16 Puerto Rican Alcapurrias Recipe You Won't Believe The Taste!
Published on: Mar 31, 2024
If you're looking to add some authentic Puerto Rican flavors to your cooking repertoire, then look no further than alcapurrias. This traditional dish is a beloved staple in Puerto Rican cuisine, with its unique blend of flavors and textures. Alcapurrias are a type of fritter made with a mixture of ground plantains and yautía, a tropical root vegetable. These delicious bites can be filled with a variety of savory options, such as meat, seafood, or vegetables. In this article, we'll be sharing our favorite alcapurrias recipe that will transport your taste buds to the beautiful island of Puerto Rico.
Main Ingredients: Canola Oil, Cilantro, Medium Onion, Jalapeno Pepper
What better way to start off our list than with a classic side dish in Puerto Rican cuisine? These Puerto Rican style beans are simmered in a savory sauce made with sofrito, tomato sauce, and spices. They make the perfect accompaniment to any beer can chicken recipe and will add a pop of flavor to your plate.
Sofrito is the base of many Puerto Rican dishes, and this authentic recipe will bring a burst of flavor to your beer can chicken. Made with fresh herbs, peppers, and spices, this sauce can be used as a marinade or added to the chicken during cooking for an extra kick of flavor.
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Puerto Rican Picadillo
Main Ingredients: Ground Beef, Sofrito, Tomato Sauce, Spanish Olives
Picadillo is a popular dish in Puerto Rican cuisine, and this flavorful ground beef mixture can be used as a stuffing for your beer can chicken. With ingredients like raisins, olives, and capers, this dish is a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
This one-pot dish is a staple in Puerto Rican households and is a great way to incorporate more flavor into your beer can chicken. Made with chicken, rice, vegetables, and spices, this hearty dish will be a hit at any dinner table.
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Puerto Rican Style beans
Main Ingredients: Small Onion, Banana Peppers, Garlic, Chopped Cilantro
Every Puerto Rican has their own special way of making rice, and this authentic recipe is a must-try. The secret to achieving perfect rice is in the sofrito and the annatto oil used in this recipe. Serve it alongside your beer can chicken for a complete and delicious meal.
If you're looking to switch things up, try this Puerto Rican twist on traditional lasagna. Layers of sweet plantains, ground beef, and cheese create a unique and delicious dish that will pair perfectly with your beer can chicken.
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Puerto Rican Rice (An Authentic)
Main Ingredients: Olive Oil, Garlic, Tomato Sauce, Sazon, Adobo, Sofrito
Gandules, or pigeon peas, are a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine and are often used in arroz con gandules. This flavorful rice dish is cooked with sofrito, pigeon peas, and a variety of spices, making it a perfect side dish for your beer can chicken.
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Pastelon (Puerto Rican Lasagna)
Main Ingredients: Plantains, Peanut Oil, Ground Beef, Yellow Onion, Green
Pernil, or roasted pork shoulder, is a favorite dish in Puerto Rican households and is often served during special occasions. This slow cooker recipe makes it easy to achieve tender and flavorful pork that will pair perfectly with your beer can chicken.
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Traditional Puerto Rican Rice Arroz con Gandules
Main Ingredients: Bacon, Cubanelle Pepper, Vegetable Oil, Fresh Cilantro
Rice and beans are a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine and can be found on almost every dinner table. This recipe for habichuelas guisadas, or stewed beans, is a delicious and hearty side dish that will complement the flavors of your beer can chicken.
Main Ingredients: Pork Shoulder, Garlic, Kosher Salt, Ground Black
Another version of the classic rice and beans dish, this recipe uses red kidney beans and adds in some chorizo for an extra kick of flavor. Serve this alongside your beer can chicken for a complete and satisfying meal.
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Puerto Rican Rice and Beans (Habichuelas Guisadas)
Main Ingredients: Oil, Sofrito, Tomato Sauce, Kidney, Water, Coriander
No meal is complete without a delicious dessert, and this Puerto Rican twist on flan will not disappoint. The addition of cream cheese gives this flan a creamy and rich texture that pairs perfectly with the flavors of your beer can chicken.
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Puerto Rican Rice & Beans
Main Ingredients: Oil, Sofrito, Tomato Sauce, Kidney, Water, Coriander
These stuffed potatoes are a popular street food in Puerto Rico and are often filled with a savory meat mixture. This recipe uses ground beef, sofrito, and spices to create a delicious and hearty filling that will pair well with your beer can chicken.
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Puerto Rican Rice & Beans
Main Ingredients: Black Beans, Olive Oil, Salsa, Garlic, Cumin, Chili
Coquito is a traditional Puerto Rican drink that is often served during the holiday season. This creamy and sweet drink is made with coconut milk, rum, and spices, making it a perfect pairing for your beer can chicken dinner.
