Читать книгу The Healthy Teen Cookbook - Remmi Smith - Страница 26

Puerto rico

Leaving Jamaica, we sail east to our final island in the Greater Antilles. Puerto Rico is a popular vacation spot with more than 270 miles of beaches. The temperature is in the 70–80 degrees Fahrenheit range all year long. Its culture has been influenced by several others, including Spanish and African. Their cuisine uses many spices, making for very flavorful dishes. They highlight fresh foods in all of their meals. In Puerto Rico, the cuisine is known as cocina criolla, or “creole cuisine.” Locals are very friendly and hospitable.

On special holidays and at most family celebrations, Lechon Asado, a whole roasted pig, will be the main fare. A famous place to have roasted pig is Guavate, located in the central mountains. The road leading to this area is La Ruta De Lechon, which translates to “Pork Highway.” Along this highway, you can experience Lechoneras, which are rustic eateries featuring roasted pig. Local families often go to this area on weekends.

While I didn’t bring you a Lechon Asado Family Feast, I have still brought you a delicious feast filled with many Puerto Rican favorites. Most meals start with a soup, and the most well-known soup is black bean. Besides roast pork, the locals love chicken, and Arroz con Pollo is the favored chicken and rice dish. Coconut is used often with dishes involving fruit.