What does it mean when a recipe is cute? For the RSF team, it means that it is delicious, delicious, delicious, and of course, not forgetting their uniqueness. In Puerto Rico, there are those common meals that the Puerto Rican people eat daily, then there are those recipes that are delightful to cook. Here are some of them:
Sofrito
Let’s start with Sofrito. It may be considered as the base for most dishes in Puerto Rico, but that does not mean it is not unique. Sofrito is the perfect partner for beans, rice, soups, stews, and so much more.
Ingredients:
- 10 ají dulce peppers, tops removed
- 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 4 onions, cut into large chunks
- 1 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
- 2 green bell peppers, seeded and chopped
- 3 medium heads garlic, peeled
- 25 cilantro stems (with leaves)
- 25 recao stems (with leaves)
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
Directions:
It is practically very easy to make your Sofrito. First, combine those peppers, onions, tomatoes, green peppers, and garlic inside a food processor before you pulse them a few times. Then, add the other ingredients, such as cilantro stems, recao stems, salt, and pepper. Process until the salsa becomes semi-chunky and consistency is achieved. Serve fresh!
Pollo Guisado
Do you love chicken stew? Then, you will love Pollo Guisado. This is a delicious and easy chicken stew, Puerto Rican-style, featuring some sofritos as well, with potatoes, garlic, onions, and chicken broth, tomato sauce, sazón, cumin, and bay leaf. It is delicious? It is delicious, as Jeannie Mai would say.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken, cut up
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sofrito
- 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (1.41 ounce) package sazon seasoning
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tablespoons cold water
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
Directions:
This one takes longer to prepare, but still easy. Brown your seasoned chicken in olive oil, then set aside. Sauté your onion and garlic before adding sofrito, potatoes, broth, tomato sauce, sazón, cumin, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, return chicken, cover, and cook for one hour. Thicken the sauce with cornstarch slurry, return the chicken, and simmer 10 minutes.
Habichuelas Guisadas
Several Puerto Ricans love this for being so hearty. Here is how to make it.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sofrito sauce
- 1 (.18 ounce) packet Sázon seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cups cooked pinto beans, drained
- 1 ½ cups water
- salt to taste
Directions:
It’s also simple to make, believe it or not. First, heat the olive oil inside a saucepan using low heat. Then, add the tomato sauce, sofrito sauce, Sázon seasoning, and black pepper. Cook and stir it for three minutes before you stir in the beans, water, and salt. Increase the heat to medium, and cook until sauce becomes thickened, for around 15 minutes.
Well, know that you can get those ingredients hassle-free when you order them from your favorite grocers via Grubhub. Let’s get into that kitchen action!