This is the cornerstone of Puerto Rican food! You can’t make the next 4 recipes without it. This base made of vegetables and herbs is what gives Puerto Rican food LIFE! There’s all sorts of great tips and substitutes when ingredients are hard to find, so definitely check this recipe out.

Arroz con Gandules (rice with pigeon peas) is a staple at nearly every meal or special occasion. If Puerto Rican rice isn’t being served, that’s because it’s a white rice day, but every day is definitely rice day!

Simmered in a flavorful broth of sofrito and tomato, these stewed beans are so flavorful and so EASY to make that I could literally eat them every day. They’re usually served as a side dish along with rice, but I could make a whole meal out of them. Serve with tostones and avocado for a delicious dinner.

This ground beef hash seasoned with sofrito and olives can be served over rice as a meal on its own, but it’s frequently used as a filling for empanadas/pastelitos, pastelón or in the next recipe below…

Rellenos de Papa - There are many fried foods that are quintessential to Puerto Rican cuisine, but these mashed potato balls stuffed with picadillo and fried to golden perfection are at the top of the list!

I couldn’t have a most popular list without tostones. These twice-fried slices of smashed plantain go with just about everything! Sprinkled with salt and dipped in mayoketchup or served with lots of garlic they are crunchy and delicious!

Pork shoulder is stuffed with a garlicky adobo herb marinade and slow roasted until the meat is tender and the skin is crisp! Pernil is not served on a day to day basis, but it’s one of the most iconic!

A jibarito sandwich uses two giant tostones instead of bread. The filling can be whatever you like in a sandwich, but in my opinion steak is the best! Make this at home and you’ll never want a boring sandwich again.

Hands down the best dessert. It’s like leche flan and cheesecake had a baby bathed in caramel syrup! Make it and thank me later - it's popular for a reason!

This coconut rum drink is typically served during the holidays. It's sweet, it's strong and it's 100% Puerto Rican. Can it even be the holidays without it??