How Sofrito Got Its Flavor: From Medieval Europe To Puerto Rico And New England
Joel Rodriguez and Luis Rodriguez Jr. stand under a replica of the firehouse in Ponce, Puerto Rico, which their grandfather built.
Photo by Casssandra Basler for WSHU
A basic cooking technique that’s described in one of Europe’s oldest cookbooks has become the “secret sauce” to Latin American and Puerto Rican cuisine. It’s called sofrito and it’s the flavorful base for traditional Christmas dishes like Roasted Pork Pernil and rice and chicken. WSHU’s Cassandra Basler visited a family in New Haven that supplies the fresh blend of veggies, oil, herbs and spices to New England.