Pana

 

Pana (Puerto Rico) = panpan (Nigerian pidgen English) = breadfruit (English) 

Off the patio of our room here in Puerto Rico there is a Pana tree. While I have eaten it here and in Africa, I didn’t know how to prepare it. It tastes somewhat like a potato. Larry’s student, Elijio, helped me prepare it. Here are the steps:

Directions:

1. Cut pana in 8 wedges
2. Peel and core  
3. Drop it immediately into water (or it will turn brown quickly)
4. Add salt
5. Boil until it is tender to a fork
6. Drain excess water
7. Pour the prepared Recao Dressing (see below) over the warm pana
8. Serve

Recao Dressing:

• 1/3 cup oil
• 1/4 medium onion chopped
• 8 green olives
• 1 Tbsp ground garlic
• Handful of recao chopped (can substitute standard cilantro)
• 2 Tbsp Sofrito
• Salt to taste
• Adobo to taste