Puerto Rican cuisine

tonie064 wrote:

Since I am a NewYorican and both my parents were from the island and my husband was also born here, I have been used to the great tastes and flavors of Puerto Rican cuisine my entire life.

After I got married, I learned to cook, not right away but then with time and patience, I believe that I have become a pretty good cook of Puerto Rican cuisine.

My favorite is Pork chops with Arroz con Gandules on the side and Platanos or Amarillos as some call them. I also make a pretty good Pernil(Roast Pork), Arroz con Pollo(chicken and rice) and Bacalo salad (codfish salad), it may sound terrible but is soooooo good.

When can we stop by to sample your cooking?

melendezki wrote:

When Amazingly, we both usually lose 8-10 lbs. while on vacation on the island, which can only be due to the increased activity.

I usually gain a pound a day when I am in the island, every family member I visit sits me down with a plate of food.

adlin20 wrote:

ReyP, that is the puertorican culture. I remember when I was younger and gramma will always make extra food. I will ask her why and she always said "mijo en caso alguien aparezca" (in case someone shows up). Up to this day every time I show up over one of my aunts houses I cannot leave until I at least drink coffee.

Very, very true. Back when I was growing up, there was a guy with a truck that would visit a lot of the houses because they all had a lot of left over food that was a few days old, he would collect the food and use it to feed his pigs. Made good money selling the meat later after roasting the pigs. LOL

ReyP wrote:

melendezki wrote:

When Amazingly, we both usually lose 8-10 lbs. while on vacation on the island, which can only be due to the increased activity.

I usually gain a pound a day when I am in the island, every family member I visit sits me down with a plate of food.

That is one of the things I love about the culture!  They live simply, nothing pretentious about them, their houses are clean, and they will happily feed you or give you a drink when you go to their home. My husband was very hurt once when we stopped in to see my brother, and he wasn't even offered a glass of water!   It's just not something we were brought up to do, unfortunately. 

We went to a family reunion in a pavilion along a winding river in Orocovis several years ago, and I was amazed that the families showed up with a fully equipped camping kitchen and started cooking!  So much for bring a dish to pass LOL.  The aunt, famous for her rice pudding w/fresh chunks of coconut, made a HUGE pot of it that we enjoyed for dessert, and then everyone went home with a to-go tin of the awesome stuff.

adlin20 wrote:

You are making me hungry!! A pionono or a pincho (maybe both)on the side of the road...what a life!!!

Pionono is the dish where they use ripe plantain or banana layers with ground beef in between (like a lasagna)?
I don't recall

adlin20 wrote:

Pionono is ripe plantains make into a cylinder, filled with ground beef and hold together with toothpicks, a batter mix is used to hold the ground beef together, then it is deep fried.
The lasagna like dish is called "pastelon"

Thanks for reminding me, I love both of them!!!
It has been at least 20 years since I had either one.
Also similar, is the Pimiento Relleno except that it is a green pepper stuffed wit the meat and the beaten egg on top.

adlin20 wrote:

Just take a drive thru 'La Cordillera Central" and you will find a "frituras" stand.

My wife just corrected me, pastelon is made with mash potatoes, pinon is made with ripe plantains. 

Sounds like "Papas Rellenas", mash potatoes, made into a ball, hollow out to put meat, cover the meat with a little more potato, roll in flour, fry until outside is golden and center is hot.
Maybe name changed since I had it last.