Topic “pimentos”

Part of the Puerto Rican tradition, the parrandas is when a bunch of us get together to eat, sing, and visit people to sing, and eat, at their places. This usually goes all night long and many times the visitees are not even notified. This makes it all the more fun.

If I had to describe this dish to most non-vegetarians where I come from, I would call it a vegetarian fricassee. People would still be confused, but that's okay because it still tastes good. In all honesty, it cannot be called a fricassee for the simple reason that a fricassee, by definition, is a stew in which the meat is browned and simmered in its own juices along with the rest of the ingredients. I don't see any meat there.

What better way to start a food blog than with Puerto Rico's national dish: Arroz con gandules (Rice with pigeon peas). This dish is considered by many to be the food that better represents Puerto Rican food culture. It is eaten all year round and there's plenty of it during Christmas season.