Monday, May 28, 2012

Puerto Rico

Today Puerto Rico is the country I have decided to focus on! I'm from Florida and grew up with a lot of Puerto Ricans. Who are close friends, like family. Puerto Rican food is also what is mainly made at my house.

The roots of Puerto Rican food mainly spreed from Europe, Africa, and Amerindian Tainos. Also the US played a great deal in influencing the foods preparation. Puerto Rican food can be found in several countries today.

Influences:

  • Tainos
  -Ajicito   -Culantro   -Quenepas    -Achiote   -Peppers   -Lerenes    -Peanuts   -Guavas    -Calabazas 
-Pine apple    -Jicacos   -Guanbeans

The Tainos grew maiz (corn) and beans, but the hurricanes would destroy the maiz crops and the more safeguarded plants were left such as yuca. Yuca is used to make casabe bread.

  • Europeans
-Surge cane   -Wheat   -Garbanzos   -Citrus Fruits   -Capers   -Olives   -Eggplant   -Black Pepper
-Olive Oil    -Ham      -Onions         -Garlic             -Lard      -Oregano  -Basil        -Chicken 
-Cheese       -Beef       -Pork

Europeans influenced making complex stews and rice dishes in pots.

  • Africans
-Coconuts   -Coffee   -Yams   -Sesame Seeds  -Gandules   -Plantains   -okra   -Sweet Bananas
-Root veg.  -Guinea

Deep-frying food such as tostones was introduced by the Africans.

  • United States
American influence started after Puerto Rico became territory of the US. The main influence was the type of oil the used to fry their food. The Europeans had brought olive oil for cooking/frying food. It was expensive to import olive oil so Puerto Ricans switched to lard that could be made locally. Later they started using corn oil that was produced in the US.

  • South America
-Vanilla   -Cocoa   -Avocado   -Tomatoes   -Potatoes   -Chayote   -Papaya   -Bell Peppers   -Passion Fruits

  • Other
Panapén is from the South Pacific and is used in pudding and tostones.

Puerto Rican Dishes:

These are a few Puerto Rican dishes/food.

-Empanadas   -Arroz con Gandules   -Pig Roast   -Flan   -Tostones   -Fricasé

   

No comments:

Post a Comment