National Mofongo Day

National Mofongo Day is an annual holiday celebrated on September 24th. Do you know what a mofongo is? This is the national dish traditionally served on the island of Puerto Rico. Ingredients for cooking – pork, olive oil, garlic, broth and plantain.

History

Mofongo is a rather old dish, it was prepared in Africa and was called fufu. A pasty dish of plantain was served with meat, fish or vegetables. Today, the variety of side dishes has increased – shrimp, octopus, chicken. The dish was brought to Puerto Rico by slaves from Angola in the 16th century. The main difference between the African and Puerto Rican versions of the mofongo is the texture. The modern version is more dense, it is served as a main dish.

Interesting Facts

• The word “mofongo” in translation means many things.
• In the African version of the dish, plantain is boiled, then crushed, and in Puerto Rican it is fried.
• Gourmets note that mofongo combines African and Caribbean culinary traditions, resulting in a dish with an organic, balanced taste.
• Chef José Mendin chose the mofongo on September 24th.

How to celebrate

Surely there is a Puerto Rican cafe in your city, visit it and try this unusual dish. Try to cook it for lunch or dinner, in fact, the recipe is simple, and plantain is not difficult to find. Since the holiday is quite new, talk about it on social networks, share information. Invite your friends to take a trip to Puerto Rico, the best place to try the original dish is its homeland.

When is National Mofongo Day in 2022?

National Mofongo Day is observed on September 24 each year.

Observations