The Christmas season in Puerto Rico is truly magical, with families coming together to cook cherished traditional recipes that bring the holidays to life.
Since the island enjoys the world’s longest holiday season, feasting on these special dishes is an integral part of the holiday spirit. For most Puerto Ricans, these flavors and aromas bring out the memories of Christmas celebrations.
To feel the vibrancy of la Navidad celebrations in Puerto Rico, we have listed the best Puerto Rican Christmas foods for you to try out. From delectable appetizers to delicious desserts, these are the dishes that you need to add to your Christmas dinner table.
1: Appetizers
Pasteles
Pasteles are a traditional dish in Puerto Rico and other Caribbean cultures, especially during the holiday season. Cooking, filling, and wrapping the melt-in-your-mouth delicious pasteles involves multiple steps, and the whole family bonds over the preparation process.
While the ingredients vary, the “masa,” or dough, is made from grated root vegetables like green bananas, green plantains, potatoes, and kabocha squash. To mix it up, spicy filling made from pork, chicken, or seafood is used. Vegan meat replacements can also be used.
Flavoring is done by adding sofrito, tomato paste, white wine vinegar, and onion. Then comes the critical step – wrapping the masa in pieces of banana leaf or parchment paper and tying it with a butcher’s twine to keep it secure. Finally, the tied pasteles are boiled in water for 1 ½ to 2 hours. They can be kept frozen for future consumption as well.
Alcapurrias
Alcapurrias are delicious stuffed fritters that are an essential part of Christmas Eve parties in Puerto Rico. Made from a puree of vegetables and savory meat, these are soft on the inside with a crunchy outer layer. While it is a perfect snack for family gatherings, you will also find alcapurrias in beach kiosks and the best restaurants in cities like Dorado and Ponce.
While each family has a secret recipe, the most common ingredients used are green banana and yautia or yuca (root vegetables). These are used to prepare the dough, which is filled with a spicy pork filling. Items like olives, adobo seasoning, garlic powder, and Achiote seasoning are added to the filling.
The dough is folded into a cylindrical shape and deep-fried in vegetable oil. Alcapurrias are served immediately and often dipped into either a hot sauce or “mayoketchup” to enhance the flavor.
2: Soups & Stews
Asopao de Pollo
This chicken and rice stew is traditionally served in Christmas parrandas – a jovial late-night singing party. Asopao de Pollo is easy to prepare and easier to heat up when the parranderos or singers arrive. That said, Asopao de Pollo can be enjoyed in any season and you will find some of the best restaurants in San Juan serving it.
To start with, the marinated chicken pieces are cooked and then added to the sofrito – a full-flavored base of vegetables. The ingredients used are onions, green olives, tomatoes, chopped cilantro, bell peppers, and ham. Garlic, oregano, paprika, coriander, tomato sauce, and cumin are added as the flavor foundation.
Once the soup is ready, it smells fantastic and then the cooked rice is added to it. This delicious and comforting meal is often served with some crusty bread or tortillas.
Sancocho
Another staple dish for Christmas parties, Sancocho is a hearty meat stew loaded with flavors. What exactly goes into the dish can vary, and every possible combination of proteins and vegetables is used across the island. In truth, you will find versions of this dish in other Caribbean islands and throughout Latin America.
The primary ingredients commonly used are chicken breast, beef, lean pork, malanga, yautía, squash, sweet plantains, and a lot of island spices. First, the vegetables and aromatic ingredients are used to prepare a sofrito. Then, the meat is cooked and the sofrito is added to it. Traditionally, Sancocho is served with rice, tostones, or mofongo.
3: Main Courses
Lechón Asado
With an entire highway – La Ruta del Lechón (the Pork Highway)- dedicated to it, Lechón Asado is an iconic dish in Puerto Rico. The pork shoulder is a hearty dish that is perfect for holiday gatherings and the centerpiece for family Christmas feasts.
What makes it taste special is the introduction of garlic and fresh oregano into the meat by making small cuts in it. The skin of the pork is removed and a rub made from salt, granulated garlic, pepper, olive oil, and dried oregano is sprinkled over it. The crispy pork cracklings are one important aspect of this dish, and you need to tie back the skin to achieve that.
The grilling process takes time – about 3-4 hours – and the pork is best grilled over charcoal. However, considering the delicious taste of the tender and juicy meat, it is well worth the wait.
Arroz con Gandules
This staple dish is not only a typical Puerto Rican Christmas food but is also served during special events like weddings and birthdays. Arroz con Gandules has been declared Puerto Rico’s national dish and not without reason – it combines indigenous Taíno ingredients with West African and Spanish flavors.
The comforting aroma of the dish arising from the holiday dinner table is a result of combining tender pigeon peas with tomato paste and various seasonings. For a meaty flavor, chunks of roasted pork or ham are also added.
Another key ingredient is long-grain white rice, which sparks a debate—some swear by stirring it, while others insist you shouldn’t. Besides, the dish is highly adaptable, and you can tweak the ingredients to match different dietary demands.
4: Desserts
Tembleque
This creamy and smooth coconut pudding is a popular Puerto Rican dessert mostly served during the holidays. While there are other variations of the recipe, the traditional ingredients are full-fat coconut milk, sugar, salt, cinnamon, cornstarch, and vanilla.
Preparing Tembleque is ridiculously easy and the final product has a trademark wiggle when shaken lightly, hence its name. Once prepared, the liquid is poured into small molds and refrigerated for at least 2 hours before serving. Lastly, use ground cinnamon and coconut flakes as garnish.
Arroz con Dulce
A bowl of this beloved Puerto Rican dessert is the perfect comfort food for finishing off a hearty Navidad dinner. Counted among the traditional Puerto Rican holiday dishes, Arroz con Dulce has tender rice grains blended with coconut milk and spices, and stuffed with raisins.
Like many other Puerto Rican Christmas foods, the recipe can vary between households. One important step is soaking the rice before cooking. That way, the grains will remain plump and the final product will not turn into a mush. If you are a coconut lover, this amazing rice pudding is a must-have.
Final Thoughts
As the holiday season arrives in Puerto Rico, it is time to share the island’s incredible range of culinary traditions with friends and families. Whether you are planning to move to Puerto Rico, or have settled down already, these are the Puerto Rican foods that you need to feast on.
With an experienced team and cutting-edge resources, The Colectivo Group can be the dedicated partner to help you choose your dream home in Puerto Rico. Get in touch with us to learn more about the property options that meet your exact needs.