Arroz con Dulce or Puerto Rican rice pudding is creamy and delicious with a touch of warm spices. In Puerto Rico, we love adding raisins to the rice pudding with a dusting of cinnamon on top. This dessert is typically served during the holiday season along with other favorites like coquito, tembleque, and budin de pan.
Arroz con pollo is a staple in Latin + Caribbean cuisine made with savory yellow rice and chicken. Traditional Puerto Rican arroz con pollo is packed with flavor because the chicken and rice are cooked together in the same pot. It is one of my go to meals to cook for my family. This hearty one-pot meal is kid-friendly and stores well for leftovers the next day.
Empanadillas or Puerto Rican empanadas are fried turnovers stuffed with savory picadillo. These delicious appetizers are also known as pastelillos. Although they are typically made with picadillo, they can be stuffed with your filling of choice. Some popular varieties include chicken, shrimp, and crab. Empanadillas can also be served as dessert. I love sweet versions like guava and cheese, topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce made with fresh herbs and spices. It comes together in less than 10 minutes and is the perfect topping for just about anything. Elevate your dishes with this delicious sauce!
McDonald’s cheeseburgers are so easy to make at home, you’ll want to save this recipe! These burgers are also healthier and much more affordable than the ones from the restaurant chain. I use 1 pound of ground beef and I get six burgers for the price of one happy meal. You do the math.
Flancocho is a dessert made with flan and bizcocho (cake). Flancocho is also known as chocoflan or impossible cake. It combines light and creamy flan, with rich and chocolatey cake. Literally the best of both worlds! In Puerto Rico, this delicious dessert is popular during the holiday season and can be found at the table along with other favorites like tembleque and budin de pan.
Pegao or Puerto Rican crispy rice is a delicacy on our island and other parts of the Caribbean as well. It goes by many different names but it is usually made the same way. Although it takes some practice making perfectly crispy pegao, once you learn the technique, it will become quite easy. Serve pegao alongside bistec encebollado, pollo al horno, pollo guisado, habichuelas guisadas, or any of your favorite dishes. Follow my recipe and tips for cooking perfect pegao every time!
Pastelillos de Guayaba or Puerto Rican guava pastries are typically made with guava paste, cream cheese, and dusted with powdered sugar. I enjoy making them with fresh guava jam and a creamy blend of cool whip and mascarpone cheese. These fresh components really elevate the guava pastries to a whole other level!
Sorullitos de Maíz or Puerto Rican corn fritters are a popular appetizer made with cornmeal, stuffed with cheese, and fried to golden perfection. They are crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. An ooey gooey cheese center makes this an irresistible, sweet-and-savory snack that everyone will love!
Arroz con salchichas is Puerto Rican rice with sausage. The sausages we refer to are actually Vienna sausages, sliced into small circles. They come in a can and can be found at most Latin or Hispanic/Caribbean supermarkets and grocery stores. This rice dish is both kid-friendly and budget-friendly. I often make this meal when I forget to defrost meat for dinner or have less than 30 minutes to put food on the table for my family. It comes together easily and everyone loves it!
Puerto Rican stuffed shells or caracoles rellenos are pasta shells filled with ricotta cheese, savory ground beef, and topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella. The ground beef is seasoned with adobo and sazón and cooked in a sofrito sauce. This adds a ton of flavor to this dish. I love making this for dinner on busy weeknights as it comes together in 45 minutes or less. It also freezes well so you can make ahead and keep a stash for later use!
Tembleque is Puerto Rican coconut pudding or custard. Tembleque literally means shaky in Spanish, which refers to the jiggly texture of this pudding. This Puerto Rican dessert is popular during Christmas time and can be found at the holiday table along with other favorites like coquito and budin de pan.
Empanadas de yuca or Puerto Rican cassava patties are filled with savory picadillo meat, wrapped in banana leaves, and baked in the oven. They are similar to pasteles de yuca, only they are baked and not boiled. The texture of these delicious empanadas is soft and pillowy and they come together more easily than pasteles, since you don’t have to tie them with twine.
Tembleque de café is Puerto Rican coffee-flavored coconut pudding or custard. Tembleque literally means shaky in Spanish, which refers to the jiggly texture of this pudding. This Puerto Rican dessert is popular during Christmas time but is enjoyed all year-round. This coffee-infused version does not disappoint. If you love the taste of café con leche with a coconut twist, you will love this tembleque de café recipe!
Arroz apastelado is a Puerto Rican rice dish made with pigeon peas and green bananas. It is basically like combining arroz con gandules and pasteles into one dish. It is popular during the holiday season and has all of the flavors of Christmas in Puerto Rico!
