Traditional Spanish Sofrito Recipes

TRADITIONAL SPANISH SOFRITO

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Finely dice the onions, garlic, pepper, and tomatoes.
• Place a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium heat and add the olive oil, turning the pan to coat the bottom evenly.
• When the oil is hot, add the onions and sautee them until transparent.
• Add the long green pepper and continue to saute for another 5 minutes. Stir constantly to avoid burning the vegetables, and reduce the heat if necessary.
• Add the garlic and sautee for a minute.
• Next, add the tomatoes and paprika, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Stir often and continue to cook for around 15 minutes, or until the mixture takes on the consistency of a thick sauce.
• Pour the finished sofrito into mason jars and store in the fridge for up to a week.

VERSATILE SOFRITO SAUCE

Steps:

• Enjoy!

AUTHENTIC PUERTO RICAN SOFRITO

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Cut green bell pepper and red bell pepper in half from top to bottom; remove the stem, seeds, and ribs. Place peppers cut sides down onto the prepared baking sheet. Lightly brush with 2 teaspoons olive oil.
• Roast under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag. Seal to let peppers steam as they cool, about 15 minutes. Remove skins under running water and discard. Chop flesh into large pieces.
• Place pepper pieces, sweet chile peppers, onion, scallions, tomatoes, garlic, cilantro, culantro, olives, oregano, and capers in a blender or food processor. Blend, adding 1/2 cup olive oil and water in batches, until mixture is pureed but some chunks remain.
• Divide blended mixture among four 16-ounce containers, filling each 3/4 of the way. Top each with 2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil to help preserve mixture. Close containers and refrigerate.

SPANISH SOFRITO RECIPE

Steps:

• In a 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add garlic, onion, green pepper, red pepper, and leek (if using), season lightly with salt, and cook, stirring, until vegetables have released their liquid and are beginning to brown lightly on the bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes.
• Lower heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring and scraping frequently, until sofrito is sweet to the taste and a deep golden brown color, about 45 minutes longer. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes. You should have about 2 cups. You can refrigerate the sofrito in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

SOFRITO

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine green peppers, red peppers ajies dulces, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Add cilantro, recao, salt, and pepper. Process to the consistency of semi-chunky salsa (not watery). Place in a resealable plastic freezer bag, and use as needed, or freeze in portions.

SOFRITO

Steps:

• Coarsely chop tomatoes, peppers, and onions. Combine with garlic and cilantro. In batches, pulse mixture in a food processor until finely chopped. In a large pot, heat olive oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced, 25 to 30 minutes (reduce heat if browning at edge). To store, let cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container; refrigerate, up to 2 weeks, or freeze, up to 6 months.