What makes this dish so appealing?
No one can resist this exquisite Puerto Rican dish, being the number one in the country's cuisine. Just seeing that Caribbean flavor blend—the crispy pork cracklings, fried green plantains, mashed or pounded, and the hint of garlic—will make your mouth water and motivate you to either buy or make this dish yourself.
Best of all, this delicious dish can be enjoyed as lunch, dinner, or basically any time.
Nowadays, there are many ways to prepare it. Some enjoy it with shrimp and seafood, while others prefer it with beef, pork cracklings, chicken cracklings, yuca, steaks, or simply in a vegetarian style. It's almost always accompanied by a broth or a light sauce.
Where does the name of this wonderful dish come from?
Mofongo comes from the word "mufuongo," which originates from African and was brought by enslaved Black people; it means "to crush." This name perfectly describes the dish, since the ingredients are mashed in a mortar to achieve the desired consistency and can be stuffed with the same ingredients, then mixed with a choice of meat.
In Puerto Rico, it is customary that after mashing the ingredients, they take the shape of the mortar: half a circle with a filling inside. Some also prepare it into balls without filling, to be served with different dishes like fish, chicken, or beef.
However, this marvelous dish is not only enjoyed in Puerto Rico but is also popular in countries like the Dominican Republic.
