Canoa $8
What appetizer? It’s all about the plantains in food like this Canoa here in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The size of that thing looks more like a dinner dish. Large fried sweet plantain stuffed with ground beef and vegetables with a ton of cheesy goodness on top. It’s almost like all the stuffing is bursting out of the plantain. It wants you to eat it! Made for a great flavor combination with a mix of savory, sweet, and cheesiness. For the most part, the fried plantain dominates the flavor with hints of beef. This thing is so massive and dense that two of us were full afterward.
Mofongos Rellenos Bacalao $13
Do you want to mofongo? Let’s dive into a popular dish we heard we have to try here in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The first bite became one of our favorite recipes from the trip. It’s a giant tower of deep-fried plantain mashed together and stuffed with nomnom goodies. I cooked in a yummy BBQ like spicy broth and got to include it in every spoonful. The Bacalao is a vegetable version stuffed with broccoli, carrots, and more. Very dense and heavy dish, yet very soft texture. Different flavors explode in your mouth. Way too much food for one person and might be too much for two to share. There are many different versions you can try, like stuffed with chicken, pork, and fish. This dish is so popular you might even see a T-shirt around San Juan with “Got Mofongo?”. Must try!
