Sofrito for a Single Meal

(Sofrito Para Comida Individual)

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Sofrito for a Single Meal consists of chopped herbs and vegetables that is then sautéed in annatto oil and tomato sauce.  When I was a child living with my parents, my mother would chop all the ingredients for sofrito on a daily basis.   This is considered the traditional method.

However, due to the increased employment for Latin women in the workforce, many cooking techniques were developed to minimize the food preparation time.  As a result, we now purée the herbs and vegetables in large quantities and freeze them in plastic containers or ice cube trays for future use.  Therefore, today we refer to the puréed condiments as “Sofrito.”

Furthermore, Sofrito is the basic condiment that gives the Puerto Rican cuisine its unique flavor and aroma.  Sofrito (puréed condiments) is added to our stewed rice, beans, meats, fish and soups.

Here is a recipe (just like mom’s) that you can simply make sofrito for a single meal.

  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon onions, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green peppers, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sweet peppers (ajies dulces), chopped
  • 2 small culantro (recao) leaves, chopped

Mix all the ingredients into a bowl until well blended.  Now you can add the sofrito to the dish that you are preparing and enjoy the tropical flavors!

Our Tropical Special Ingredients (Sofrito for a Single Meal)!

Sofrito for a Single Meal

Culantro (Coriander) is a tropical perennial herb that is native to Mexico, Central and South America.  The leaf is long with jagged edges (spiny) and has a strong aromatic scent.   The Spanish term frequently used for culantro in Puerto Rico is  “recao.”   Learn How You Can Grow Culantro.

 

 

 

Sofrito for a Single MealAjies Dulces  (Capsicum Chinense) are sweet peppers native to Latin America and the Caribbean.  These sweet peppers are bright green.  However, when they are left long on the plant, they turn yellow, orange and red.  They slightly resemble the habanero pepper in appearance but are sweet with a unique aroma and flavor.    Learn How You Can Grow Ajies Dulces.

 

Alternatives for Special Ingredients (Sofrito for a Single Meal)!

Sofrito for a Single MealCilantro and culantro (Coriander) are cousins with similar flavors while shaped differently.  However, the culantro has a stronger flavor and aromatic scent.  When my parents came to the United States in the late 1940’s, there were no Latin markets so they substituted for the culantro with cilantro.

 

 

Sofrito for a Single Meal Cubanelle peppers (Capsicum Annuum) are known as Italian frying pepper and Cuban pepper.  They are yellowish-green in color and turn to a bright red color when they become ripe.   Compared to the ajies dulces, they are longer and sweeter.  The Cubanelle peppers are mainly  imported from the Dominican Republic.   You can substitute sweet peppers (ajies dulces) with cubanelle peppers.

 

 

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Sofrito for a Single Meal


  • Author: Aida's Kitchen®
  • Prep Time: 8 Minutes
  • Total Time: 8 Minutes
  • Yield: 2 ounces 1x

Description

Sofrito for a Single Meal consists of chopped herbs and vegetables that is then sautéed in annatto oil and tomato sauce for a unique tropical aroma and flavor.


Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 tablespoon onions, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons green peppers, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon sweet peppers (ajies dulces), chopped
  • 2 small culantro leaves, chopped

Instructions

  1. Mix all the ingredients into a bowl until well blended.

Notes

Now you can add the sofrito to the dish that you are preparing and enjoy the tropical flavors!

This recipe for sofrito will provide at least 4 tablespoonsful.  You can also increase the quantity for each ingredient according to your taste.

  • Category: Condiments
  • Method: Chopped
  • Cuisine: Puerto Rican

Keywords: How to Make Sofrito for a Single Meal

Nutritional Facts Disclaimer

 

 

 

Category: Condiments, Recipes

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