Guineitos en escabeche is a traditional Puerto Rican dish made with green bananas marinated in pickled onions, peppers, oil, and vinegar. They are typically served as a side dish during the holiday season but can be enjoyed year-round! Along with a plate of arroz con gandules, pernil or pavochón, and pasteles, Puerto Rican marinated green banana salad is a staple during the holidays!
Coquito de Oreo is a creamy holiday drink made with coconut milk, Oreo cookies, and rum. It is served chilled and is absolutely delicious. Along with a plate of arroz con gandules, pernil and pasteles, Puerto Rican coquito is a staple during the holidays! If you love coquito and the taste of Oreos, save this recipe. This Oreo version does not disappoint!
Bistec encebollado is a traditional Puerto Rican dish made with steak and onions. It is typically made with cube steak seasoned with adobo, sazón, oil and vinegar and cooked in a fragrant, sofrito-infused tomato sauce. It is delicious and comforting. Along with a plate of white rice and sweet plantains, this is an easy meal that stays in rotation in my home. It’s kid-friendly too!
Coquito de Nutella is a creamy holiday drink made with coconut milk, Nutella, and rum. It is served chilled and is absolutely delicious. Along with a plate of arroz con gandules, pernil and pasteles, Puerto Rican coquito is a staple during the holidays! If you love coquito and the taste of Nutella, save this recipe. This Nutella version does not disappoint!
Coquito de pistachio is a creamy holiday drink made with coconut milk, pistachio ice cream, and rum. It is served chilled and is absolutely delicious. Along with a plate of arroz con gandules, pernil and pasteles, Puerto Rican coquito is a staple during the holidays! If you love coquito and the taste of pistachios, save this recipe. This pistachio version does not disappoint!
Coquito de fresa is a creamy holiday drink made with coconut milk, strawberries, and rum. It is served chilled and is absolutely delicious. If you love coquito and the taste of strawberries, save this recipe. This strawberry version does not disappoint!
Arroz mamposteao is a traditional Puerto Rican fried rice made with aromatics like onions, peppers, and garlic and tossed with stewed beans and sweet plantains. It’s bursting with Caribbean flavors and is the perfect dish to make with leftover rice. This dish is a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine. Pair it with your favorite side dishes like tostones and avocado for a delicious lunch or dinner the whole family will enjoy!
Limber de Kahlúa are delicious ice pops made with milk, cream, and coffee flavored liqueur. Limber ice pops originate in Puerto Rico and are enjoyed year-round on the island. This frozen treat has a similar flavor profile as limber de leche but with coffee added to the mix. If a creamy cafécito con leche is your vibe, you’ll definitely love limber de Kahlúa!
This blackberry margarita or margarita de mora is the perfect cocktail for a Halloween party! A sprinkle of activated charcoal turns this drink black for a spooky effect!
Sopa de pollo con fideos or Puerto Rican chicken noodle soup is made with chicken, vegetables, and noodles that are slow simmered in a flavorful, sofrito broth. Sopa de pollo con fideos is just what the doctor ordered whenever you or a loved one is feeling under the weather. This hearty soup is like food for the soul.
Pan de mallorca or Puerto Rican sweet bread is a popular breakfast food on the island. This sweet bread is the perfect early morning pick-me-up.
My recipes are my love letter to my family. I hope you enjoy a taste of Puerto Rico while you’re here. ¡Buen provecho!
Arroz con Dulce or Puerto Rican rice pudding is creamy and delicious with a touch of warm spices. In Puerto Rico, we love adding raisins to the rice pudding with a dusting of cinnamon on top. This dessert is typically served during the holiday season along with other favorites like coquito, tembleque, and budin de pan.
Arroz con pollo is a staple in Latin + Caribbean cuisine made with savory yellow rice and chicken. Traditional Puerto Rican arroz con pollo is packed with flavor because the chicken and rice are cooked together in the same pot. It is one of my go to meals to cook for my family. This hearty one-pot meal is kid-friendly and stores well for leftovers the next day.
Empanadillas or Puerto Rican empanadas are fried turnovers stuffed with savory picadillo. These delicious appetizers are also known as pastelillos. Although they are typically made with picadillo, they can be stuffed with your filling of choice. Some popular varieties include chicken, shrimp, and crab. Empanadillas can also be served as dessert. I love sweet versions like guava and cheese, topped with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Chimichurri is an Argentinian sauce made with fresh herbs and spices. It comes together in less than 10 minutes and is the perfect topping for just about anything. Elevate your dishes with this delicious sauce!
English 
Spanish