Authentic Puerto Rican Sofrito: A Flavor Explosion in Your Kitchen

Discover the secret to mouthwatering Puerto Rican cuisine with this homemade sofrito recipe. Bursting with fresh herbs, vibrant peppers, and aromatic garlic, this flavor base will transform your dishes!
Sofrito is the heart and soul of Puerto Rican cooking. This versatile herb and vegetable blend serves as the foundation for countless dishes, infusing them with an irresistible depth of flavor. Our recipe stays true to tradition, combining the perfect balance of onions, peppers, cilantro, and other key ingredients to create an authentic taste of the Caribbean.
While some ingredients like culantro and ajices dulces might be hard to find outside Puerto Rico, don’t worry! We’ve got you covered with easy substitutions that still capture the essence of this beloved condiment. Whether you’re making rice, stews, or beans, a dollop of this homemade sofrito will transport your taste buds straight to the beaches of San Juan.
Best of all, this recipe yields a generous batch that you can freeze for future use. Say goodbye to bland meals and hello to a world of Puerto Rican flavors, right in your own kitchen!
Authentic Puerto Rican Sofrito Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium Spanish onions, cut into large chunks (about 2 cups)
- 4 cubanelle peppers, stemmed, seeded, and cut into large chunks (about 2 cups)
- 1 large red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and roughly chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 4 ripe plum tomatoes, cored and cut into chunks (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 large bunch cilantro, washed and roughly chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 18 medium cloves garlic, peeled
- 8 ajices dulces, stemmed (see note)
- 4 leaves of culantro (see note)
- Kosher salt
Directions
- Start by adding the onions and cubanelle peppers to your food processor equipped with a steel blade. Pulse until you achieve a coarse chop, creating the perfect base for your sofrito.
- With the motor running, it’s time to add the flavor boosters! Introduce the remaining ingredients one at a time through the feed tube, allowing the processor to work its magic. Continue until you’ve achieved a smooth, aromatic paste. Season with salt to taste, adjusting to your preference. Transfer your homemade sofrito to a container and refrigerate for up to three days, or freeze for long-term storage and endless culinary possibilities!
Notes
Can’t find ajices dulces? No problem! Simply omit them from the recipe. If culantro is unavailable in your area, boost the cilantro quantity for a similar flavor profile. Your sofrito will still be delicious!
Nutrition Facts (per serving) | |
---|---|
14 | Calories |
0g | Fat |
3g | Carbs |
1g | Protein |
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 32 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 14 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 0g | 0% |
Saturated Fat 0g | 0% |
Cholesterol 0mg | 0% |
Sodium 32mg | 1% |
Total Carbohydrate 3g | 1% |
Dietary Fiber 1g | 2% |
Total Sugars 1g | |
Protein 1g | |
Vitamin C 22mg | 108% |
Calcium 12mg | 1% |
Iron 0mg | 1% |
Potassium 86mg | 2% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice. |