This authentic Puerto Rican sofrito recipe is a flavorful blend of aromatic vegetables and herbs that forms the base of many Puerto Rican dishes. It is a versatile ingredient that adds a unique taste and aroma to your cooking. With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, you can easily make this traditional sofrito at home. Use it to enhance the flavors of your favorite Puerto Rican recipes such as arroz con pollo, pernil, and various stews. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds!
Ingredients
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow onion
- 1 head of garlic
- 1 bunch of cilantro
- 1 bunch of culantro (optional)
- 1 bunch of ají dulce (Puerto Rican sweet peppers)
- 1 handful of fresh oregano leaves
- 1 tablespoon of vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
- Wash and roughly chop the green bell pepper, red bell pepper, and onion.
- Peel the garlic cloves and set aside.
- Remove the stems from the cilantro, culantro, and ají dulce.
- In a food processor or blender, combine the green bell pepper, red bell pepper, onion, garlic cloves, cilantro, culantro, ají dulce, and oregano leaves. Process until everything is finely chopped and well combined.
- Add the vinegar, olive oil, salt, and pepper to the mixture and blend again until smooth.
- Taste the sofrito and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Transfer the sofrito to a jar or airtight container and refrigerate.
- The sofrito can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or frozen for later use.
Interesting Facts
Sofrito is a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine and is used as a base for many traditional dishes.
The combination of bell peppers, onions, garlic, and herbs creates a vibrant and aromatic flavor profile in sofrito.
Culantro is a herb commonly used in Puerto Rican cooking and adds a unique taste to sofrito.
Ají dulce peppers are a key ingredient in sofrito and provide a mild, sweet flavor.
Making your own sofrito at home allows you to control the quality of ingredients and adjust the taste to your preference.