Vibrant, transportive Puerto Rican flavors are influenced by the Indigenous Taíno folks, Spanish settlers, enslaved folks from Africa and India, and substances rising on the Caribbean island. Annatto and sofrito outline a lot of Puerto Rican delicacies, and adobo seasoning is a staple. One other condiment, pique, is part of every day life, together with plantains and rice. In fact, it is the folks that distinguish the delicacies, from grandmothers to movie star cooks, and now we have Puerto Rican recipes from each camps. Listed here are a number of the hottest Puerto Rican food and drinks specialties to channel the flavors of the island in your kitchen.
Pernil Mac and Cheese
At Boricua Soul in Durham, North Carolina, Serena and Toriano Fredericks serve Puerto Rican–fashion roast pork shoulder on prime of a wealthy and creamy mac and cheese. Pernil is flavored with garlic, oregano, and sazón — a seasoning mix that features coriander and annatto.
Asopao
Chef JJ Johnson fills this Puerto Rican stew with rice and loads of greens, then tops it with spiced floor rooster for a hearty and sustaining dish.
Kingfish Escabeche
Kingfish escabeche (additionally known as escovitch fish) is a pickled and marinated fish dish served all through Puerto Rico. Jose Enrique cooks kingfish steaks over coals relatively than frying, and his sauce leans closely on rice vinegar and honey.
Piña Colada
The Piña Colada, Spanish for “strained pineapple,” was created in Puerto Rico and have become the Caribbean island’s nationwide drink in 1978. It sometimes combines rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut — this thick, luscious model makes use of white and darkish rum, coconut milk, lime juice, vanilla, and even mild brown sugar.
Pollo Guisado
2019 F&W Finest New Chef Kwame Onwuachi drew inspiration from flavors he loved whereas rising up within the Bronx for this marinated rooster soup he calls a competition of consolation. Onwuachi says Puerto Rican abuelitas put together this for his or her grandchildren. His model requires annatto, sofrito, a contact of cumin, and a little bit of home spice.
Lamb Pastelón (Puerto Rican-Fashion Plantain Casserole)
This in style Puerto Rican casserole options ripe plantains which can be sliced lengthwise and baked till tender and evenly caramelized after which layered with a spiced floor meat filling and melty mozzarella cheese. Chef JJ Johnson opts for floor lamb as a substitute of the extra conventional beef filling for additional richness.
Coquito
Coquito, or “little coconut,” is a creamy rum punch historically served in Puerto Rico for Christmas and all through the winter holidays. Every household has their very own recipe. This one from Shamil Velázquez is wealthy with viscosity from coconut cream and three forms of milk, whereas warming spices and white rum add aroma and taste.
Pernil Asado (Garlicky Roast Pork Shoulder)
San Juan chef Jose Enrique marinates this ultraflavorful Puerto Rican traditional roast pork shoulder in a single day in a mix of citrus, garlic, and herbs, then cooks slowly within the oven till it is deeply caramelized.
Mamposteao with Shrimp and Adobo
The Puerto Rican dish mamposteao combines pre-cooked rice and beans (sure, leftovers work properly right here) with sofrito and an adobo spice mix. Chef Eric Rivera’s model contains shrimp and a heat citrus sauce.
Smoky Simmered Beans with Sofrito
Von Diaz grew up consuming sofrito, a base of sauteed aromatics, due to her Puerto Rican household. It is the inspiration of taste for these savory, creamy beans, and the recipe yields additional that you should use for soups, stews, and different bean dishes.
Guava Quesitos
Quesitos (“little cheeses”) are golden and flakey pastry twists stuffed with sugar-sweetened cream cheese. At 787 Espresso, with places in Puerto Rico and New York Metropolis, quesitos de guayaba are stuffed with guava paste and cream cheese, for distinct sweetness and floral notes.
Candy Potato Cheesecake Empanadas
At Boricua Soul in Durham, North Carolina, Serena and Toriano Fredericks mix flavors from Puerto Rico and the American South. You see it on this dessert empanada with marshmallow-topped candy potato casserole, spiced pumpkin cheesecake, crisp pastry, and a caramel drizzle.
Puerto Rican Pink Beans and Rice
Pink beans and rice recipes are ubiquitous in lots of cuisines for a cause: kidney beans take in a ton of taste and, when served over rice, will hold you full for hours. Whereas some cooks use ham or sausage, Emily Farris makes use of bacon lardons on this Puerto Rican-inspired model.
Pique (Puerto Rican–Fashion Sizzling Sauce)
Toriano Fredericks makes this Puerto Rican sizzling sauce in-house at Boricua Soul. The easy, fiery pepper vinegar condiment contains jalapeño and habanero chiles for a extra advanced chile taste.
Pan-Seared Skirt Steaks with Carrot Puree and Braised Cabbage
At Jungle BaoBao in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2019 F&W Finest New Chef Paxx Caraballo Moll superbly composes velvety carrot puree, tender pan-seared steaks, and braised cabbage, topping the dish with a recent, punchy cilantro gremolata.
Mofongo with Shrimp
Benny’s Seafood in Miami makes this Puerto Rican consolation meals with fried inexperienced plantains, garlic, salt, and chicharrones (crunchy pork rinds). Serve the mofongo with rooster broth on the facet or prime it with meat or seafood, like sautéed shrimp.
Arroz con Chorizo (Puerto Rican Rice with Sausage)
Emily Farris provides this Puerto Rican rice dish the correct amount of kick with spicy sausage, annatto oil, and adobo seasoning. We have now recipes for arroz con pollo and a model of Puerto Rican rice with shrimp, too.
Tostones: Savory Plantains
Cookbook creator Lourdes Castro fries up agency and inexperienced plantains for this quintessential Caribbean snack.