Traditional Puerto Rican Mofongo (25 Minutes!)
Mofongo is a popular Puerto Rican side dish made with fried green plantains mashed by hand together with chicharrones (crispy pork skin) and fresh garlic. It’s traditionally served with stews, sauces, or broth, and makes for a super delicious main or side. Because of the crispy texture from the pork rinds, it’s best enjoyed fresh!
If you enjoy plantains and Classic Puerto Rican recipes, you probably know and love mofongo.
Similar to other classic side dishes like maduros or tostones, it’s nearly impossible to visit a Puerto Rican restaurant or household without trying this plantain based dish.
Why we’re so crazy about mofongo:
- You get a creamy, smooth texture with salty bits of crunchy chicharrones and fried plantain throughout
- There’s a savory saltiness that’s neutral (thanks to the green plantains), making this dish easy to pair with tons of other recipes
- It’s the perfect base to top with sauces, stews and broths – they make their way into every inch of the mashed plantains, like gravy with mashed potatoes
I especially love serving it with Stewed Shrimp (Camarones Guisados) or Carne Guisada for a complete meal.
What Does Mofongo Taste Like?
Mofongo has a somewhat neutral flavor, thanks to the fried green plantains and subtle seasoning of salt (from the pork rinds) and garlic, making it the perfect side dish recipe to pair with just about anything savory and/or saucy.
Because of the simple ingredients and directions, it’s a dish that is often compared to the popular Dominican mashed plantains, mangu.
Ingredients
The grocery list to make this mofongo recipe is surprisingly simple. Here’s what you’ll need:
- vegetable oil for frying the plantains
- green plantains
- garlic cloves
- chicharrón (crispy pork skin)
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Tip: if things feel too dry before serving, you can add a few tablespoons of warm water, broth, or butter (softened to room temperature) and continue to mash.
Chicharrones Substitutes
Although Mofongo Puerto Rico is made primarily from plantains, the use of chicharrones means it is not vegetarian or plant based.
Here are some of my favorite (yet totally unorthodox) plant based substitutions for chicharrones:
- crunchy puffed onion chips
- store bought plant based pork rinds
- fried rice paper ‘pork’ rinds
If none of the above ideas sound realistic to you, just omit the chicharrones and add a pinch of salt or two. Yes, it will compromise the texture slightly, but the flavor from the fried plantains and garlic will satisfy the mofongo craving!
Special Tools
When it comes to mashing up the plantains for this Puerto Rican mofongo recipe, I’m a sucker for an extra large mortar and pestle. That said, it can totally be done without one, just use a large bowl and the back of a wooden spoon.
Featured Review
I’ve tried making mofongo several times and this is by far the best one I’ve made! And it was so easy! I topped it with carne guisada and served it with rice and beans. So good!
Yovany
Toppings
Some of my favorite easy toppings for this mashed plantain dish:
- a simple cilantro lime sauce
- a squeeze of lime juice
- warm chicken broth
And if you have the time, these classic saucy Puerto Rican recipes are delicious spooned over your plantain and chicharrón mash:
I also like topping mine with a simple cilantro sauce (pictured above).
Just blend together a small handful of cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice or splash of vinegar, garlic, and olive oil.
More Plantain Recipes
If you love plantains as much as me, I have a list of 5+ of my favorite recipes using them that is a great place to find inspiration for any leftovers you have hanging around!
Storage
Mofongo can keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. That said, because of the crispy texture from the pork rinds, it’s best to enjoy it fresh.
Happy cooking!
Traditional Puerto Rican Mofongo (25 Minutes!)
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack
- Method: Fried
- Cuisine: Puerto Rican, Latin
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Mofongo is a popular Puerto Rican side dish made with fried green plantains mashed by hand together with chicharrones (crispy pork skin) and fresh garlic. It’s traditionally served with stews, sauces, or broth, and makes for a super delicious main or side. Because of the crispy texture from the pork rinds, it’s best enjoyed fresh!
Ingredients
- 3 cups vegetable oil
- 3 green plantains
- 4–5 garlic cloves
- 1 cup chicharrón (crispy pork skin)
Optional toppings:
- cilantro
- lime juice or vinegar
- olive oil
- chicken broth
- camarones guisados
Instructions
- Prep the plantains. Start by heating your oil in a heavy bottomed frying pan over medium heat. While the oil is heating, prep the plantains by peeling and slicing them into 1 inch slices.
- Fry the plantains. Once the oil is hot, gently add in the plantain slices and fry until golden brown and cooked through (about 10 minutes), making sure to move them around in the oil occasionally so they cook evenly. Once they are cooked, remove from the oil and dry on a paper towel lined plate.
- Mash the mofongo. In a large bowl or mortar and pestle add the garlic cloves and chicharrón and mash (using the back of a wooden spoon if you don’t have a mortar and pestle). Add in the fried plantain slices and mash those in with the garlic and pork rinds.
- Serve. To serve, fill a small bowl with your mofongo and flip onto a plate, to get that perfect dome-like shape. Top with a blend of cilantro, vinegar, and olive oil and serve with chicken broth or camarones guisados (shrimp in red sauce).
Notes
- Tip: if things feel too dry before serving, you can add a few tablespoons of warm water, broth, or butter (softened to room temperature) and continue to mash.
- For an easy sauce combine 2 cloves garlic, 2 tbsp olive oil, ¼ cup cilantro and 2 tsp lime juice or vinegar, blend with an immersion blender and enjoy.
It’s coming next month! Thanks Steven.
I’ve tried it without them before; the texture is not as crunchy but still great flavor.
Where did you get that wooden mortar and pestle?
It was my mom’s! I believe she got it in Puerto Rico but I’m not 100% sure.
Awesome recipe. I love plaintains but use an air-fryer instead of a frying pan. Maybe not as crispy but taste fried.
Can I use a blender to mash it up? Just wondering
I haven’t tried using a blender but I think a food processor should work, try pulsing gently until you get the desired texture.
Looks delish.
Yummy
I’ve tried making mofongo several times and this is by far the best one I’ve made! And it was so easy! I topped it with carne guisada and served it with rice and beans. So good!
Old time recipe, circa 1930-50s. Fry plantains until tender 6 -7 minutes. Remove, mash and fry again just as you do with tostones. Add 4 to 5 of them to your mortar that has the prepared garlic, chicharrón and olive oil. Mash all the ingredients together and serve accordingly. My mother, my grandmother and aunts made them in this fashion. They are fantastic because of the double frying. I’m now 88 years and that’s how it was done back then.
Sweet😋