William's Sofrito

This vibrant green sofrito is the heart and soul of so many Puerto Rican dishes. A fresh, punchy blend of herbs, aromatics, and citrus that instantly builds depth and flavor. Unlike heavier sauces, sofrito is all about brightness: crisp peppers, fragrant cilantro and culantro, and plenty of garlic brought together with a splash of lime and olive oil. It’s rustic, a little chunky, and meant to taste alive. Keep a jar in your fridge or freezer and you’ve got a shortcut to incredible cooking - just a spoonful can transform rice, beans, soups, or stews into something that tastes slow-cooked and comforting to the bone.

Ingredients

• 1 medium onion, cut into large pieces

• 1 large green pepper, deseeded, cut into large pieces

• ½ large red pepper, deseeded, cut into large pieces

• 1 jalapeño, deseeded, halved

• 12 garlic cloves, peeled

• 1 large bunch cilantro (stems and all), rough chopped

• 1 large bunch culantro (or more cilantro)

• 1 lime, juiced

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• Pinch of salt

Method

1. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend until finely chopped and semi-smooth.

2. Freeze in ice cube trays for later use - perfect in stews, beans, marinades, or arroz con pollo.