Puerto Rican cuisine has always been described as greasy since most of the dishes under it are fried. Nevertheless, if you will explore different Puerto Rican specialties, you will realize that they are not just merely fried foods, but they're filled with distinct flavors, too.

Some food bloggers said Puerto Rican dishes are cooked through the use of different ingredients and preparation styles that result in delectable eats. Here are five of Puerto Rico's sumptuous treats that you can prepare in your kitchen. 

Even though Puerto Rican cooking is frequently compared to Mexican, Cuban, and Spanish cuisines, it is a unique blend of African, American, and Spanish influences. These dishes are known to use indigenous ingredients and seasonings like papaya, coriander, cacao, plantains, yampee, nispero, and apio, among others. Puerto Ricans typically name their cuisine, "Cocina Criolla."

Tembleque


An all-time favorite coconut pudding dessert, this mouthwatering treat is made from coconut milk and is cooked only on a pan. Puerto Ricans enjoy this as a snack. Wait, 'til this lockdown is over, and you can serve it too, as a perfect sweet delicacy to serve your guests during family get-togethers and parties.

Mofongo


This dish is made with "mashed and fried green plantains filled with meat and vegetables." It is eaten with a sauce made from broth, garlic, and oil. Some don't find the dish physically attractive, but this surely is far more delicious than it looks. You can stuff the Mofongo with Octopus Salad, Carne frita, or garlic shrimp. And when prepared, you can form it into mini balls and drop them in soups or simply serve in a mortar.


Pastelon


If you love Italian dishes and lasagna is your favorite, you will love the Puerto Rico version of this famous dish, too. Usually made of thinly-sliced plantains, layered with filling made from olives, meat, sofrito, tomato sauce, and aromatic spices such as oregano and cumin and oregano, Pastelon is baked with topped with grated cheese. This comforting dish is prepared with savory Latin spices with spicy, slightly sweet, and salty flavors. This Puerto Rican specialty is better eaten with a green salad and warm tortillas.

Rellenos de Papa


This is yet another all-time favorite specialty Puerto Rican dish where potatoes are filled with ground beef, and then, they get deep-fried. The meat filling is usually prepared by having it mixed with sofrito, adobo, tomato sauce, olives, and oregano. You can compare the Rellenos de Papa "to a potato croquette. Typically, this dish is eaten or served as an appetizer.

Empanadillas


The Empanadillas may be fried, but they are categorized in Puerto Rican cuisine as pastries. Empanadillas are made of dough filled with seasoned ground chicken or beef, then fried after that. Typically, the crust is thick, and they are quite similar to empanadas except that the dough of the latter is a bit thinner. Some people prefer adding other ingredients to these delectable pastries to result in the orange color of their dough. They are usually prepared much bigger than their size in regular recipes.


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