If you like rich, vibrant flavors and the culinary hodgepodge that comes about when many influences and culinary traditions collide, you’ll love Puerto Rican dishes and recipes. From Asia to Africa, Spain to Taino, all the best regional influences have collided to make our hearty Puerto Rican recipes like a hug on your plate.
Puerto Rican food recipes contain an almost bewildering diversity of ingredients that testify to the fusion of agriculture and forest life practiced in the region. Some of the primary ingredients include items like plátanos (plantains), yuca (cassava), yautía (taro root), and apio ñame (yams). They also use a lot of beans, rice, and legumes. The cooking techniques used here are generally simple and include stewing, frying, boiling, and roasting.
With so many different Puerto Rico food recipes to choose from, deciding what to make can be daunting. So, why not try some of the favorite dishes from this area? Sancocho, or meat stew, is a popular dish throughout much of the Caribbean thanks to its rich, hearty flavors. Or maybe dessert? Whether you call it Coconut Ice, coconut lollipops, or coconut icies, you can’t beat the smooth, cool flavors of this Puerto Rico food recipe.
In Puerto Rico, recipes generally have a fairly balanced nutritional profile, with even easy Puerto Rican recipes tending to be quite healthy. This is because your average Puerto Rican recipe focuses on whole, unprocessed foods. Puerto Rican recipes also often include beans, which are an excellent source of fiber. Additionally, even Puerto Rican dinner recipes contain fruits and vegetables that are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals.
But why are Puerto Rico foods and recipes so unique? It’s largely because this country has had so many influences due to colonization and slave labor. Influences from all over the world have poured into this country, affecting the flavor profile.
When you’re just starting out as a Puerto Rican Chef, it can be difficult knowing where to begin. We suggest starting out with some of the most-used bases and mixes, like sofrito (an aromatic base consisting of garlic, onions, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs), sazón (a spice blend with cumin, coriander, annatto, and salt), and adobo, a type of traditional meat rub.
There are so many excellent Puerto Rican foods and recipes out there that there’s something for everyone. If you know you want to try traditional Puerto Rican foods but you’re not sure where to start, check out our amazing recipes.
