There is no better vacation than a relaxing beach retreat. And what better place to visit than the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. In attendance for a luxurious destination wedding, I spent a few days combing San Juan for the authentic borinquen eats.
Hitting up the nearest grocery store to compile our hotel snack stash, friends and I first noticed the price of groceries. Including the cost of the popular Simply Orange juice, which was nearly double than what is paid in the states. Nonetheless, we piled some familiar goodies in our carts and continued shopping. Scouting out the produce section, we happened upon a few interesting veggies including Batatas Blancas or white sweet potatoes.
It wasn’t too long before we encountered a local eatery with batatas on the menu. Hearty chunks of the sweet potato were deep fried to golden perfection. Crispy on the outside, the starchy flesh on the inside had the look and texture of a typical Idaho tater but was nearly as sweet as the common orange fleshed types.
Inka Chicken, though a Peruvian themed Restaurant, treats its diners to many Puerto Rican basics including fried ripe plantain, fried yucca and mofongo.
Mofongo is a traditional dish appearing on many restaurant menus and served in the homes of the locals. Made from plantain, a tropical fruit similar to bananas, Mofongo is a flavorful mashup of garlic, olive oil and spices. Additions of pork rinds or bacon pieces are also very common. Using a pilon, fried green plantains are smashed in mortar and pestle fashion with the other ingredients. The moist firm mixture, holding its dome shape, is usually served along with meat and vegetables but can be served alone. Mofongo’s more ambitious cousin Trifongo, is a dynamic trio of green plantain, ripe plantain and yucca prepared using the same technique.
On your next visit to a Puerto Rican style restaurant, be sure to check the menu for these classic dishes. Buen Provecho!
Potatoes on the Side 