A Cuban has gone viral on TikTok after humorously and resignedly showcasing how he prepares what he calls "third-world spaghetti," reflecting the everyday difficulties of cooking on the island amid scarcity.
In the video published by the user @suzanitacubana4, the young man invites his followers to join him in preparing the dish while explaining that making something as simple as spaghetti can be complicated in Cuba.
"Join me in making third-world spaghetti... because yes, I live in Cuba, and it's a bit complicated to make spaghetti here," she says at the beginning of the clip.
The creator shows the few available ingredients: spaghetti and tomato paste, with which he improvises a sauce in a pan. To stretch the mixture further, he adds water and "all-purpose" seasoning, while joking about the creativity needed to cook in the country.
One of the most striking details was its "secret" ingredient: sugar, which is added to the sauce to give it a sweet touch. Then, vinegar is incorporated to achieve a sweet and sour flavor.
The video also highlights the precariousness of household utensils. The young man explains that he doesn't have a grater for cheese, so he uses a fork to crumble it. He also lacks a strainer for draining pasta, so he resorts to a small vessel.
Finally, he serves the dish with pride and concludes with laughter: “Look how delicious those spaghetti turned out… want some? Well, no, because they’re mine.”
The clip has generated numerous reactions on social media, where many Cubans relate to the scene and comment that creativity in the kitchen has become essential due to the scarcity of food and utensils on the island.
Amid the economic crisis the country is experiencing, videos like this frequently appear on social media, showcasing how Cubans improvise to prepare basic meals with the little they manage to obtain.
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