You can put out the usual food fare of Super Bowl appetizers and small bites like nachos, sliders and Buffalo wings that everyone looks forward to having while watching the football. But why not make things interesting this year and make the food that represents each city as well? Two recipes that definitely need to be on your Super Bowl 2021 menu are: Kansas City Chiefs and Barbecue Ribs vs. The Cuban Sandwich of Tampa Bay Buccaneers!
Barbecue Ribs
You can’t go wrong with barbecue ribs. They are always a welcome addition to the menu on game day and you can adjust the seasonings to a mild bit of heat, or more of a blast with your dry rub and wet ingredients. Food television personality Katie Lee shared her recipe with Parade saying, “I don’t have a smoker and most people cooking at home don’t either. So I wanted to come up with a recipe that had the tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, sticky barbecue sauce and a smoky flavor, which comes from finishing them on the grill.” Lee’s recipe also includes a method for reducing the braising liquid and using it to add flavor to a store-bought bottled barbecue sauce, which is a great idea to boost freshness and a hint of grilled background notes.
The Cuban Sandwich
A Cuban sandwich is a variation of a ham and cheese sandwich that is believed to have originated in cafes catering to Cuban workers in Tampa and Miami. The popular sandwich is made with ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, a generous helping of pickles and tangy mustard layered on Cuban bread. It’s a pressed sandwich made on a griddle until golden and crispy on the outside and the aroma wafting out of restaurants (or from street vendors) is a regular part of Tampa life, or Floridian culture in general. Parade Chef John Ashton talked about his Cuban sandwich recipe in his “What America Eats” series for Parade and you can watch him get tips for making this beloved sandwich from a popular Florida chef who shares variations on the classic and a little history about the Florida food staple. So, are you Team Kansas City Barbecue Ribs or Team Tampa Bay Cuban Sandwich? The nice part of the food Super Bowl celebration is everyone’s a winner! Up next, do you know how many Super Bowls has Tom Brady won?
