Are You From Puerto Rico And Vegetarian?

26 Responses to “Are You From Puerto Rico And Vegetarian?”

1. Comment by CingT

   I love Yuca!
   OK so I’m not Puerto Rican, I just had to say it ;P
   I went to Cuba for a week earlier this year, and they served Yuca every single day, but we couldn’t get enough. Do you know whether it is possible to buy it/have you seen it outside the Caribbean?
   By the way, because I’m from Norway and they “knew” Norwegians ate a lot of carrots (which we don’t, by the way) they had really struggled to get like 5 kilos of carrots just for us. They didn’t eat it.
   So, no carrots on your list, anyway. Or maybe it’s different in Puerto Rico?

2. Comment by Missy

   Hi, CingT:

   Yuca is native to Cuba, it is their staple veggie. So yep you will definitely find it there, as well as in other Caribbean hotspots. As for carrots, lol. Didn’t know Norwegians ate lots of it. It’s also weird the Cubans didn’t eat it, carrots aren’t exactly known as an exotic food. hahaha.

   Carrots are eaten in PR, but it didn’t make my list as it isn’t a root veggie there. Atleast not as far as i know. I’ve never been to Cuba, but i imagine it to be quite wonderful. How nice you got to visit.

   P.S. And thanxs for visiting me on the blog.

3. Comment by CingT

   Haha, yeah the carrot thing was quite weird, but I really appreciated the effort, though. Could’ve been worse, right? Besides, I got to practice my carrot peeling skills a lot. A skill which I will always remember. But I won’t need it, though

   Yeah, Cuba was wonderful, you ought to visit it some day. And then I will visit PR some day. We got us a deal?
   (You should visit Norway as well. Quite a nice place, except from the people, the weather and the food. Ok that sounded rather negative, but at least we’ve got some great nature!)

   I subscribe to your blog via RSS, so just wanted to say, I really like it Very inspiring

4. Comment by Missy

   Oops! I forgot to answer your question. You can score some Yuca but most likely wont find it in big box grocery retailers, instead try:

   1. small Mexican shops
   2. Asian grocers
   3. online
   4. ask your Spanish friends, neighbors, co-workers, churchmates, etc

   Good luck finding this awesome veggie. And feel free to come back and let me know where you scored some.

   Cheers!

5. Comment by CingT

   Well, thanks for the tip, I’ll have to go looking the next time I’m in the nearest large city. Takes 3 hours to get me there, but for Yuca it’s almost worth it!
   I’ll definitively be back if I find some (for tips on how to cook it)!

   Now I do hope you get some more useful answers to your questions about PR, I sure couldn’t help you

   Nice to talk with you, btw

6. Comment by Missy

   Hey, CingT:

   I live in a small town also and a Southern town to boot. So if i can find Yuca, anyone can. LoL. I do have to drive to get it, the nearest Mexican shop (that i know carries it) is about 1 hour away. I tend to go once a month or so and when i do go, i stock up. They have all sorts of Caribbean goodies.

   Thanxs for dropping by. Hope to see you again!

7. Comment by Wray

   Hello, I was recommended your site by tofu from veganview, the yahoo group.
   I am a total vegetarian and I am Puerto Rican. There are many Puerto Rican dishes that can easily become vegetarian, and many that are vegetarian by default. I’m working on changing some of the ones that aren’t. Yuca with red onions and fried platanos are by far the easiest vegetarian dishes that require no changes and are culturally accurate. But there are other dishes, such as pasteles, which are usually not vegetarian, but can easily become vegetatian by subtracting the meat or replacing it with a soy product.
   Here is a link to a culturally accurate recipe:
   http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5217/pasteles.htm
   she uses “traditional pork stuffing”. I have simply subtracted it out for a delicious masa, but my mother thinks that stuffing adds a much needed kick(salt). So I’m trying to make an alternative stuffing, but I haven’t practiced enough to get a recipe down. When I do, I will be sure to post it, or if anyone else has, I would be happy to read it.
   Personally, I love pasteles because preparing the masa is very laborious and requires multiple people for smooth sailing. This is a great opportunity to bond with family members and friends. As a vegetarian I find going out to eat very difficult, so bringing people in to cook is a much more enthralling activity.
   -happy eating

8. Comment by Missy

   Hi, Wray:

   So happy to see you come on by the blog. Will have to thank (Brivari from Vegan View) for sending you my way. Culturally accurate is a fantastic term and one that although not articulated as such, many native to Puerto Rico often seek.

