Puerto Rico Dishes: Here's What to Eat When Visiting the Caribbean Island
Here are some of the famous dishes in Puerto Rico that will surely make you want to come back to the country after trying them. RICARDO ARDUENGO/AFP via Getty Images

The island of Puerto Rico is known to be one of the most sought tourist destinations in the Latin American region.

With stunning landscapes, Puerto Rico entices its travelers to feel and experience its local attractions. Some of the most famous attractions in the country are the El Yunque tropical rain forest and the bioluminescent bay at La Parguera.

However, Puerto Rico is more than a tourist attraction. The food and dishes its offers make it a place to be for your next travel destination.

Top 5 Puerto Rico Dishes

According to Travel and Leisure, Puerto Rico's food boasts different flavors from different cultures. The cuisine in this country is known to be a combination of rice and pork dish from Spain, plantains from West Africa, and even yuca (cassava) from the Taino ancestry.

Puerto Rico offers some of the best foods in Latin America. Here are some of the dishes that travelers should not miss when visiting Puerto Rico.

Mofongo

Mofongo is one of the staples in Puerto Rico. According to Royal Caribbean, this dish is made with mashed, fried plantains partnered with the savory goodness of garlic and chicharrones, which is fried pork skin.

This dish can be found anywhere in San Juan, Puerto Rico, making it accessible for travelers every time they want to try it.

Arroz Con Gandules

You cannot leave Puerto Rico without trying arroz con gandules. This dish is considered to be Puerto Rico's national dish, so missing it will be a great loss on your trip.

This dish features the bold flavors of Sofrito, a cooking base made from cilantro, tomatoes, onions, and peppers. The sofrito is then mixed with plain rice, pigeon peas, capers, tomato sauce, olives, and seasonings to make it more flavorful.

Ensalada de Pulpo

If you want to try a Puerto Rican seafood salad, then "ensalada de pulpo" is for you. This dish is made from cooked chewy octopus paired with tart vinegar and a side of crispy fried plantains.

Aside from the cooked octopus, it is also made with onions, olives, olive oil, and vinegar. This dish is a mainstay in every restaurant in Puerto Rico.

Tostones

Another Puerto Rican signature dish is tostones. This dish is made from plantains that are double fried and flattened into little medallions. The plantains are then paired with savory meat. This dish is best enjoyed when on a food tour of Old San Juan.

Pasteles

If you have been to other parts of Latin America, you might mistake pasteles for tamales. Puerto Rico's pasteles are usually made with green plantains, unlike the tamales made from corn dough.

This dish is filled with a variety of meats, typically pork. It is usually enjoyed traditionally during Christmas, but tourists can still try them all year round.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

WATCH: Puerto Rican Moms Try Each Other's Arroz Con Gandules - From Pero Like