Cooking with Serg

The living cookbook

Serg's Recipes

Every recipe here is mine: tested in my backyard, seasoned at 1.5x, and cooked by temperature. New dishes get added as I cook them. Can't find what you need? Ask me directly.

Signature Fusion14+ hrs

Smoked Cuban Brisket

Texas smoke meets Cuban citrus. My signature cook and the reason people show up to my backyard hungry.

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Low & Slow12+ hrs, plus a 24 hr brine

Pulled Pork Cubano

Bone-in pork butt, brined a full day, smoked low and slow, then pulled with a splash of mojo. Shred it. Pile it.

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Quick Sear20 min, plus 2+ hr marinade

Cuban Palomilla Steak

Thin-cut sirloin in sour orange and garlic, seared hard and fast, topped with the marinated onions. Eaten faster.

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Abuela ApprovedAbout 1 hr

Chícharos con Todo

Yellow split pea potaje on real sofrito with two ham hocks, chorizo, potatoes, and butternut squash. Comfort that hits every time.

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Instant PotAbout 1 hr 30 min

Frijoles Negros de Verdad

The Sunday version: real potaje de frijoles negros in the Instant Pot. A whole pepper boils with the beans, the sofrito gets mashed beans, vino seco, and vinegar, and it finishes with a whisper of sugar.

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Pantry Save12 min

Quick Black Beans in a Pinch

Serg's go-to quick black beans: big Cuban flavor from pantry staples in under 15 minutes.

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Instant PotAbout 2 hrs

Cuban Ropa Vieja

Classic Cuban braised shredded beef in a rich tomato and pepper sofrito. Named for the shredded beef that looks like tattered old clothes.

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Weeknight30 min

Cuban Picadillo

Cuban ground beef hash with olives, capers, and a hint of sweetness from raisins. The weeknight workhorse.

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Instant Pot1 hr 15 min

Carne con Papa

Classic Cuban beef and potato stew. Fork-tender chuck in a sofrito tomato sauce with potatoes that soak up everything.

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Instant Pot1 hr

Pollo en Salsa with Potatoes

Drumsticks braised in a sofrito tomato sauce with Yukon Golds tucked right into the pot. Big-batch Cuban comfort.

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Instant Pot45 min

Chicken Yellow Rice

One-pot arroz con pollo energy: golden turmeric rice and tender chicken thighs, all in the Instant Pot.

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Special Occasion45 min

Enchilado de Langosta

Cuban lobster in creole sauce: lobster gently stewed in sofrito, tomato, white wine, and warm spices.

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Slow CookerAbout 5 hrs

Slow Cooker Mojo Pork Loin

Pork loin in bright citrus, garlic, and cumin, cooked low and slow for tender, juicy slices.

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4-Hour MoveAbout 4 hrs

Quick Smoked Pork Shoulder

For when you have 4 hours and a pork shoulder. Mustard-citrus binder, heavy Cuban rub, low and slow until tender.

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Project Cook7 days

Homemade Smoked Bacon

Pork belly cured for a week and smoked over fruit wood on the Traeger. Plan ahead. Worth it.

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The Foundation10 min

Serg's Sofrito

The base for half my Cuban dishes. Chícharos, frijoles, picadillo, ropa vieja: it all starts here. No jars. Ever.

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The Sauce10 min, plus 30 min rest

Serg's Mojo

Citrus and garlic with a punch. Marinade, finishing sauce, dipping sauce. Bold or it's not mojo.

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Oven BakeAbout 1 hr 15 min

Stick of Butter Chicken and Rice

The one-dish wonder: uncooked rice, mushrooms, onion soup, a whole stick of butter, and seasoned thighs baked on top. Zero pots, maximum comfort.

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