   I’m with you on the Pasteles, i love them – the masa is sooooooo good. I just found out (from my dad) that in Cuba most use Yuca to make the masa for pasteles, but in PR we tend to use platanos verdes for the masa. This is the variety i have had in the past and is quite delish. Although it might be good to in other forms.

   As for making them veggie i have also had them with chick peas and potatoes, an excellent meat-free variation. Will see if i can find a recipe. Thanxs again for dropping by.

   P.S. Will pay a visit to Vegan View (the Yahoo group) this week. Cheers!

9. Comment by Heartworks Cafe

   Very good blog. Currently in Puerto Rico searching out vegetarian food combinations for our Heartworks Cafe Vegetarian Recipes Booklet. We are the creators of the Vegetarian Carrot Dog and Garlic soup combo. The island offers much in terms of food stuffs and the fact many people from Puerto Rico live to over one hundred is a statement in itself. Good Luck, Jazmon

10. Comment by Missy

    Hi, Jazmon: Your soup sounds delish. Do you guys sell it online or only at the cafe? And yeah people in Puerto Rico are hearty. My granddaddy on my mom’s side is close to 90 and still works as a carpenter. (occasionally) He’s awesome, even though i haven’t seen him in ages.

    Thx for the visit.

11. Comment by Jeani from Princess Ring

    Hi, I am from Indonesia and I am quite familiar with this root vegetable. People here often make into very thin slices and then fry them, just like crackers.
    Sometimes we just boil and mash them with brown sugar.

12. Comment by Missy

    Hey, Jeani: Had not heard of these Yuca cooking methods before. I’ve heard of Yuca fries, but not crackers. I know Yuca (like many other veggies) is very versatile. Good many different ways. Thanxs for coming by and for sharing.

    Cheers!

13. Comment by Victor

    I am Puerto Rican and vegetarian, and I’m always searching for ways to make our traditional meals vegetarian-friendly. That said, I currently live in Ann Arbor, MI, where it’s very easy being a vegetarian/vegan. My biggest source of disappointment comes when visiting the island and going to family gatherings; most people would freak at the thought of making pasteles without pork, or beans without ham.

    By the way, “yuca al mojo” is one of my favorite things to eat.

14. Comment by Missy

    Hi, Victor: Happy to see you! So glad you found me and my blog. I’m happy to find other Puerto Ricans who are vegetarian, vegan, or veg friendly. So nice to see.

    As for family gatherings, i hear you there. I’m the only one in my family who is veg, so yeah it can get abit on the rough side. I think for the most part, my family is just confused on what a veghead eats. Which actually is the concern of many people. When one has been eating chicken, pork, and beef for an entire life – it’s hard to imagine meals and recipes without it. You know because it’s so prevalent.

    I’m off to check out your blog. Thx! for the visit.

    P.S. Encantanda que me encontrastes, y seguro voy y visito tu blog tambien. Super chevere! lol.

    Missy.

15. Comment by Skai

    Peace -

    I am not from Puerto Rico, but I grew up in the Virgin Islands right next door. One thing I find about Caribbean Vegetarians is that they tend to be very starch oriented. I think this is not very productive health wise. As Vegetarians we should focus on the root word of our lifestyle – Veggies! More greens, more above grounds fruits and veggies. Root veggies, like Yuca, Cassava, Edo, Yam – are really harsh on the digestive tract.

    Living in the islands, we have the benefit of eating lots and lots of fresh produce grown right outside our back door. I thrive on local Spinach, Kallaloo, Bok Choy, Cabbage, etc. Also, Various Sqaush and even white Eggplant.

    My favorite food comes from the flavors of Puerto Rico. However, I am losing my taste for the highly addictive starchy favorites like rice, potato, and yuca…What do you think?

    Peace Skai

16. Comment by Missy

    Hi, Skai:

    I agree 100% with you – nothing is as healthy as fresh green veggies and real deal fruits. The more the merrier. And if organic even better. I just got into rediscovering the foods of my native land – so i’ve yet to tire of them.

    But moderation is key. Any way we slice it and dice it – moderation is key. Thx for your visit!

