Elevate Your Dishes with Aromatic Sofrito
Sofrito is a flavorful vegetable base that can transform a variety of dishes, adding depth and richness to your culinary creations. Once you prepare this aromatic blend, you can easily incorporate it into soups, stews, rice dishes like paella, sauces, or even use it as a zesty condiment for sandwiches and snacks.
Why This Method Works
Incorporating a pinch of salt at the beginning helps extract moisture from the vegetables quickly, accelerating their cooking process. By reducing the heat after achieving some browning, you’ll achieve beautifully caramelized flavors that are both sweet and savory.
What is Sofrito?
Sofrito is an essential component in many Spanish recipes designed to enhance flavor profiles. The classic ingredients include onions, garlic, bell peppers, and tomatoes—cooked down until they reach a sweet and caramelized state. Variations abound across different cultures; for instance, Puerto Rican sofrito has its unique twist. However, this recipe leans towards the traditional Spanish version.
Spanish Sofrito Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (120ml) extra-virgin olive oil
- 5 medium cloves garlic (minced)
- 4 medium yellow onions (1 1/2 pounds; 600 g), finely diced
- 1 large green pepper (8 ounces; 225 g), stemmed and seeded
- 1 large red pepper (8 ounces; 225 g), stemmed and seeded
- Optional: 1 medium leek (10 ounces; 285 g), white and light green parts only—washed well and finely diced
- Kosher salt to taste
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) tomato paste
Instructions:
- In a three-quart saucepan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil until shimmering.
- Add minced garlic along with diced onion, green pepper, red pepper—and leek if using—season lightly with salt.
- Cook while stirring until vegetables release their moisture and begin to brown slightly on the bottom of the pan—approximately ten minutes.
- Reduce heat to medium-low; continue cooking while stirring frequently for about another forty-five minutes or until sofrito achieves a deep golden brown color with a sweet flavor.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for an additional two minutes.
- You should yield around two cups of sofrito which can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to five days.
Special Equipment Needed:
A three-quart saucier or saucepan will work best for this recipe.
Make-Ahead Tips & Storage:
This versatile sofrito can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to five days without losing its deliciousness.
Nutritional Information (per serving):
Servings: Approximately 16
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 87 | |
| Total Fat | 7g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0% |
| Sodium | 62mg | 3% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 6g | 2% |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 3% |
| Total Sugars | 3g | – |
| Protein | 1g | – |
Vitamins & Minerals:
Vitamin C: 37mg (186%)
Calcium: 13mg (1%)
Iron: 0mg (2%)
Potassium: 133mg (3%)
(The % Daily Value indicates how much each nutrient contributes to your daily diet based on a general intake of 2000 calories.)
Note: Nutrition facts are estimated using ingredient databases.
By incorporating this delightful sofrito into your meals today!