I believe strongly in passing down food culture to our children. It’s one easy (and delicious) way to stay connected to our heritage and family legacy. I cook Cuban food recipes for my family all the time, which means that I’m cookingsofrito at least weekly. It’s what my mom did, and her mom did and now what I do for my own kids. When my friends were coming home to the smell of homemade cookies, I walked into an aroma of onions and garlic that so characterizes Cuban recipes. Sofrito is the base of our food and, in a way, a big part of my childhood.
What Is Sofrito?
Cuban sofrito is the base of many Cuban recipes. It’s that special flavor you can’t put your finger on in Cuban food culture. Cuban sofrito sauce is the beginning of your love affair with Cuban food and even now, as my family’s first generation American, it’sin almost everything I cook for my family. Even pizza! Sounds a bit melodramatic? Perhaps. But I dare you to try this homemade sofrito recipe and not lick your lips with anticipation.But exactly what is sofrito? In a nutshell, sofrito is a blend of aromaticingredientsand spices sauteedin cooking oil that is used as a base for other recipes.
How To Make Sofrito
The sofrito ingredients you’ll need are basic but can vary depending on who you’re talking to. When I’m making sofrito Cuban recipe, I use the ingredients below.
- Vegetable oil
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
- 4-6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- salt/pepper
Be sure to chop veggies into small pieces. If desired, use a food processor for the onion, garlic and bell pepper. To get started, heat oil in pan over medium/high heat. Cook onion until translucent, and then add garlic. Add the bell pepper and saute until tender. Add all the seasonings and stir until well incorporated. Stir in tomatoes and cook down for 5 minutes or so, or until all their liquid has released. Taste and adjust seasonings.
Cuban Food Recipe with Sofrito
Sofrito is a base for beans, stews, and rice dishes. Some ingredients are not used by cook – like tomato, dry white wine, cumin, bay leaf, and cilantro – but the three ingredients of a classic sofrito are always garlic, onions and bell pepper. They are considered the holy trilogy of Cuban cuisine.
- Ropa Vieja
- Picadillo
- Cuban Arroz con Pollo
- Frijoles Negro
- Cuban Chicken Soap
Where to Buy Sofrito
Just like we don’t always have time to buy pizza sauce or pasta sauce, sometimes we need to buy pre-made sofrito sauce. I get it! No judgment here. However, unlike pizza and pasta sauce, sofrito can be difficult to find at your local grocery store. In fact, you might have to go to specialty Latino stores to find sofrito and similar products. When we didn’t live in Southern California, this is was super annoying because I would have to drive miles and miles to get common Hispanic ingredients. Thank goodness for Amazon Prime, right?! The only pre-made sofrito I buy is Goya Sofrito. While you’re at it, but yourself the Abode seasoning and Sazon seasoning too. Yum, yum!
Yes, Tomato Sofrito Is A Thing!
I have friends who freak out at the mention of tomato sofrito. How dare I add tomato to a Cuban sofrito sauce! Yes, the “Holy Trinity” of Cuban sofrito recipes is actually onion, garlic and bell pepper. At the very root of Cuban food culture, those three ingredients are the base of all Cuban food. But a sofrito, in my Cuban family, includes tomatoes. So I stick to a tomatosofrito and haven’t gotten any complaints yet.
My tip on tomatoes in Cuban sofrito recipes would be to try it! Before starting sauteing La Trinidad, cook down the tomatoes until they break into a sauce consistency. Season with a bit of salt and use as desired in the sofrito recipe.
Actually, The big debate in our family is about whether to add cumin or not. My grandmother does not add cumin to her base sofrito, and only adds it to beef, pork and beans after the sofrito base is made. My mom and I add cumin to our sofrito, and thus to almost every Cuban recipe we make (including chicken and fish). Every cook makes a different sofrito!
Enjoy!
FAQs
A Puerto Rico native and former food service professional, Hector Rodriguez develops recipes inspired by the Caribbean and Latin America. The primary ingredients in Cuban sofrito are onions, garlic, and bell peppers. Common secondary ingredients include tomatoes, dry white wine, oregano, bay leaf, and cilantro.
