Looking for kitchen inspiration this season? Here are Puerto Rican Christmas recipes to add to your menu.
These versions are based on recipes from the TikTok accounts of Boriliciuoss and Mamichanchu.
Arroz con gandules
What can never be missing at Christmas celebrations on the Island? Arroz con gandules, of course. This dish is an undisputed favorite among Puerto Ricans during this time of year. And, hard as it may be to believe, it is not that complicated to make. Here is how to prepare it so you can impress everyone.
Place a large pot on the stove over medium-high heat and add the following: olive oil, sofrito, a packet of sazón and a chicken bouillon cube.
Rinse the rice well, then add it to the pot and mix everything together.
Drain and rinse the gandules, then add them to the pot.
Add the following ingredients: salt, pepper and bay leaves.
Mix everything together. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pot.
Let the rice cook on low heat for 20 to 25 minutes.
Puerto Rican coquito
This recipe is a staple of the Christmas season. It is an easy drink to prepare and works for everyone: adults will love it, and so will children, as long as you leave out the alcohol.
Open the dried coconuts and strain the water.
Remove the coconut flesh, rinse it and place it in the blender.
In the blender, add two cups of coconut water and one cup of rum.
Blend for 30 seconds, stir, then blend for another 30 seconds.
Place a strainer over a container and line it with a cloth for filtering. Add the blended coconut.
Gather the cloth around the blended coconut and squeeze firmly. Discard the coconut solids once you can no longer extract any liquid. Repeat this process several times until you have four cups of liquid.
Pour the liquid into the (previously cleaned) blender and add condensed milk and two egg yolks. Blend for 30 seconds.
In a new container, add two cinnamon sticks, nutmeg and ¼ cup of white rum. Then add the coquito mixture, close the container and shake it for 30 seconds before refrigerating for one hour.
Arroz con dulce
Do you prefer your arroz con dulce with raisins or without? Here is how to make it easily so you can enjoy an authentic Puerto Rican dessert this holiday season. Find the ingredients for the recipe on TikTok.
At least 24 hours before making the dessert, soak the rice.
Bring the rice and spices to a boil in a large pot to make a tea. Let it boil for 10 minutes.
Then remove the spices (do not discard them) and add the remaining ingredients.
Stir all the ingredients together over medium heat until the rice is cooked through.
Once the rice is cooked, transfer it to a container and add the cinnamon sticks from the tea.
Finally, place it in the refrigerator until it cools.
Tembleque
Tembleque is an essential dessert on Christmas menus. Whether with or without cinnamon, creamy or firm, here is how to make it at home so it can be part of your celebrations.
Bring water and the spices mentioned in the TikTok recipe to a boil in a pot.
Without turning on the stove, combine some of the coconut milk, cream of coconut, sugar, salt and vanilla in a separate pot. Mix everything together.
In a separate container, add the cornstarch and the remaining coconut milk, and whisk until fully incorporated.
Add the cornstarch mixture to the pot with the other ingredients and whisk until combined.
Turn the stove to medium-low heat and strain the spice tea into the pot.
Whisk the mixture constantly until it thickens.
Once it reaches a thick consistency, pour the mixture into a mold and refrigerate for several hours until it sets. Done!
Guineos en escabeche
Did you know this dish has roots in Spanish cuisine, adapted with local ingredients? Don't worry if you don't know how to make it. Here are the steps to impress everyone at your table.
Cut the tips off the green bananas and make a shallow lengthwise cut along each one.
Boil the bananas for 25 minutes over medium heat with water, salt and white vinegar.
While they boil, cut the vegetables and fresh herbs, mince the garlic and measure the remaining ingredients.
Remove the bananas from the boiling water and let them cool before peeling.
In a pan with oil over medium heat, sauté the peppers, onions and sweet chili peppers for three minutes.
Season with salt, adobo, minced garlic, sweet chili peppers, black pepper and bay leaves. Sauté for two minutes.
Add the oil and then the vinegar. Mix everything together and let it simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
While it simmers, peel the cooled bananas and slice them into rounds. Place them in a new container and add the escabeche mixture.
Add cilantro and recao, and mix everything for 30 seconds.
Cover the container and refrigerate until the next day. Enjoy your guineitos en escabeche!
🎄 Your guide to enjoying Christmas in Puerto Rico
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
