PUERTO RICAN CUISINE, by Oswald Rivera

Oswald Rivera
Puerto Rican Cuisine in America
Nuyorican and Bodega Recipes
2nd edition

The second edition of this Caribbean classic is now available. With a fresh look and a new preface by the author, Puerto Rican Cuisine in America brings to the table the same great recipes, history, and Rivera family lore that made the first edition so popular and unique.

Oswald Rivera, a Nuyorican (born in Puerto Rico and living in New York City) and the keeper of his family's recipe file, has gathered 250 of his favorites, from fritters and appetizers to soups and salads; from poultry, beef, and pork dishes to vegetables, eggs, and desserts as well as a host of Puerto Rico's famous rum drinks. There are classics of Puerto Rican cooking as well as Nuyorican adaptations.

Try Frituras de Maíz (Corn Fritters) and Rellenos de Amarillos (Stuffed Ripe Plantains); Sopa de los Lunes (Morning after Stew) and Ensalada de Pepinillo (Cucumber Salad); Asopao de Pollo (Chicken Stew), Biftec Relleno (Stuffed Beefsteak), and Costillas de Cerdo al Horno (Barbecued Spareribs); Papas con Perejil (Parsleyed Potatoes), Arroz con Huevos (Eggs and Rice), and Guineos con Licor (Spirited Bananas).

Rivera's lively recipe texts include tips from the Rivera family: "The Rivera family experts contend that only an old hen will render a truly flavorful stock"; tales of growing up in New York City: "Back on 110th Street and Lexington Avenue one could tell the coming of the weekend by two things: the beer stocked up in the cafetines, and the aroma of asopao cooking in countless tenement flats"; and recipe history: "This dish (Ropa Vieja) is Cuban in origin, yet it is a favorite among Boriquas (native islanders) both here and on the island." Chock full of great food and Rivera's signature wit and wisdom, Puerto Rican Cuisine in America is an invitation to experience not only a cuisine but also a culture and its people.

Oswald Rivera is a Vietnam War veteran and author of Fire and Rain: A Novel of Vietnam. A recent retiree from the New York City Police Department, Rivera was born in Puerto Rico and lives in New York City. He is at work on a history of cooking.

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