What are the two types of sofrito? ›
Dominican sofrito, called sazon, uses vinegar for a flavor punch and annatto for color. Cuban sofrito uses tomatoes and red bell peppers for sweetness and added color, and it also includes diced ham.
What is the Holy Trinity of Cuban food? ›
I mention earlier how the holy trinity of Cuban cuisine is onion, garlic and cumin.
What is sofrito sauce made of? ›
Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks. Sofrito — a blend of garlic, onions, peppers and recao (culantro) — is the backbone of Puerto Rican flavor. Also referred to as recaito, it's typically sautéed in oil as the foundation for sauces, braises, beans, stews and rice dishes.
Is sofrito good for you? ›
Reduces Inflammation
Sofrito contains many anti-inflammatory compounds, thanks to the variety of vegetables, olive oil, and how they all interact with each other. One clinical trial in men demonstrated an improvement in anti-inflammatory biomarkers for 24 hours after eating a single serving of sofrito (8).
Why is sofrito so good? ›
The brininess of the olives and capers makes regular sofrito exceptional since they add another layer of umami to the recipe. Add the olives, capers, onions, and garlic to the bowl of a food processor or a blender.
What is sofrito called in English? ›
Sofrito, which means “to lightly fry,” forms the aromatic flavor base for a range of Spanish recipes.
What is another name for sofrito? ›
“Mirepoix” (pronounced meer-pwah), or its Spanish sibling “sofrito” or Italian “soffritto,” are what chefs call “aromatics,” the heady mix of vegetables and seasonings at the base of many warm temperature dishes (certainly most wet dishes such as soups or braises) all over the world.
What ethnicity is sofrito? ›
Sofrito was invented in Puerto Rico hundreds of years ago as a means of preserving the ingredients, later by refrigeration. Sofrito is a brother recipe of “recaito” another paste type of mix sold in the Caribbean and also of Puerto Ricans roots.
What is a signature Cuban dish? ›
One of the most popular entrees in Cuban cuisine is ropa vieja. This stewed shredded beef dish is slow cooked in fresh tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic and wine to create a mouthwatering meal. And following its origins, the dish is accompanied by white rice, black beans and sweet plantains.
However, ropa vieja is considered the national dish of Cuba, where residents hold a special affinity for it. The name ropa vieja translates to “old clothes,” likely because it's traditionally made with tough cuts of meat that break into long, thin fibers—resembling well-worn threads—when cooked.
Does garlic go in sofrito? ›
Onions, peppers, garlic, and fresh herbs are combined in the food processor for a powerfully flavorful Puerto Rican sofrito.
Can I use salsa instead of sofrito? ›
You can use a mild salsa in place of sofrito in a pinch; anything more assertive will compete with the other flavors in your finished, cooked dish.
What do you put sofrito on? ›
Sofrito is the base for most Puerto Rican dishes, and this one is better than store-bought (it's difficult to find in the stores in the western United States). Sofrito can be added to beans, rice, soups, and stews; you name it.
What is the difference between sofrito and soffritto? ›
Soffritto is sometimes called battuto in Italian, which usually refers to the uncooked mix of vegetables. It's distinct from the Spanish sofrito, which may include garlic, bell peppers, tomato paste (or tomato sauce), and spices.
What does sofrito taste like? ›
A modern Spanish sofrito is mild and sweet. It is based off of the simple combination of onion and oil—the grandfather of all sofritos. Spanish sofritos primarily consist of garlic, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes, cooked slowly in olive oil.
What is Puerto Rican sofrito made of? ›
This Puerto Rican version of sofrito—there are many different geographical variations—is a fresh mixture of onions, cubanelle peppers, garlic, cilantro, ajices dulces,* cilantro, culantro,* tomatoes, and red pepper quickly chopped into a fine paste in a food processor.
What is Dominican sofrito made of? ›
In the Dominican Republic, sofrito is also called sazón. Typical ingredients included in a Dominican sofrito are bell peppers, onions, garlic, annatto (achiote), oregano, vinegar, tomato paste or sauce, and cilantro.
