Asopao
Asopao is a rice soup from Puerto Rico. Soup, Gumbo or Stew? Asopao probably falls somewhere among those heartwarming foods that make weary travelers think of home or the hungry Puerto Ricans remember his or her mom. Chefs in Puerto Rico pride themselves on their asopao recipes, and many local restaurants will have it on the menu. Asopao can be made with chicken, pork, beef, shrimp seafood, vegetables, or any combination of the above. A popular version is asopao con gandules.
Asopao were brought over to the Dominican Republic from Puerto Rico. Not really a soup, the most traditional Puerto Rican dish is asopao, a hearty gumbo made with either chicken, shrimp, or Gandules. One well-known version, consumed when the food budget runs low, is asopao de gandules (pigeon peas). Every Puerto Rican chef has his or her own recipe for asopao. Asopao de pollo (chicken asopao) takes a whole chicken, which is then flavored with spices such as oregano, garlic, and paprika, along with salt pork, ham, green peppers, chili peppers, onions, cilantro, olives, tomatoes, chorizos, and pimientos. For a final touch, green peas or asparagus might be added.