17. Comment by john

    Hi , my name is john and im from ponce puerto rico . I am a vegetarian and it is VERY hard to be one in a puerto rican family LOL the cooking is sooo good. B ut with all the good cooking there are many vegetarian meals . yuca as you explained is a popular root that we all love to eat. i live in florida and yes it is in the U.S. we also love cabasa or pumpkin’s in our meals. we stew it with beans and herbs and mix it in with the rice we make, also we love chick pea’s in our dishes and use them in most of our salad’s “yes we make wonderful salad’s too ” .Olives and garlic are a huge part of our meals we use olive oil in almost everything. and garlic in most of our dishes. we also use what we call Sofrito in our dishes. various herbs shredded together into a sauce mix that we use to saute food and bring flavor to our dishes. i hope i gave a bit more information on some vegan foods from puerto rico

18. Comment by Missy

    Hi, John: Thank you soooooo much for your tips, ideas and experiences as a Puerto Rican vegetarian. Our food is delicious and some of it can be healthy and some definitely not so healthy. LoL. But native vegetables from Puerto Rico are versatile, nutrient-rich, easy to prepare, and oh! so tasty.

    And speaking of sofrito – everyone should know about this yummy seasoning that makes just about anything sprinkled with it – taste scrumptious. I get some at my local grocer. It’s great on soups, beans, and even veggie meat. Ay chihuahua – sooooo good.

    Thanxs for visiting my little blog and nice to see another fellow Isla compadre. Buen provecho!

19. Comment by Rolando

    Hola Missy, very cool blog. I’m from Humacao. I have been mostly vegetarian for the past 10 years and in he past couple of years I started experimenting with the vegan diet. I am relatively demanding on my body because I pratice bodybuilding, I play volleyball pretty competitvely, cross country ski and mountain bike too. So good nutrition is essential to me. I don’t have time to prepare elaborate meals but I have been sticking to basics with a lot of beans, nuts, greens, fruits and different grains to get what I need to feel great. One of my favorites is Lundberg Wild Blend brown rice with 1 can of organic black beans, 1 can of organic pinto beans, olive oil, habanero pepper powder and absolutely no salt. It may not be 100% puertorrican, but it is my healthy twist on the way I was brought up at home. I’m the only one in my family practicing this lifestyle but I don’t push it on anybody and I don’t try to judge, but I do get a lot of questions (and funny looks when I eat green oatmeal and green drinks) and talked to a lot of people that are interested but are not ready to say goodbye to their meaty friends. Just wanted to say – Un abrazo boricua de Metamora, Michigan !

20. Comment by Lucie waters

    Would you know where to buy yuca from in columbus, ohio? thank you. btw, your blog is very interesting

21. Comment by Missy

    Hi, Lucie:

    Great question! My advice would be to scout out any Hispanic shops in the area, look in the phonebook for the shops and then call and ask. Some carry YUCA and some don’t. It’s hard to pinpoint an exact shop that would have it, as the few that carry it are small independent places.

    Have you any Hispanic friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc? Ask them! They shall lead the way.

    Good luck in scoring some YUCA. Let me know if you do and where, i’ll add it to the blog. Thx!

    Cheers!!!

22. Comment by Missy

    Hola, Rolando:

    Somehow missed your comment. Terribly sorry about that. How is all? Thank you so much for coming by and saying hello from Michigan. Nice to hear from you and for sharing your awesome story.

    I too want to get into the GREEN drinks, as these are a powerhouse of nutrition. Maybe you can share a “green drink” recipe with me one day.

    Desde el otro lado, Missy

23. Comment by Melvin Rivera Velázquez

    Hola

    I am a vegetarian puertorrican living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I publish a Spanish language Vegan Cooking Blog.

    Here are my Boricua vegetarian recipes.

    http://micocinavegetariana.com/?s=boricua&x=0&y=0

24. Comment by Missy

    Hola, Melvin:

    Lovely blog you have there. Will definitely feature some of your awesome Puerto Rican (a/k/a boriqua) vegetarian recipes.

    Gracias por la visita!

25. Comment by sharon carlaine

    Hello! I am an 8 year vegan who lives in PR! For 5 years I have been researching traditional recipes from here in PR and other Caribbean islands, and translating them to vegan, primarily with local easily-accessible foods (for the islands).

    I have a few recipes up on my site http://www.carivegan.org and plan to post many more!

    Besos!

26. Comment by Missy

    @Sharon: Awesome! I will come on by and check it out. Thx!