Cuisine
The Puerto Rican cooking style is called "Cocina Criolla". The original Puerto Rican diet consisted of corn, seafood, & tropical fruit. After Ponce de Leon and Columbus arrived in 1493, beef, pork, wheat and olive oil were added to diet. Puerto Rico foods are similar to Spanish, Cuban and Mexican foods.
Appetizers & soups
Lunch and dinner usually begin with appetizers such as bacalaitos (crunchy cod fritters), empanadillas and soups.
Traditional soups include frjoles negros (black bean soup), sopon de pollo con arroz (chicken soup with rice), sopon de pescado (fish soup), and sopon de garbanzos con patas de cerdo (chickpea soup with pigs feet), which includes pumpkin, salt pork, chile peppers, cabbage, potatoes, and fresh cilantro leaves. Garbanzo beans are often added to give flavor, body and texture to Puerto Rican soups.
The most traditional Puerto Rican dish is asopao, a hearty gumbo made with either chicken or shellfish, flavored with oregano, garlic, paprika, salt pork, cured ham, green peppers, chile peppers, onions, cilantro, tomatoes and olives.
Traditional soups include frjoles negros (black bean soup), sopon de pollo con arroz (chicken soup with rice), sopon de pescado (fish soup), and sopon de garbanzos con patas de cerdo (chickpea soup with pigs feet), which includes pumpkin, salt pork, chile peppers, cabbage, potatoes, and fresh cilantro leaves. Garbanzo beans are often added to give flavor, body and texture to Puerto Rican soups.
The most traditional Puerto Rican dish is asopao, a hearty gumbo made with either chicken or shellfish, flavored with oregano, garlic, paprika, salt pork, cured ham, green peppers, chile peppers, onions, cilantro, tomatoes and olives.
Main Dishes
Adobo and sofrito are blends of herbs and spices that give many of the foods their distinct taste and color. Abodo is made by blending peppercorns, oregano, garlic, salt, olive oil, and lime juice, and is rubbed into meats before they are roasted. Sofrito is a combination of aromatic ingredients like onions, garlic, coriander and peppers browned in olive oil and colored with achiote (annatto seeds), which gives the bright yellow color to rice, soups and stews.
Meat pies, stews, fried beefsteak with onions, chicken with rice, fresh ham or fish, lamb or veal are all typical main dishes.
Traditionally for picnics or large outdoor parties, Lechon asado (barbequed pig) is cooked. The pig is basted with sour orange juice and achiote coloring, and served with a traditional sour garlic sauce. Green plantains are roasted and served as a side.
Puerto Ricans produce a wide variety of vegetables. Plantains are a variety of banana which can be eaten ripe, baked, fried, or boiled. Deep fried plantains may accompany fish, meat or poultry dishes. The national dish, called mofongo is made with fried and mashed plantains mixed with shrimp, bacon, olive oil and garlic.
Rice is a staple food of the Puerto Rican diet and can be prepared in many ways including white with kidney beans or with garbanzo beans.
Meat pies, stews, fried beefsteak with onions, chicken with rice, fresh ham or fish, lamb or veal are all typical main dishes.
Traditionally for picnics or large outdoor parties, Lechon asado (barbequed pig) is cooked. The pig is basted with sour orange juice and achiote coloring, and served with a traditional sour garlic sauce. Green plantains are roasted and served as a side.
Puerto Ricans produce a wide variety of vegetables. Plantains are a variety of banana which can be eaten ripe, baked, fried, or boiled. Deep fried plantains may accompany fish, meat or poultry dishes. The national dish, called mofongo is made with fried and mashed plantains mixed with shrimp, bacon, olive oil and garlic.
Rice is a staple food of the Puerto Rican diet and can be prepared in many ways including white with kidney beans or with garbanzo beans.
Desserts
Common desserts include custard (flan), orange layer cake, banana cupcakes, guava cakes, guava jelly with white cheese, and nisperos de batata (sweet potato balls with coconut & cinnamon).
Coconut is the most common dessert ingredient. Its milk is used in coconut flan, coconut cream desserts, and candied coconut rice.
Pumpkin is not only used as a vegetable or to flavor soups, but also to make the base of traditional Puerto Rican cakes.
Many preserves and jellies are made in Puerto Rico. Papayas are made into desserts with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Mangoes may also be used as a preserve or may be eaten raw.
Coconut is the most common dessert ingredient. Its milk is used in coconut flan, coconut cream desserts, and candied coconut rice.
Pumpkin is not only used as a vegetable or to flavor soups, but also to make the base of traditional Puerto Rican cakes.
Many preserves and jellies are made in Puerto Rico. Papayas are made into desserts with sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Mangoes may also be used as a preserve or may be eaten raw.
Drinks
Puerto Ricans are typically heavy coffee drinkers, whether it be black or with milk (cafe con leche)
It is normal to order a beer (cerveza) while dining out, since wine is not produced. The most popular brand of beer is called Medalla.
Puerto Rico is the world’s leading rum producer, which is also their national drink. Local favorites include Rum and Coke (Cuba Libre) and Pina Colada (made with coconut cream and pineapple juice).
Other traditional drinks include;
Malta (soft drink)- Puerto Rico withhold more companies producing Malta then any other in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Ajonjoli- A drink made from ground sesame seeds, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Ground rice, milk, coconut milk, evaporated milk, allspice, and rum are sometimes added.
Horchata- Whole or ground oatmeal with spiced milk. Milk is usually boiled with butter, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lemon peel. Vanilla and coconut milk can be added.
Frappe tropical- Parcha juice, coconut cream, banana, and chucks of pineapple blended.
It is normal to order a beer (cerveza) while dining out, since wine is not produced. The most popular brand of beer is called Medalla.
Puerto Rico is the world’s leading rum producer, which is also their national drink. Local favorites include Rum and Coke (Cuba Libre) and Pina Colada (made with coconut cream and pineapple juice).
Other traditional drinks include;
Malta (soft drink)- Puerto Rico withhold more companies producing Malta then any other in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Ajonjoli- A drink made from ground sesame seeds, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Ground rice, milk, coconut milk, evaporated milk, allspice, and rum are sometimes added.
Horchata- Whole or ground oatmeal with spiced milk. Milk is usually boiled with butter, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, lemon peel. Vanilla and coconut milk can be added.
Frappe tropical- Parcha juice, coconut cream, banana, and chucks of pineapple blended.
Grains &
|
Vegetableschayote
carrot yuca cauliflower corn potatoes sweet potatoes pumpkin squash eggplant cucumber asparagus tomatoes |
Fruitsmangoes
limes bananas cherries apricots apples pineapple tangerines guava papaya coconuts |
Meat & dairybacon
beef chorizo chicken lamb pork fish sausage whole milk cheese |
fats & oilsolive oil
corn oil |