20 Authentic Puerto Rican Recipes: The Best Puerto Rican Food Ideas

Hey friend! There's nothing quite like the bold, comforting flavors of authentic Puerto Rican food. This cuisine is a beautiful mix of Taíno, Spanish, and African influences, featuring fresh ingredients, aromatic sofrito, and dishes that bring everyone together around the table.

In this article, you'll find 20 complete, authentic Puerto Rican recipes – from holiday favorites to everyday staples. Each one includes ingredients and easy steps so you can recreate these island classics at home.

The Foundation: Homemade Sofrito

Most savory Puerto Rican recipes start with sofrito – our secret to incredible flavor.

Ingredients (makes about 4 cups):
- 2 medium onions
- 3-4 Cubanelle peppers
- 15-20 ajíes dulces (if available)
- 1 bunch cilantro
- ½ bunch culantro
- 1 head garlic
- Olive oil as needed

Instructions:
1. Chop everything roughly.
2. Pulse in food processor until fine.
3. Freeze in portions for later use.

1. Arroz con Gandules

The iconic rice with pigeon peas – a must for celebrations.

Ingredients (6-8 servings):
- 3 cups medium-grain rice
- 1 can pigeon peas
- 4 cups broth
- ¼ cup sofrito
- 2 packets sazón
- Ham, olives, oil

Instructions:
1. Sauté sofrito and ham.
2. Add rice, peas, seasonings, broth.
3. Cook covered until fluffy.

2. Mofongo

Mashed fried plantains with garlic and chicharrón.

Ingredients (4 servings):
- 4 green plantains
- Garlic
- Pork rinds
- Oil

Instructions:
1. Fry plantain slices.
2. Mash with garlic and rinds.
3. Shape and serve.

3. Lechón Asado (Roast Pork)

Crispy-skinned whole pork roast.

Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder
- Garlic marinade with oregano, adobo

Instructions:
1. Marinate overnight.
2. Slow roast, finish high for crisp skin.

4. Pasteles

Tamale-like bundles wrapped in banana leaves.

Ingredients:
Masa: green bananas, roots
Filling: pork, chickpeas

Instructions:
1. Prepare masa and filling.
2. Wrap and boil.

5. Alcapurrias

Fried fritters stuffed with beef.

Ingredients:
Masa: yuca/banana
Filling: picadillo

Instructions:
1. Stuff and shape.
2. Deep fry.

6. Tostones

Twice-fried plantain slices.

Ingredients:
- Green plantains
- Oil, salt

Instructions:
1. Fry, smash, fry again.

7. Coquito

Coconut rum eggnog.

Ingredients:
- Coconut milks
- Rum, cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Blend and chill.

8. Pernil

Roast pork shoulder.

Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder
- Garlic marinade

Instructions:
1. Marinate and slow roast.

9. Habichuelas Guisadas

Stewed red beans.

Ingredients:
- Beans
- Sofrito, pumpkin

Instructions:
1. Simmer with veggies.

10. Flan

Caramel custard.

Ingredients:
- Eggs, milks, sugar

Instructions:
1. Caramelize sugar.
2. Bake custard in water bath.

11. Bacalaitos

Codfish fritters.

Ingredients:
- Desalted cod
- Batter

Instructions:
1. Mix and fry.

12. Arroz con Pollo

Chicken and rice one-pot.

Ingredients:
- Chicken, rice, veggies

Instructions:
1. Brown chicken.
2. Cook rice together.

13. Pinchos

Grilled skewers.

Ingredients:
- Meat, marinade

Instructions:
1. Marinate and grill.

14. Tembleque

Coconut pudding.

Ingredients:
- Coconut milk, cornstarch

Instructions:
1. Cook until thick.
2. Chill.

15. Sancocho

Root vegetable stew.

Ingredients:
- Meats, roots

Instructions:
1. Simmer long and slow.

16. Pastelillos (Beef Empanadas)

Fried turnovers.

Ingredients:
- Discs, beef filling

Instructions:
1. Fill, seal, fry.

17. Arroz con Dulce

Coconut rice pudding – sweet treat.

Ingredients:
- Rice, coconut milk, spices, raisins

Instructions:
1. Cook rice in sweetened coconut milk.
2. Add raisins and chill.

18. Limber de Coco

Coconut ice pops.

Ingredients:
- Coconut milk, sugar, cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Mix and freeze in cups.

19. Tripleta Sandwich

Loaded triple meat sandwich.

Ingredients:
- Three meats, bread, toppings

Instructions:
1. Grill meats.
2. Assemble with mayo-ketchup.

20. Mallorcas

Sweet coiled buns dusted with sugar.

Ingredients:
- Dough, butter, powdered sugar

Instructions:
1. Make enriched dough.
2. Bake and dust generously.

Bringing Puerto Rican Flavors Home

Cooking these dishes is about more than food – it's about connection and joy.

Start with one recipe, invite friends over, and let the flavors transport you to the island.

¡Buen provecho! These authentic Puerto Rican recipes will fill your home with warmth and delicious memories.