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Puerto Rican Flan de Queso (Cheese Flan)
Main Ingredients: Sugar, Cream Cheese, Sweetened Condensed Milk
Tostones are a staple in Puerto Rican cuisine and are often served as a side dish or snack. These fried plantains are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, making them a great addition to your beer can chicken dinner.
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Puerto Rican Papas Rellenas (Stuffed Potatoes)
Main Ingredients: Potatoes, Cornstarch, Egg, Salt, Oil
This slow cooker recipe for pernil is another great option for achieving tender and flavorful pork that will pair well with your beer can chicken. The addition of adobo seasoning and garlic give this dish a delicious and authentic Puerto Rican flavor.
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Coquito (Puerto Rican Eggnog)
Main Ingredients: Coconut Milk, White Rum, Evaporated Milk, Sweetened
Empanadas are a popular dish in many Latin American countries, and this Puerto Rican version is a must-try. These handheld pies are filled with a savory chicken mixture and make a great appetizer or snack alongside your beer can chicken.
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Puerto Rican Tostones (Fried Plantains)
Main Ingredients: Green Plantains, Vegetable Oil, Salt, Mayonnaise
This hearty and flavorful chicken stew is a staple in Puerto Rican households. Made with chicken, potatoes, carrots, and a variety of spices, this dish is a great way to add some variety to your beer can chicken dinner.
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Slow Cooked Puerto Rican Pork (Pernil)
Main Ingredients: Pork Shoulder Butt, Garlic Cloves, Ground Black Pepper
This Puerto Rican style chicken fricassee is a delicious and comforting dish that will pair perfectly with your beer can chicken. The addition of olives and capers gives this dish a unique and flavorful twist.
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Puerto Rican Chicken Empanadas (Empanadillas de pollo)
Main Ingredients: All Purpose Flour, Oil, Salt, Water, Boneless Chicken
Who doesn't love a good mac and cheese? This Puerto Rican style version uses a creamy cheese sauce made with evaporated milk and adds in some classic Puerto Rican flavors like adobo seasoning and sofrito.
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Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew)
Main Ingredients: Bone In Chicken Thighs, Adobo All Purpose Seasoning
If you're looking for a unique and delicious way to use your leftover beer can chicken, try making this Puerto Rican style plantain sandwich. The plantains are used as a substitute for bread and are filled with chicken, avocado, and cheese for a flavorful and satisfying meal.
The Key Ingredients
Plantains and Yautía
Plantains and yautía are the star ingredients in this alcapurrias recipe. Plantains are a starchy, green banana-like fruit that are commonly used in Latin American and Caribbean cuisine. They add a subtle sweetness and texture to the alcapurrias. Yautía, also known as taro root, is a root vegetable that is a staple in Puerto Rican cooking. It has a nutty flavor and adds a smooth texture to the alcapurrias.
Meat or Seafood Filling
One of the great things about alcapurrias is that they can be filled with a variety of delicious options. Meat fillings, such as ground beef or pork, add a hearty and savory element to the fritters. For a seafood filling, you can use shrimp, crab, or any other seafood of your choice. The possibilities are endless!
Seasonings and Spices
To give the alcapurrias their distinct flavor, a variety of seasonings and spices are used. Adobo, garlic powder, and oregano are commonly used in Puerto Rican cuisine and add a delicious blend of savory and herb flavors to the fritters.
The Recipe
Now that we have gone over the key ingredients, let's get to the recipe! To make about 12 alcapurrias, you will need:
- 2 green plantains
- 2 cups of grated yautía
- 1 pound of ground beef or choice of seafood
- 1 tablespoon of adobo seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon of oregano
- Vegetable oil for frying
Peel and grate the plantains and yautía into a large bowl. Mix together until well combined.
In a separate pan, cook the ground beef or seafood filling with the adobo seasoning, garlic powder, and oregano until fully cooked.
Take about 1/4 cup of the plantain and yautía mixture and flatten it in your hand. Add about 1 tablespoon of the filling in the center and wrap the mixture around the filling, forming a ball.
In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, carefully add the alcapurrias and fry until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the alcapurrias from the oil and place on a paper towel to drain excess oil.
Serve warm and enjoy your delicious Puerto Rican alcapurrias!
In Conclusion
Alcapurrias are a flavorful and unique dish that will impress your taste buds and anyone you serve them to. With the combination of plantains, yautía, and your choice of filling, you can create a variety of delicious combinations. So next time you want to add some Puerto Rican flair to your cooking, give this alcapurrias recipe a try!
