and the prospective substitute when selecting an alternative.
The Key Qualities of Cuban Bread
- Crust
The crust of authentic Cuban bread is thin but rather firm. This adds texture to each bite without requiring you to rip it off.
- Crumb
The inside crumbs of this loaf are light and fluffy. However, it does not have the air pockets found in ciabatta or sourdough; instead, it is more like baguettes in that aspect.
- Flavor
The flavor of this bread will fluctuate depending on the recipe. However, this bread is often on the sweeter side of the scale.
Substitutes for Cuban Bread
1. French Bread Baguette
French bread is a long, narrow bread with round edges and a chewy texture. Baguette is the most common form consumed worldwide. It is considered white bread. Because it is illegal in France to add fat to bread, the ingredients are as minimal as possible.
So, it is made using flour, yeast, salt, and water. The baking method used is electric ovens. It can be made at home too by spraying water during baking.
Surprisingly enough, French bread has a sweet taste, although it does not contain sugar. It is a top example of sweet bread.
The French people focus on a crusty and crispy crumbs. Some people take the crumb as stiff because Americans do not eat the crumb of bread. The truth is that it is chewy and not stiff. It is the preference of most Americans to eat bread without a crust.
Besides its taste and other characteristics, French bread has versatile uses in the kitchen. They use it on pizza as a crust or as a topping in French onion soup. It goes well with cheeses like Provolone. Furthermore, you can use it in a bread pudding or to make garlic bread.
The health benefits include iron, zinc, and vitamin B. The downside of French bread is that it is not a whole grain loaf, meaning the fiber content is low.
2. Italian Bread Focaccia
The Italians have made this delicious treat for the world, proving them to be experts in the culinary world. The shape of this bread is flat and circular.
Italian bread can be made with only a handful of ingredients, including flour, yeast, salt, and water. The usage of sugar, olive oil, and milk differs from that of the French.
The classic Italian bread recipe utilizes the flat stone oven as the baking method. The taste of this bread is savory. A common type of Italian bread is Focaccia, which has a savory flavor.
It’s impossible to talk about Italy and not mention pasta. This bread can be served alongside the spaghetti. It’s served with extra olive oil and a variety of sauces. Vitamin B1 and iron are among their nutrients.
3. Anadama Bread
Anadama bread, which emerged in New England, is well-known for its unusual sensory characteristics. Because of the mix of yeast, rye flour, wheat flour, and corn, it has a strong yeasty scent that may be sensed from a distance.
This Anadama meal has a distinctive brown-yellowish appearance, with a brown fragrance on the outside and a yellow scent on the inside. Furthermore, the sharpness of the bread will amaze you at first glance.
4. White Bread
White bread is one of the world’s most popular breakfasts. You can wake up late at office time, and rush towards the road while munching a sandwich.
The white sandwich has a smooth, delicate texture that is pleasant to squeeze. There is no crumb emission when eating the sandwich, which is comfortable enough. However, its flavor is a little bland at first, but the more you chew, the sweeter it becomes.
5. Ciabatta
For two purposes, we had to include ciabatta in the list. The first characteristic is its smooth texture and exceptionally open, fluffy crumbs. The second advantage is its enormous size, which is ideal for creating sandwiches.
These bread rolls are relatively simple to bake at home. And people adore its crunchy exterior, even if it is slightly thicker than that of Cuban bread.
6. Challah
Challah is a Jewish bread that is traditionally used during Jewish holidays such as Passover and Shabbat. Many of you are fairly familiar with Challah and have even tasted it.
This woven bread is incredibly soft and has a very sweet taste. And the crumbs aren’t at all stiff or crunchy. However, due to its amazing flavor and texture, it has become a relatively widespread alternative.
7. Brioche
Many people mix up challah with brioche, although they are not the same thing. Brioche is a highly enriched loaf that is abundant in fat, particularly butter. It imparts a wonderfully rich, creamy, and sweet flavor to this bread.
It also has an extremely soft feel and a crust comparable to white bread. So, if you want a crispy crust, simply roast it a little.
8. American bread
American bread is not like the other sorts of bread stated here, but it can be used when you can’t get anything else. It is an easy replacement because you usually have it at home or at a nearby store.
Bottom Line
Cuban bread is a vital ingredient for Latin Americans. It has a distinct taste and baking procedure. The alternatives to Cuban bread have a name of their own. French and Italian bread are the trademarks of the world’s best loaves of bread.
French bread is a delicious, lengthy loaf created using everyday ingredients. Italian bread, on the other hand, is circular in shape and has a savory flavor. Thus, if you want to replace Cuban bread, you have some great options to make a nice meal for your family and friends.