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Puerto Rico Food – The Basics

Puerto Rico Food - The BasicsYou can’t come to Puerto Rico without trying the local cuisine. Whether you are planning on eating at local restaurants or buying food at local markets, it’s a good idea to have a basic understanding of the Puerto Rican names of food and dishes.

Learning some of these (if not all) will help you enjoy your trip here, even more.

Spanish English
Desayuno Breakfast
Almuerzo Lunch
Cena Dinner
Antojito Snacks
Carta Menu
Tenedor Fork
Cuchillo Knife
Cuchara Spoon
Cuenta Check / Bill



puerto rican cooking styles

Types of Puerto Rican Cooking
A la Parilla Grilled
Al Horno Baked
Asado Roast
Frito Fried
Guisado Stewed
A la Brasa Braised
Ahumado Smoked
Tostado Toasted

typical puerto rican dishes

Typical Puerto Rican Dishes
Alcapurria Taro fritter stuffed with meat or cheese
Amarillo Baked plantain
Arroz con Grandules Rice with green pigeon peas
Arroz con Pollo Rice with chicken
Arroz y Habichuelas Rice & Beans
Asopoa Soup
Bacalito Codfish fritter
Chicharrón Pork crackling (fried pork skin)
Croquetas de pescados Fish croquettes
Empanada / Empanadilla Fried pastry turnover stuffed with meat
Mofongo Fried and mashed green plantain
Pasteles Shredded root vegetable tamales
Queso Blanco Puerto Rican white cheese
Relleno Ground beef and mashed potato fritter
Tostones Fried green plantains

fish and seafood

Pescados & Mariscos Fish & Seafood
Albacora Swordfish
Atun Tuna
Bacalao Codfish
Calamares Squid
Camarones Shrimp, Prawns
Carrucho Conch
Chillo Red Snapper
Dorado Mahi-mahi
Jueyes Crabs
Langosta Lobster
Pulpo Octopus
Robalo Sea Bass
Sardinas Sardines
Salmón Salmon

Meat

Carne & Aves Meat & Poultry
Albóndigas Meatballs
Bistec Steak
Cabrito Baby goat
Cerdo Pork
Chorizo Spicy Sausage
Chuleta Pork chop
Chuletón T-bone steak
Churrasco Skirt steak
Conejo Rabbit
Cordero Lamb
Filete Beef tenderloin
Gallina Hen
Guinea Guinea hen
Gandinza Pigs liver
Jamon Ham
Lechón Asado Roast Pig
Molida Ground as in ground beef
Pato Duck
Pavo Turkey
Pinchos Kebabs
Pollo Chicken
Ropa Vieja Shredded beef
Salchicha Sausage
Ternera Veal
Tocino Bacon

vegetables

Verduras / Vegetables Vegetables
Apio Celery
Berenjena Eggplant / Aubergine
Calabaza Pumpkin
Cebolla Onion
Garbanzos Chickpeas
Habichuelas Beans
Maíz Corn
Papa Potato
Papas Fritas French fries
Pimiento Bell pepper
Repollo Cabbage
Tomate Tomato

fruit

Frutas Fruits
Aguacate Avocado
Cereza Cherry
China Orange
Coco Coconut
Fresa Strawberry
Guayaba Guava
Guineo Banana
Limon Lemon
Lima Lime
Piña Pineapple
Toronja Grapefruit
Ulvas Grapes

desserts

Dulces & Postres Sweets & Desserts
Arroz con dulce Rice pudding
Flan Custard / creme caramel
Galleta Cookie / biscuit
Limber Frozen fruit juice
Tembleque Coconut milk & sugar custard
Tres Leches Cake made with 3 milks

drinks

Bebidas Drinks
Agua Water
Batidas Fruit shakes
Cafe Coffee
Cafe con leche Coffee with milk
Cafe negro Black coffee
Cerveza Beer
Coquito Rum eggnog (Christmas drink)
Jugo Juice
Mavi Fermented drink from Mavi bark
Piragua Shaved ice drizzled with fruit syrup
Refresco Soda / fizzy pop
Ron Rum
Tea
Vino tinto Red wine
Vino blanco White wine

The above list is just a sample of what you can eat and drink here in Puerto Rico. If you think that one of the translations may not be correct, please add to the comments section below. Also, if there is anything that I have missed off that you think should be there, again, please add to the comments below.

Photo resource: booleansplit, cocola88, nikonvscanon, bigberto, nataliemaynor, heydrienne, sophiea and rajuvaidyazuiq

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