Savor the Flavor: 14 Tantalizing Fun Facts About Puerto Rican Cuisine You Need to Know

1. Mofongo: Plantain Mash Marvel

When life gives you green plantains, make Mofongo: a tantalizing treat that brilliantly blends African, Spanish, and Taíno culinary prowess into one delicious dish! This scrumptious starch ball is traditionally mashed with salt, garlic, broth, and olive oil, then generously filled with delightful morsels like pork cracklings, veggies, or even seafood. At ease, fast food aficionados: Mofongo is on standby, conveniently served in food trucks around Puerto Rico, Florida, New York, and other parts of the USA.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Arroz con Gandules: Puerto Rican Pea Party

If Puerto Rican arroz con gandules held a dinner party, there'd be no uninvited peas: This savory dish features rice and gandules, a legume family that loves to bring their sofrito and sazón, turning it into a marigold fiesta. Here's the dish: A caldero pot, passed down generations, fuses these ingredients together with each family's flavor to create a meal often shared at social events and celebrations.
Source => delishdlites.com

Did you know that the Dominican Republic has a unique way of enjoying spaghetti? 🍝 Experience a pasta party like never before, with rice, plantains and even some delicious meaty additions! Your taste buds will thank you. 😋 Discover this scrumptious culinary fusion now!

=> Fun Facts about Dominican-Republic-Food

3. Tripleta: A Meaty Sandwich Symphony

In an ode to the culinary art of overstuffed sandwiches, Puerto Rico has composed a meaty symphony that brings taste buds to a standing ovation, affectionately dubbed the "Tripleta" – hold your applause, please. A gastronome's dream: this mighty feast in a bun harmoniously unites seasoned lechon pork, grilled steak, and ham, while supporting players like cheese, lettuce, tomato, cabbage, and onion provide their satisfying crunch, bundled up in either a flat, panini-style bread or a soft hoagie roll. Rejoice in this edible epic's tribute to the island's history, heritage, and flavor!
Source => kingshawaiian.com

4. Coquito: Eggnog's Tropical Cousin

If eggnog went on a tropical vacation and got a sun-kissed glow, we'd call it Coquito: a tasty Puerto Rican delight made from canned coconut milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk. With a foggy past akin to an episode of X-Files, the origins of this exotic concoction can be traced to Spanish and English settlers adapting their recipes to the Caribbean. Coquito shakes things up by sparking heated debates on whether it should contain eggs or not and stays fashionable by flaunting a shot or aperitif glass. Much like your favorite seasonal tunes, it's best enjoyed during the holiday season.
Source => curiouscuisiniere.com

5. Tostones: The Globe-Trotting Plantain

A plantain walks into a bar and orders a drink - the bartender says, "I'll fry you now or later?" A confused plantain replies, "I'll take a double fry, sir, and I'm also a globe-trotter!": Known as tostones in Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, these twice-fried green plantain slices are cherished in Colombia, Peru, and Costa Rica as patacones, making their crispy presence felt all across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Source => stopandcompare.net

6. Pastelón: Plantain Fiesta Lasagna

If lasagna and plantains had a love child that loved to party, the result would be undeniably Puerto Rican: Pastelón isn't your abuela's lasagna, folks, it's a tantalizing food fusion of layers that includes fried sweet plantains, ground beef filling, and cheese, creating a scrumptious casserole loaded with rich flavors and perfect for any fiesta.
Source => simplyrecipes.com

7. Limber: Lindbergh's Frosty Treat

Did you hear about the time Charles Lindbergh put Puerto Rico on ice? It's not a Marvel crossover, but a refreshingly frosty origin story: In the 1920s, the famous pilot introduced the island to what locals would later call "limber," a frozen juice treat that became an icy island staple ever since.
Source => finedininglovers.com

