You can’t live in a place without experiencing the local cuisine and Puerto Rico is no exception. Coming from Colorado we were used to a lot of Colorado-style Mexican food which is to say hot and spicy! Some people think that all Latin areas like spicy food, but that is not the case in Puerto Rico. Here the food is an interesting mix of Caribbean, Spanish, African and American flavors. A strong base note in the flavors is garlic and a lot of food is fried. Many foods include plantains or breadfruit instead of corn or wheat as the main starch to the dish. Traditional Puerto Rican food is commonly called comida criolla. Here are a few dishes that I happened to capture with a photograph. I’ll try to take more when we go out so you can see what types of food we get to enjoy here.
Ceviche!
Living on an island we get to eat a lot more mariscos or seafood than we ever did in the states. I love fresh ceviche, fish tacos, fish pinchos, and the occasional ensalada de pulpo (octopus salad). As for fresh salads, the one above is about as fancy as they come unless you go to a place that specializes in salads. Lettuce is super expensive here and so often cabbage is used in its place on sandwiches which are Cuban style flattened and delicious! Also, with nearly any meal you will be asked if you would prefer papas fritas (also papitas) or tostones. Papas fritas are French fries and tostones are double fried smashed green plantains. Both of these will commonly be served with mayoketchup: mayonnaise mixed with ketchup.
Mofongo relleno de camarones
The first time I heard the word mofongo it made me laugh. But when I tasted some good mofongo I just had to have it again. My favorite is mofongo relleno de camarones (mofongo refilled with shrimp). They smash up plantains and make it into a bowl. Then you fill the plantain bowl with the soupy creation and enjoy. So good.
Pastel
The word pastel for me in Colorado meant cake, but here it is closer to what I would think of as a tamal. Instead of corn masa though it is a starchy mixture -either yuca, plantain or some other starch filled with a meat mixture inside. Usually pork. It is then wrapped in banana leaves and boiled. Like tamales it’s a traditional Christmas food because they are so time-consuming to make.
Ensalada de pulpo, empanadillas and “tacos”
Street food in Puerto Rico, like anywhere is probably not the healthiest option. Generally everything is fried. The empanadillas, the tacos, the arepas. Just a little bite for me. Except at an American style fast food place, tacos are not the U-shaped creations we may normally think of and are very similar to empanadillas.
Arroz con gandules
I love arroz con gandules or arroz con habichuelas. Such a simple staple soul food. Rice and pigeon peas or beans that are flavored with tomato sauce, sofrito and bullion. Sometimes we’ll pick up the $5 lunch at the panadería in Rincón which comes with a hefty portion of baked chicken, arroz y habicuelas. Arroz con gandules is a staple food year round but because the pigeon peas come into season in the winter, it’s also a traditional Christmas-time food. I also really like arroz mamposteao. I am not sure what is all in that but it’s really good too!
Pollo a la criolla con arroz -I think it’s mamposteo
Lots of chicken and pork dishes. Not a whole lot of cow-eating in Puerto Rico. It’s not unheard of to eat beef (churrasco anyone?), but chicken and pork definitely dominate the plates. Also, rabbit is fairly common to eat here.
Lechon
So many words for pig meat here! Like eskimos and snow, everyone in Puerto Rico seems to love different varieties of pork. Lechón, cerdo, puerco, pernil. At Christmas there are even songs dedicated to lechon, lechon, lechon!
Pinchos and a piña colada
Pinchos are probably the Puerto Rican entry food for gringos. Who doesn’t like the novelty of meat (usually chicken) on a stick topped with a piece of pan Boricua? Just be careful not to eat too many because they are often fried too! Most everyone has had piña coladas, but did you know they were invented in Puerto Rico? Don’t assume it has alcohol in it though. You have to specify con ron if you want rum in it!
Medalla Light
The most Puerto Rican of beer is Medalla Light. There is no Medalla regular. Strangely, the Colorado brew Coors Light is the preferred beer on the island however! Any good Puerto Rican will tell you any beer is not really a beer unless it is served BIEN FRIIIIA!
Homemade pitorro
The highest octane stuff is the traditional moonshine called pitorro. Watch out for this and just have a small chorro or you could be laid out in no time flat.
So there you have a small snippet of some of the food and drink on the island. There is so, so much more. But hopefully this gives you an idea of the type and diversity of foods here. When you’re in Puerto Rico, don’t be afraid to order or try something new to you! You will probably be happily surprised. ¡Buen Provecho!
