:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/FAW-garlicky-roast-pork-shoulder-hero-02-b575e58f97e246fea6de3ca5dfdd535d.jpg?w=1024&resize=1024,1024&ssl=1 "18 Recipes for Puerto Rican Food and Drinks")
Vibrant, transportive Puerto Rican flavors are influenced by the Indigenous Taíno people, Spanish settlers, enslaved people from Africa and India, and ingredients growing on the Caribbean island. Annatto and sofrito define much of Puerto Rican cuisine, and adobo seasoning is a staple. Another condiment, pique, is a part of daily life, along with plantains and rice. Of course, it’s the people that distinguish the cuisine, from grandmothers to celebrity chefs, and we have Puerto Rican recipes from both camps. Here are some of the most popular Puerto Rican food and drink 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–style roast pork shoulder on top of a rich and creamy mac and cheese. Pernil is flavored with garlic, oregano, and sazón — a seasoning blend that includes coriander and annatto.
Asopao
Chef JJ Johnson fills this Puerto Rican stew with rice and plenty of vegetables, then tops it with spiced ground chicken for a hearty and sustaining dish.
Kingfish Escabeche
Greg Dupree / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer and Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Audrey Taylor
Kingfish escabeche (also called escovitch fish) is a pickled and marinated fish dish served throughout Puerto Rico. Jose Enrique cooks kingfish steaks over coals rather than frying, and his sauce leans heavily on rice vinegar and honey.
Piña Colada
The Piña Colada, Spanish for “strained pineapple,” was created in Puerto Rico and became the Caribbean island’s national drink in 1978. It typically combines rum, pineapple juice, and cream of coconut — this thick, luscious version uses white and dark rum, coconut milk, lime juice, vanilla, and even light brown sugar.
Pollo Guisado
2019 F&W Best New Chef Kwame Onwuachi drew inspiration from flavors he enjoyed while growing up in the Bronx for this marinated chicken soup he calls a festival of comfort. Onwuachi says Puerto Rican abuelitas prepare this for their grandchildren. His version calls for annatto, sofrito, a touch of cumin, and a bit of house spice.
Lamb Pastelón (Puerto Rican-Style Plantain Casserole)
Greg DuPree / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Christine Keely
This popular Puerto Rican casserole features ripe plantains that are sliced lengthwise and baked until tender and lightly caramelized and then layered with a spiced ground meat filling and melty mozzarella cheese. Chef JJ Johnson opts for ground lamb instead of the more traditional beef filling for extra richness.
Coquito
Coquito, or “little coconut,” is a creamy rum punch traditionally served in Puerto Rico for Christmas and throughout the winter holidays. Each family has their own recipe. This one from Shamil Velázquez is rich with viscosity from coconut cream and three types of milk, while warming spices and white rum add aroma and flavor.
Pernil Asado (Garlicky Roast Pork Shoulder)
Cara Cormack
San Juan chef Jose Enrique marinates this ultraflavorful Puerto Rican classic roast pork shoulder overnight in a blend of citrus, garlic, and herbs, then cooks slowly in the oven until it’s deeply caramelized.
Mamposteao with Shrimp and Adobo
Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman
The Puerto Rican dish mamposteao combines pre-cooked rice and beans (yes, leftovers work nicely here) with sofrito and an adobo spice blend. Chef Eric Rivera’s version includes shrimp and a warm citrus sauce.
Smoky Simmered Beans with Sofrito
Von Diaz grew up eating sofrito, a base of sauteed aromatics, thanks to her Puerto Rican family. It’s the foundation of flavor for these savory, creamy beans, and the recipe yields extra that you can use for soups, stews, and other bean dishes.
Guava Quesitos
Christopher Testani / Food Styling by Chelsea Zimmer / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Quesitos (“little cheeses”) are golden and flakey pastry twists filled with sugar-sweetened cream cheese. At 787 Coffee, with locations in Puerto Rico and New York City, quesitos de guayaba are filled with guava paste and cream cheese, for distinct sweetness and floral notes.
Sweet Potato Cheesecake Empanadas
At Boricua Soul in Durham, North Carolina, Serena and Toriano Fredericks combine flavors from Puerto Rico and the American South. You see it in this dessert empanada with marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole, spiced pumpkin cheesecake, crisp pastry, and a caramel drizzle.
Puerto Rican Red Beans and Rice
Red beans and rice recipes are ubiquitous in many cuisines for a reason: kidney beans soak up a ton of flavor and, when served over rice, will keep you full for hours. While some cooks use ham or sausage, Emily Farris uses bacon lardons in this Puerto Rican-inspired version.
Pique (Puerto Rican–Style Hot Sauce)
Toriano Fredericks makes this Puerto Rican hot sauce in-house at Boricua Soul. The simple, fiery pepper vinegar condiment includes jalapeño and habanero chiles for a more complex chile flavor.
Pan-Seared Skirt Steaks with Carrot Puree and Braised Cabbage
At Jungle BaoBao in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2019 F&W Best New Chef Paxx Caraballo Moll beautifully composes velvety carrot puree, tender pan-seared steaks, and braised cabbage, topping the dish with a fresh, punchy cilantro gremolata.
Mofongo with Shrimp
Benny’s Seafood in Miami makes this Puerto Rican comfort food with fried green plantains, garlic, salt, and chicharrones (crunchy pork rinds). Serve the mofongo with chicken broth on the side or top it with meat or seafood, like sautéed shrimp.
Arroz con Chorizo (Puerto Rican Rice with Sausage)
Emily Farris gives this Puerto Rican rice dish the right amount of kick with spicy sausage, annatto oil, and adobo seasoning. We have recipes for arroz con pollo and a version of Puerto Rican rice with shrimp, too.
Tostones: Savory Plantains
Cookbook author Lourdes Castro fries up firm and green plantains for this quintessential Caribbean snack.
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