8. Besitos de Coco: Coconut Kisses

Coconut macaroons, or as they're known in Puerto Rico, Besitos de Coco: a dessert so delectable, they can turn the most dedicated coconut-hating grump into a passionate macaroon devotee! Seriously though: these delightful little "cookie kisses" are made with just a few simple ingredients – sweetened coconut flakes, flour, egg yolks, sugar, butter, and vanilla extract – creating a treat that's light, fluffy, and chewy, all at once.
Source => kidsareatrip.com

9. Sofrito: Puerto Rico's Flavor Superhero

If there was a Puerto Rican Justice League, sofrito would undoubtedly be their secret weapon to save the world from bland cuisine: This culinary crusader is a blend of onions, cubanelle peppers, garlic, cilantro, ajices dulces, culantro, tomatoes, and red pepper, mashed into a heavenly paste that serves as a flavor-packed base for dishes like yellow rice and chicken, potato stew, and even has the power to freeze – for those times you need a quick boost of deliciousness in the kitchen.
Source => seriouseats.com

10. Asopao: Heart-warming Midnight Soup

Move over, chicken soup for the soul; it's time for Asopao to warm our hearts and tummies: Asopao is a signature Puerto Rican soup often compared to risotto, featuring chicken and festive Latin seasonings like adobo and sazon, typically served during the holidays or as a midnight treat for guests – although no guarantees on mending a broken heart or a growling stomach!
Source => delishdlites.com

11. Chicharrones de Pollo: Cornstarch Magic

When you think of legendary secrets, you might envision a hidden treasure map or a cryptic message written in invisible ink; but behold, the grand mystery unveiled: the key to making the crispiest Puerto Rican-style fried chicken, or chicharrones de pollo, is in fact Argo® Corn Starch! Trusted for over a century, this magical ingredient is responsible for the toothsome crunch and irresistibly deep golden crust, all while mingling harmoniously with quintessential Latin spices like garlic, cumin, and oregano. Make sure to use skin-on, bone-in chicken to truly make your taste buds dance the salsa!
Source => delishdlites.com

12. Arepa's Puerto Rican Avatar: Domplines

You know how Superman is the "man of steel" from Krypton but gets his powers on Earth? Well, here's the Puerto Rican arepa, a fry bread phenomenon that differentiates itself from its fellow Latin American cousins: Hailing from Puerto Rico, this deep-fried delicacy known as "domplines" is a flour-based creation and rolled thin, unlike the cornmeal wonders found in Venezuela and Colombia. Prepared using all-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, and canned coconut milk, these tasty morsels possess the crispy crunch and subtle sweetness perfect for stuffing ingredients like seafood salad or cheese and sweet plantain.
Source => thenoshery.com

13. Bacalao: The Chatty Salty Cod

What do you call a fish that just loves gossip and salting it up with friends? Bacalao, of course! This chatty cod has been dishing secrets in the kitchens of Puerto Rico for centuries: Bacalao is the Spanish term for dried and salted cod, a key ingredient in Puerto Rican Ensalada de Bacalao. This delicious salad features the scandalously seasoned cod, combined with onions, tomatoes, and olive oil. It gracefully dives onto plates over boiled yuca or salad greens, but only after the salted cod is soaked, rinsed, and simmered, to achieve just the right amount of juicy gossip – or saltiness.
Source => thenoshery.com

14. Piña Colada: The Great Tropical Mystery

If Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson were to tackle the Case of the Mysterious Piña Colada Origins, they might just wash up in Puerto Rico with conclusive evidence, only to find themselves ordering two more to celebrate their victory: Contrary to popular belief, the deliciously fruity cocktail that is the piña colada can be traced back to not one, but two establishments in San Juan, Puerto Rico—The Caribe Hilton hotel and Barrachina restaurant. Both venues have compelling claims for inventing the drink in the mid-20th century, but regardless of who holds the title, it's clear that each establishment has perfected their coconutty creations, making them well worth a visit for any piña colada connoisseur.
Source => frommers.com