Cuisine of Puerto Rico
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Puerto Rican cuisine is mildly reminiscent of its Spanish roots and other related cuisines like Mexican, but is quite distinct from them. It is also distinct from the cuisine in the 50 United States.
The food is often well seasoned, but rarely very spicy. Beans and rice are common, and a favorite is platanos fritos, or fried plantains, similar to a banana but much less sweet and firmer. When fried they have an almost nutty taste.
Puerto Rico's national dish is called Arroz Con Pollo which is Spanish seasoned rice with chicken. Other tasty foods include pastelillos con carne o queso, a meat or cheese pie usually called "empanadas" in other Spanish-speaking countries, and mofongo which is mashed plantain and meat.