Puerto Rico
Food Culture

Puerto Rico is a tiny island in the Caribbean Sea south of the United States and east of Mexico. Though it is a province of the United States, there are many different tastes to be found within its confines.

Yet another location that has been greatly influenced by Spanish explorers and Conquistadores, Puerto Rico even still has its own flavors, its own creative forces and its own twists to Spanish cuisine.

Creole, a cuisine that has spread nearly all around the world, had its beginning in this tiny island country. This, before Ponce de León and the other Spaniards, would have brought the influence of Spain to the tiny island paradise.

Like most countries, Puerto Rico likes to start its larger meals with appetizers. Soup would be a typical appetizer. There are many varieties of soup available on the island of Puerto Rico. One such soup isn’t eaten hot as we would traditionally consider such an appetizer. Gazpacho, a traditional Puerto Rican dish, is always served cold.

You find that during holidays, many countries have special foods that are used. During the Christmas holidays celebrated by most, if not all Christians, the Puerto Ricans have many treats and main dishes created specifically for such celebration. One such creation is known as Pasteles.

Pasteles are a very interesting creation that, like many menu choices in Latin American cuisine, would be boiled in very hot temperatures. The use of the native fruits and other ingredients would make for interesting conversation around most tables no matter what part of the world you would consider home. The recipe makes for a great party with the number of pastels you are able to create in a single batch.

In most countries influenced by Spanish culture you will find a great variety of methods in using fish for the recipes. Puerto Rico follows this tradition in many ways. An interesting recipe located would be considered Bacalao Guisado.

This uses a very common ocean fish,the cod. The ingredients, at least some of them, sound indigenous to the area, but they should be managed no matter where you are.