Embark on a Food Voyage to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico: The Land of Flavorful Cuisine

Puerto Rico, the lush Caribbean island, serves healthy and delicious foods and its cuisine is dominated by tropical fruits, fresh fish, flavorful herbs and spices and fiber-filled beans. Though all the ingredients seem to be healthy, cooking techniques and portion sizes decide on the health quotient of different foods. If you are interested in knowing about healthy cooking techniques and would like to learn about portion sizes, click on the link www.firsteatright.com. The cream of the cuisine has been discussed below with few tips suggested to make them healthier for your entire family.

Arroz con Habichuelas

As is rice and dal for India, so is rice and beans for Puerto Rico. Arroz con habichuelas, the staple dish of Puerto Ricans is enriched with fiber, vitamins and minerals and is a health-boosting dish. The negative aspect of the dish is that, the rice is usually cooked with salt and oil with further oil drizzled over the prepared rice to make it shiny and avoid sticking of the rice particles together. Dietitians and nutritionists suggest making a healthier version of the dish by using minimal oil.

The staple dish is normally served along with stewed or fried beef, pork, fish or chicken. Choose stewing over frying as it is lower in fat and calories. Yet another favorite of Puerto Rican people is the cuchifritos, a lineup of fried foods such as pork skin, blood sausage and fritters. As you know, these cannot be made in a healthier or nutritious way and the best thing is to restrict yourself to small portions, consuming them only during special occasions.

Raw Bananas

Puerto Rican cooking is never complete without plantains. These are a type of starchy banana and cannot be eaten without cooking. Plantains can either be fried and mashed or fried twice. The first variety is called tostones and the second variety is called mofongo. Dietitians and nutritionists suggest that the best way to consume plantains is by boiling or baking them.

Produce

Vegetables and fruits available are similar to those offered in many other countries. Commonly used veggies include okra, tomatoes, bell peppers, eggplant, onions, chayote squash, watercress and other low-calorie, non-starchy vegetables while fruits include mangoes, papayas, pineapple, guava, passion fruit, oranges, pomegranates and tamarind.

Seasonings

Seasoning is an integral part of Puerto Rican cuisine and this infuses a delicious flavor to meals, thereby making the meal edible without salt. Oregano, bay leaves, garlic, parsley, cilantro, basil and Caribbean thyme are some of the commonly used seasonings. Sofrito, made from fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, garlic and cilantro, is used as a base in many dishes like beans, soups, stews, chicken and meats as it adds a unique taste to the food.

Cook your favorite Puerto Rican dishes at home by choosing some of the healthy ingredients such as fish, fruits, vegetables, beans and herbs. Enjoy a portion of fried meat and appetizers occasionally and take care not to make it an everyday affair. Registered dietitians and nutritionists keep insisting on this point as it is easy to stuff your plate with rice and starchy vegetables like cassava, taro and plantains.