Guiso de Maiz

Guiso basically translates into Stew. This typical "Corn Stew" Guiso de Maiz is a traditional Cuban dish I grew up eating. It is one of my favorites. I grew up loving corn and butternut squash. I join the two in this dish and they make a beautiful marriage together. Its a total comfort food. Normally I would cook it in the Fall, but got corn laying around, good way to use it up, very filling and can feed up quite a bit. We serve it with white rice or you may eat it alone. I might add, sweet fried plantains never hurt to accompany this savory yet subtly corn sweet dish. Give it a try.

Guiso de Maiz

1 lb of cubed up Ham
Olive Oil
1 White Onion, chopped
6 Garlic Cloves, minced
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped
4 Goya Chorizo, sliced
6 oz. Cooking Wine
1/4 tsp. Black Pepper
2 Goya Azafran packets
1 small can of tomato sauce
3 cups Water
4 medium Yukon Gold Potatoes, diced
1 Butternut Squash, cubed
2 cups, fresh cut off the cob corn kernals (you may use frozen)
3 cobs of corn cut split each into 4 mini cobs
2 bay leaves


1. Put enough oil to coat deep pot. Heat up and add the ham, onion, garlic and peppers. Saute for a couple minutes. Add the tomato sauce, chorizo, black pepper, goya seasoning packet, bay leaves, cooking wine, water and potatoes.

2. When potatoes start to become soft add all the corn and squash. Let it cook on low for another 20-30. Serve with rice or eat with a spoon. I'm sure just some good crusty bread would be good with this to dip in. Add some heat to it. Almost put some red pepper flakes, but decided to go traditional.

All I have to say about Cuban food...once you go Cuban..you can't go back. It will open your taste buds to a whole new world of flavors. This was very flavorful and didn't even need salt. The ham has salt in it and cooking wine also. YUMMO!!! Esta bien..as some would say. :)