Recaito Food

PUERTO RICAN SOFRITO

Steps:

• Start off by roughly chopping the yellow onion. Continue doing the same and removing the seeds from the red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and the ají dulces.
• Place the chopped ingredients into a food large sized food processor or blender.
• Break apart the garlic head into cloves and peel away the outer papery skin. Place the garlic cloves and culantro leaves into the food processor or blender.
• Add a tbsp of salt, black pepper, and oregano. Lastly, add the 1/3 cup of olive oil and blend everything together.

PUERTO RICAN SOFRITO

Steps:

• Remove stems and seeds from bell peppers. Cut into quarters.
• Peel the onion and cut into quarters.
• Remove stems and seeds from aji dulce.
• Blend all the ingredients in a food processor or blender until finely minced.
• Store in airtight container in refrigerator if using within a few weeks.
• Or, freeze in small portions (about 1-2 heaping tablespoons) for later use. Ice cube trays work well for this. After frozen, store sofrito cubes in an airtight freezer bag and use as needed. No need to thaw before cooking.

RECAITO

Steps:

• Place the onion and garlic in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade.
• With the motor running, add the remaining ingredients, one at a time and process, until the mixture is smooth.
• Set aside the amount you need for the recipe you're preparing.
• Pack the remaining recaito in ½-cup portions in sealable plastic bags and store in freezer.
• *** Cooks notes:
• *** Ajices Dulces, also known as cachucha or ajicitos are tiny sweet peppers with a hint of heat. They range in color from light to medium green and yellow to red and orange. They add freshness and an herby note to anything you cook. Do not mistake them for Scotch bonnet or Habanero chilies (which they look like)--those two pack a wallop when it comes to heat.
• *** Culantro is not cilantro. It has long leaves with tapered tips and serrated edges. When it comes to flavor, culantro is like cilantro times ten.

RECAITO RECIPE CARD: CILANTRO BASE

Steps:

• Wash cilantro thoroughly.
• Cut the lower stems of the cilantro and discard.
• With a pair of kitchen shears cut the cilantro bunch into 3 parts and place in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients, and push the on button.
• Let it run for about 3 minutes, stopping every 30 seconds to stir the ingredients around.
• The final texture should appear chunky.
• When finished, recaito should be stored in the freezer. The best way to store is in a covered ice cube tray. If you don't have one, use a regular ice cube tray.
• When the cubes are frozen, remove and place in a covered container.
• Recaito will keep in your freezer for about 3 months.
• You should be able to get close to 12 cubes of recaito from this recipe. Note the nutrition information is based on a 2 Tbsp cube.

SOFRITO

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine green peppers, red peppers ajies dulces, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Add cilantro, recao, salt, and pepper. Process to the consistency of semi-chunky salsa (not watery). Place in a resealable plastic freezer bag, and use as needed, or freeze in portions.

AUTHENTIC PUERTO RICAN SOFRITO

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Cut green bell pepper and red bell pepper in half from top to bottom; remove the stem, seeds, and ribs. Place peppers cut sides down onto the prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush with 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Roast under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag. Seal to let peppers steam as they cool, about 15 minutes. Remove skins under running water and discard. Chop flesh into large pieces.
• Place pepper pieces, sweet chile peppers, onion, scallions, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, culantro, olives, oregano, and capers in a blender or food processor. Blend, adding 1/2 cup olive oil and water in batches, until mixture is pureed but some chunks remain.
• Divide blended mixture among four 16-ounce containers, filling each 3/4 of the way. Top each with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil to help preserve mixture. Close containers and refrigerate.

PUERTO RICAN SOFRITO (RECAITO)

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Chop and blend all the ingredients in a food processor or blender .
• Use in your favorite soup, stew, bean, or rice dish, and enjoy.

BASIC SOFRITO

Steps:

• Use the sofrito with rice, stews, beans, or a protein, and enjoy.