Pavo Relleno De Mofongo (Mofongo Stuffed Turkey)

Mofongo is a traditional Puerto Rican dish that consists of fried plantains, garlic, fried pork rinds and salt, smashed in together in a pilón, a wooden mortar and pestle tool that is an essential in Puerto Rican homes. This recipe for mofongo stuffed turkey uses a mofongo-style stuffing to bring a Puerto Rican flair to your Thanksgiving table.

The star of my Puerto Rican Thanksgiving table is definitely the Mofongo Stuffed Turkey. This Latin spin on the traditional Thanksgiving feast is the perfect way to incorporate delicious Latin flavors into your Thanksgiving feast. Marinade a whole turkey with a traditional Pavochon marinade mix, then roast the turkey low and slow in the oven.

My aunt Zoraida, who still lives in Puerto Rico, made this recipe for my family one year when we were on the island for the holiday season. Ever since then, we've been making it every year and it's always my favorite part of Thanksgiving. Mofongo stuffed turkey is the ultimate fusion dish, combining the American staple of Turkey on Thanksgiving, with the traditional Puerto Rican dish of mofongo.

What is Mofongo?

Mofongo is a Puerto Rican dish with fried plantains as its main ingredient. Plantains are picked green, peeled and fried, then mashed with salt, garlic, pork cracklings or bacon, and olive oil in a wooden pilón (mortar and pestle). The goal is to produce a tight ball of mashed plantains that can be served with chicken soup or sancocho, broth, or stewed meats and seafood. It is one of Puerto Rico's most traditional dishes.

Why Do You Boil The Plantains For This Recipe?

Although mofongo is traditionally prepared with fried plantains, this version is made with boiled green plantains. The reason why is that I usually make my mofongo stuffing the day before Thanksgiving. Traditional mofongo is the type of dish that you can have to make fresh and eat fresh, as it doesn't reheat well. This version made with boiled plantains reheats beautifully in the microwave. To stuff my bird, I zap the mofongo for a few minutes, fluff it with a fork (you may have to this zap/fluff cycle a few times), then stuff the cooked turkey when it's out of the oven. You can also prepare the mofongo stuffing the traditional way if you prefer, just make it right before serving for best results.

What to Serve with Mofongo?

Mofongo is a meal in itself, it's super hearty and delicious. I love served it with stews like my Pollo Guisado (Puerto Rican Chicken Stew), or with Sopa de Pollo (Puerto Rican Chicken Soup).