"Black Friday" Shopping in Puerto Rico

• Thanksgiving is celebrated in Puerto Rico on the same day as in the U.S., the fourth Thursday in November. Thanksgiving marks the start of the holiday shopping season and many Puerto Ricans flock to the Plaza Las Americas Mall in San Juan, which is the largest shopping mall in the Caribbean. The mall also upholds the Thanksgiving shopping tradition known as "Black Friday" by opening at midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving. "Black Friday" refers to the boost in profits companies receive from the busy start of holiday shopping, putting them "in the black" on their ledgers.
  
  

Thanksgiving Appetizers

• A traditional Puerto Rican Thanksgiving meal begins with a variety of appetizers. The recipes are influenced by the cuisine and agriculture of the region and feature many dishes not seen on American tables. Basically, Puerto Ricans use plantains and bananas instead of potatoes and sweet potatoes. Appetizers include boiled bananas in garlic sauce, tostones (fried green plantains) or platanutres (fried plantain chips). All are accompanied by mojo sauce, a mixture of lime juice, salt and mashed garlic.
  
  

Puerto Rican Thanksgiving Turkey

• Puerto Ricans and Americans both enjoy a roast turkey on Thanksgiving, but the Puerto Rican recipe calls for mofongo instead of stuffing. Mofongo is a traditional and beloved Puerto Rican dish made from mashed green plantains, garlic, bacon, pork and olive oil. Another difference in Puerto Rican turkey is that it is seasoned with adobo, which is a mixture of garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, sea salt and black pepper.
  
  

Other Puerto Rican Thanksgiving Foods

• Alongside the turkey and mofongo, Puerto Rican families enjoy side dishes such as garlic mashed potatoes or garlic mashed yuca root. Arroz junto, a rice dish made with bacon, tomato sauce, pinto beans and sofrito may also be served. Sofrito is a cooking compound made from green peppers, garlic, onion, cilantro and tomato. Traditional Puerto Rican desserts include flan (caramel custard) or rum cake. Instead of pumpkin pie, Puerto Ricans serve cazuela. Cazuela is a pie made with pumpkin, sweet potatoes and coconut.