West African Culture and Caribbean Cuisine
Carrying Plantains, 1815, image origin unknown
West African culture has played an important role in the formation of Caribbean cuisine. Indonesian traders introduced plantains to Africa from Southeast Asia; shortly thereafter, plantains became part of the everyday meals of West Africans. Enslaved West Africans who arrived on the island of Puerto Rico introduced plantains and contributed to the development of the dish mofongo. An iconic dish on the island, mofongo is made from fried green plantains and garnished with vegetables, seafood, poultry, or meat.
