The Comedic Journey of Making Stuffed Tostones in Cuba: "Funded by the CIA"

The young Cuban, Henry S Robert, known on Instagram as @itss_henryyy_, humorously recounted his attempt at preparing a beloved Cuban dish: stuffed tostones. "In this video, I'm going to show you how not to make stuffed tostones," Henry jokingly stated. His followers were in stitches as they watched him embark on the culinary adventure, starting with a machete in hand, venturing into the bush to find a bunch of burro bananas.

He peeled, sliced, and washed the small bananas, then poured what amounted to 600 pesos' worth of sunflower oil into a pan for the initial fry. He ensured the plantain slices were cooked just enough without becoming too golden. Using an antique masher—dating back to when his grandmother was just 15—he flattened each piece before shaping them into small bowls with a coffee cup. These little baskets were fried again until perfectly crispy.

The toughest part for Henry was deciding on a filling for the tostones. Opening a can, he shared a story that left his audience in fits of laughter: "This can of tuna is all I have left from my CIA funding." With this tongue-in-cheek remark, Henry highlighted the Cuban government's penchant for accusing content creators of receiving CIA support from the United States.

As a final step, Henry had to ensure his creation was fit for consumption. He selected the least appealing stuffed tostón and lovingly offered it to his cousin, who devoured it without incident. It’s clear that making stuffed tostones in Cuba requires more than just culinary skills—it also demands creative financing strategies, given the inadequacies of the Cuban salary.