Sofrito is a savory sauce made by sautéing vegetables and spices, used as a cooking base for sauces, stews, and meat dishes in Spain, Haiti, France, Italy, the Caribbean, Latin America, and the Mediterranean. It can be found bottled in some American grocery stores.
Sofrito is sort of an umbrella Spanish word for a savory and flavorful sauce. The word and definition have a commonality with Italian sauté. This Italian word refers to something that is skipped. This is a reasonable definition as, to make sofrito, you have to saute vegetables and spices. There are many different types of sauces covered by this term, and many different cuisines use a variation of it in numerous culinary manners.
In Spain, Haiti, France and Italy, sofrito is made by cooking tomatoes, garlic and onions in olive oil. It is often used as a cooking base for sauces, stews and meat dishes. In Haiti, this sauce and cooking base is called epis. In France, it is referred to as mirepoix.
In the Caribbean islands and Latin America, sofrito is made similarly to that made in Spain, Haiti, France and Italy. However, the ingredients also include roasted peppers and herbs. The one done in Cuba is similar to the one done in the Caribbean and Latin America. Spices added to Cuban sofrito include bay leaves, coriander, cumin and oregano. Also, in Cuban cuisine, chorizo, bacon, and ham are sometimes added. This is often done when salsa is being made for a bean dish. Puerto Rican cooks often add recao and aji dulce or pepperoni, and it is traditionally made with cured meats and salami.
Sofrito is also used in Mediterranean cuisine. It’s a bit different, however, in terms of thickness and ingredients used. In Sephardic cuisine, originating in the eastern quarters of the Mediterranean region, it is made from water or broth flavored with lemon juice. The spices used to flavor it are garlic, turmeric and cardamom. It is often used for cooking meat, poultry and fish dishes. In Greece, sofrito is generally only found on the island of Corfu, where it is made with white wine, garlic and herbs. Here it is used for a slow-cooked veal steak that is served with rice.
You can find bottled sofrito in some American grocery stores and markets, particularly in areas where people from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean reside. It’s an excellent way to add flavor to soups, chilies, and meat dishes.
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