Pasteles are a Puerto Rican institution. Without fail, every Christmas, Puerto Rican kitchens the world over are packed with Abuelas and their acolytes, all with one mission: prepare, assemble, and package enough pasteles to divvy up amongst the family. Bundles of meat-filled, ground green banana patties are packed away into plastic bags. The family members disperse to their…
Main Dishes
Vegan Pastelón (Puerto Rican Plantain “Lasagna”)
This Vegan Pastelón – a meatless version of the Puerto Rican “lasagna”- is sure to please everyone, even the staunchest carnivore. Made with fried slices of sweet plantain and a plant-based picadillo, this baked casserole is a spin on the comfort food many Puerto Ricans know and love. With quality ingredients and a step-by step guide,…
Date Night Meal: Three Courses in 30 Minutes (or Less)
Thank you, Decoy, for sponsoring this post. I’m just going to say what everyone else is thinking: I am really okay with living in sweats and yoga pants for the rest of my days. Life has thrown us all for a loop this year and, though we never thought it possible, we’ve figured out ways to…
Healthier Pastelón (Puerto Rican Plantain “Lasagna”)
Puerto Rican and African dishes are full of flavor and variety. The plethora of fruits and vegetables available in their subtropical regions makes for a wild time in the kitchen. Pastelón bridges the gap- if there ever was one- between my two cultures in a delicious way. In the traditional dish, slices of very ripe, fried…
Chuletas Fritas (Puerto Rican Pan-Fried Pork Chops)
Let me introduce you to my go-to protein: chuletas fritas (CHOO-leh-tahs free-tahs). I marinate center cut, bone-in pork chops in a flavorful spice blend popular in Puerto Rican cuisine. After a nice rest in the marinade, I pan-fry the chops in a small amount of oil or lard until juicy and crisp. If you are…
Mofongo Burgers (Burgers on Mashed Plantain Buns)
Hey, friend! Grilling season seems to be drawing to a close- at least for me- so I want to hit you with my best burger recipe. Mofongo is a dish that’s super popular in Puerto Rico. Burgers are a classic staple recipe in the US of A. So, what does my half-Black, half-Puerto Rican soul…
Chicken and Waffles with Honey-Cinnamon Butter
Y’all can have Roscoe’s or Hattie B’s chicken and waffles. Me and mine know the real deal is served in my kitchen. I took a little bit of everything from the chicken and waffles houses I’ve come to know and love and combined them in one amazing recipe. Now I share it with you, because…
Pernil (Puerto Rican Roast Pork Shoulder)
Let me tell you about the time my husband almost stabbed a guest in our home over the skin you see in the photo above. It was traumatic. It was scary. Totally justifiable, but still scary. That right there sitting atop that mound of deliciousness is chicharrón. Pork rind. Crackling. Heaven. It is one of…
Rellenos de Papa (Picadillo-Stuffed Potato Fritters)
Is it a potato or a snack? It’s both! My Rellenos de Papa, also known as Papa Rellena, are an optical illusion. They look like a potato, but when you bite through their crisp exterior, a savory meat filling is there to greet you. Lately, I’ve been on this cuchifrito kick. It might be that I’ve…
Pinchos (Puerto Rican Grilled Pork Kebabs)
OOOP! Better watch out! Hector’s making his hand modeling-career debut! You don’t even know how excited I am to give you this recipe for Pinchos. If you have a day for marinating and a grill, this is going to be your next favorite recipe. Dozens of Hispanics (and people who live amongst them) can’t be…
