# Puerto Rico's Sanguiving: A Thanksgiving Twist

> Puerto Rico's Thanksgiving feast blends military history with island flavors, creating a unique culinary tradition.
- Title: Puerto Rico's Sanguiving: A Thanksgiving Twist · Bon Appétit
- Summary: Puerto Rico's Thanksgiving feast blends military history with island flavors, creating a unique culinary tradition.
- Keywords: puerto rico, thanksgiving, sanguiving, giovanna huyke, culinary tradition, puerto rican food, adobo, sofrito, yuca stuffing, pastelón, gandules, turkish turkey
- Source: Bon Appétit — https://bonappetit.com/story/sanguiving
- Author: Von Diaz
- Published: 2026-11-10T13:30:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: puerto rico, thanksgiving, sanguiving, giovanna huyke, culinary tradition, puerto rican food, adobo, sofrito, yuca stuffing, pastelón, gandules, turkish turkey
## Puerto Rican Thanksgiving
Puerto Rico celebrates Thanksgiving with a unique culinary tradition blending military history and local ingredients.
## Chef Giovanna Huyke
Giovanna Huyke, a Puerto Rican chef and restaurateur, is widely considered the island's culinary authority for Thanksgiving.
## Sanguiving Tradition
Puerto Ricans refer to Thanksgiving as Sanguiving, a play on words for the Roman Catholic tradition.
## Culinary History
Puerto Rican food history combines Spanish, Indigenous Taíno, and West African influences through centuries of adaptation.
## Military Influence
Puerto Ricans became American citizens in 1917, with many serving in US military conflicts and bringing food traditions home.
## Food Traditions
Puerto Ricans use imported shelf-stable foods due to the island's storm-prone climate and economic shifts.
## Family Recipe
Huyke's family recipe for yuca stuffing honors the Taíno chief Agüeybaná and uses fresh yuca and sofrito.
## Sanguiving Feast
The feast features turkey, yuca stuffing, pastelón, gandules, and a variety of local ingredients.
## Culinary Education
Huyke mentors young chefs and home cooks, emphasizing traditional Puerto Rican cooking techniques.
## Sanguiving Recipe
Huyke's Sanguiving recipe includes a guava-infused gravy and a capers-based sauce for the feast.
## Cultural Identity
Puerto Rican food traditions reflect the island's complex history and cultural identity.
## Future of Sanguiving
Huyke aims to promote fresh, traditional ingredients over processed foods in Puerto Rican cuisine.
## Conclusion
Puerto Rican Thanksgiving traditions continue to evolve while preserving cultural roots and identity.
## Key takeaway

Puerto Ricans celebrate Thanksgiving as Sanguiving, a fusion of military history and local ingredients, with chef Giovanna Huyke leading the culinary tradition.