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Cocina Puerto Rico: Recipes from My Abuela's Kitchen to Yours
Cocina Puerto Rico transports you to Borinquen—the Island of Enchantment—otherwise known as Puerto Rico. Or, to chef Mia Castro, home.
Mia spent her early career working under prestigious chefs such as José Andrés, Thomas Keller, and Wolfgang Puck, and later cooked for exclusive clients worldwide as a private chef. In 2020, unexpectedly grounded in New York City, she found herself craving the foods of her native Puerto Rico. Over daily FaceTime calls (that sometimes stretched for hours) with her beloved Abuela Sara in San Juan, Mia collected the time-honored recipes that represent her family’s homeland. Now, applying her professional knowledge, she has expertly adapted these dishes for you to re-create in any American home kitchen.
Cocina Puerto Rico covers everything from salads, fritters, and soups to seafood, meat, and rice dishes to sweets, including re-creations of favorites from the island’s traditional panaderías (bakeries). Classics like Abuela’s Sancocho (Root Veggie Stew with Plantain Dumplings), Serenata de Bacalao (Saltfish Salad), Arroz con Jueyes (Stewed Crab Rice), and Tembleque (Creamy Coconut Pudding) bring the signature flavors of Puerto Rican cooking into your home, while dishes like Tropical Caprese Salad and Caribbean Passion Pie introduce some of Mia’s modern tropical riffs.
Featuring photography shot at Abuela’s house in San Juan, iconic landmarks throughout Puerto Rico, and a design inspired by the sun-washed alleyways of Old San Juan, this book is a true trip to the Island of Enchantment. Whether you want to explore a new destination, savor a unique cuisine, or immerse yourself in vibrant culture and rich history—Cocina Puerto Rico is your way in.
Mia spent her early career working under prestigious chefs such as José Andrés, Thomas Keller, and Wolfgang Puck, and later cooked for exclusive clients worldwide as a private chef. In 2020, unexpectedly grounded in New York City, she found herself craving the foods of her native Puerto Rico. Over daily FaceTime calls (that sometimes stretched for hours) with her beloved Abuela Sara in San Juan, Mia collected the time-honored recipes that represent her family’s homeland. Now, applying her professional knowledge, she has expertly adapted these dishes for you to re-create in any American home kitchen.
Cocina Puerto Rico covers everything from salads, fritters, and soups to seafood, meat, and rice dishes to sweets, including re-creations of favorites from the island’s traditional panaderías (bakeries). Classics like Abuela’s Sancocho (Root Veggie Stew with Plantain Dumplings), Serenata de Bacalao (Saltfish Salad), Arroz con Jueyes (Stewed Crab Rice), and Tembleque (Creamy Coconut Pudding) bring the signature flavors of Puerto Rican cooking into your home, while dishes like Tropical Caprese Salad and Caribbean Passion Pie introduce some of Mia’s modern tropical riffs.
Featuring photography shot at Abuela’s house in San Juan, iconic landmarks throughout Puerto Rico, and a design inspired by the sun-washed alleyways of Old San Juan, this book is a true trip to the Island of Enchantment. Whether you want to explore a new destination, savor a unique cuisine, or immerse yourself in vibrant culture and rich history—Cocina Puerto Rico is your way in.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 10, 2026
About the author
Mia Castro
1 book4 followersMia Castro is a professional chef, cookbook author, and television personality born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Her love of cooking began in her childhood kitchen, helping her Abuela prepare traditional Puerto Rican meals with fresh, homegrown ingredients. These early experiences shaped her identity and sparked a lifelong passion for food rooted in culture, family, and sustainability.
Her signature style—what she calls “Mediterribbean”—blends Mediterranean principles of simplicity, balance, and seasonality with the bold, soulful flavors of the Caribbean.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Mia holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. She trained in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the U.S., working alongside celebrated chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller, and José Andrés.
Mia is also no stranger to the spotlight, having competed on some of the biggest culinary stages in the world. She was a finalist on Chopped and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, and even claimed victory on Beat Bobby Flay.
Her debut cookbook, Cocina Puerto Rico, is a heartfelt tribute to her roots and the recipes passed down through generations. Inspired by her Abuela and her journey as a Puerto Rican chef in the U.S., this book celebrates heritage, preserves tradition, and reimagines classic dishes with a fresh, nourishing, and modern approach.
Her signature style—what she calls “Mediterribbean”—blends Mediterranean principles of simplicity, balance, and seasonality with the bold, soulful flavors of the Caribbean.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Mia holds degrees in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. She trained in some of the most prestigious kitchens in the U.S., working alongside celebrated chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller, and José Andrés.
Mia is also no stranger to the spotlight, having competed on some of the biggest culinary stages in the world. She was a finalist on Chopped and Gordon Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen, and even claimed victory on Beat Bobby Flay.
Her debut cookbook, Cocina Puerto Rico, is a heartfelt tribute to her roots and the recipes passed down through generations. Inspired by her Abuela and her journey as a Puerto Rican chef in the U.S., this book celebrates heritage, preserves tradition, and reimagines classic dishes with a fresh, nourishing, and modern approach.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 27, 2026
The beauty of the kitchen
What a beautiful book, filled with love and dishes that anyone can make. The recipes transport you to the island. The recipes are carefully explained and the photography makes you hungry to try them all.
What a beautiful book, filled with love and dishes that anyone can make. The recipes transport you to the island. The recipes are carefully explained and the photography makes you hungry to try them all.
May 15, 2026
I haven’t tried any of the recipes since I got this on loan from the library, but the author does a great job of explaining cooking techniques. The pictures are beautiful and as a Puerto Rican I saw many recipes that I grew up eating.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews