Sofrito (Puerto Rican Green Cooking Base)
In short: A raw green blend of onion, sweet peppers, garlic and cilantro that starts most Puerto Rican rice, beans and stews. Make it once, freeze it in cubes. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 16 servings.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 16
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 45 kcal
Sofrito is the green base behind most Puerto Rican cooking, a raw puree of onion, sweet peppers, garlic, cilantro and culantro (a long-leaved herb with a stronger flavor). A spoonful goes into the pot first, where it sizzles in oil before rice, beans, stews and soups are built on top. Cooks often make a large batch and freeze it in ice-cube trays, so a fresh-tasting base is always ready.
Instructions
- Trim the onions, peppers and ajíes dulces and chop them into chunks small enough for your blender or food processor.
- Pulse the onions, bell peppers, ajíes and garlic in a food processor, in batches if needed, until finely chopped. Stop before it becomes a smooth puree.
- Add the cilantro, culantro, olive oil and salt. Pulse again until the herbs are finely minced and the mixture looks like a wet, green relish.
- Taste and adjust the salt. If your blender is struggling, add a splash of water, but keep the texture spoonable.
- Pack the sofrito into clean jars for the fridge, or spoon it into ice cube trays, freeze solid and move the cubes to a freezer bag.
Tips
- Ajíes dulces are sweet and aromatic, not hot. If you cannot find them, use an extra green pepper and a small piece of mild chili, and increase the cilantro.
- To use, fry 2 tablespoons per 2 servings in a little oil for 3 to 4 minutes before adding meat, tomato or rice. Two frozen cubes equal about 2 tablespoons.
Questions and answers
How long does homemade sofrito keep?
It keeps for 1 week in a jar in the fridge, with a thin layer of oil on top, and for up to 6 months in the freezer. Frozen cubes can go straight into a hot pan.
Is Puerto Rican sofrito spicy?
No. It is herbal, garlicky and sweet from the peppers. Heat is added separately, if at all, as a little hot pepper vinegar at the table.
How is Puerto Rican sofrito different from Spanish sofrito?
Puerto Rican sofrito is a raw, green blend of onion, peppers and herbs. Spanish sofrito is usually a slowly cooked mixture of onion, tomato and olive oil.
How long does it take to make Sofrito (Puerto Rican Green Cooking Base)?
About 20 min in total: 20 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Sofrito (Puerto Rican Green Cooking Base)?
About 45 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 3 g of carbohydrates and 3 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 45 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 3 g |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 1 g |
| Sodium | 150 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
