Recaíto facts for kids
Recaíto is a special mix of fresh ingredients used in cooking. People sometimes call it sofrito too. It's like a flavor paste that makes many dishes taste amazing!
This cooking base is bright green. That's because it's made with green peppers and lots of fresh herbs. Usually, recaíto doesn't have tomatoes, but some people add them for extra taste.
Contents
How to Make Recaíto
Gathering Ingredients
To make recaíto, you need a few key ingredients. These include fresh onions, garlic cloves, and sweet mini peppers called ajicitos.
You also need green bell peppers. A lot of fresh cilantro and culantro herbs are also important. These herbs give recaíto its unique green color and fresh smell.
Blending the Mix
Once you have all your ingredients, they are put into a blender. They are blended until they become a smooth paste. This smooth paste is your recaíto, ready to add flavor to your cooking!
Cooking with Recaíto
Recaíto is often the first step in making many tasty dishes. It adds a deep, rich flavor to soups and stews.
Starting the Dish
First, cooks often brown some meat in a pot. This could be ham, salted pork, or bacon. They use a little oil, lard, or even special annatto oil for this step.
Adding the Flavor Base
Next, the recaíto is added to the pot. It cooks until most of its liquid has evaporated. This makes the flavors stronger and more concentrated.
After that, tomato sauce is often added. This helps to thicken the mix. A special blend of stuffed olives and capers, called alcaparrado, is also stirred in. Spices and dry herbs are added for even more flavor.
Finishing the Meal
Finally, other ingredients like beans, vegetables, or more meats are added to the pot. Everything then cooks slowly together. Recaíto is a common base for stews, soups, and a dish called picadillo in many Puerto Rican homes.
The Origin of the Name Recaíto
The word recaíto has an interesting history. It originally meant a message or an order. Long ago, most people did not have refrigerators. This meant they had to buy fresh ingredients every day.
Imagine a housewife needing an onion, cilantro, and peppers. She would leave an order for these items. Someone would then pick them up later. It is believed that the word recado came from this idea of leaving an order. Over time, the name changed to recaíto. This roughly translates to "little culantro" in English, referring to one of its main ingredients.
