Traditional Puerto Rican Dish

Last night, Mike and Madi had us over for dinner at their place. I went over a little bit early to help Madi cook, and I got to learn how to make a traditional puerto rican dish! I'm not gonna lie, I was a little nervous... but it was amazing! I'm not kidding. I need to get the detailed recipe so I can make it again (when I get it, I'll post it here!)

SOFRITO:

Ingredients:

1 green bell pepper

1 onion

3 peeled cloves of garlic

1 bunch of cilantro

Directions:

Dice bell pepper and onion, combine with garlic and cilantro into food processor. Blend until it has a little smoother texture than salsa.

PUERTO RICAN SOUP DISH

Ingredients:

8 cups water

seasoning

4-5 chicken breasts

sofrito

4 cups white rice

avocado

Directions:

Saute the sofrito in a large skillet.  Add 8 cups water, and the special puerto rican seasoning (taco seasoning?). Bring to a boil. Then add 4-5 chicken breasts to the soup, let simmer. Once cooked through, remove chicken breasts (they will look orange) and shred them. Put them back in the soup and let simmer.

While soup is simmering, steam white rice. Once white rice is steamed, serve into bowls. Add scoop of soup mix. Add 2-3 slices of avocado on top. Serve hot and dig in! Yum!

PATACONES:

Ingredients:

1 ripe plantain (yellow)

1 unripe plantain (green)

2 cups oil

Directions:

Potato chippy ones:

Add oil to a large frying pan. Set to medium high. While the oil is heating, cut the green plantain into small 1 inch chunks (like a banana). Put a paper towel on a plate and set near the skillet. Use tongs to slowly drop in each piece of plantain to the oil. Let fry until yellow. Flip on the other side. Let fry until yellow, then take them out and put on the paper towel. Flatten them with the side of a mug. Add them back to the oil. Fry for a minute or two longer. Take out and put back on the paper towel. 

Sweet ones:

Slice the ripe plantain (yellow one) in diagonals, about 1/2 - 1/4 inch wide. Add each slice to the hot oil, flip when yellow. Once they are completely yellow, take them out and let dry on the paper towel. Serve alongside your meal!

 Main Dish:

Sofrito

Puerto Rican soup

Fruit salad and plantains

Frying the plantains