Tasting typical Dominican dishes will make you fall in love with the Dominican Republic beyond its white sandy beaches, because love for this land also enters through the mouth.
A blend of local ingredients and those typical of the different cultures that have populated the island, the Dominican Republic has a cuisine that reflects its history, traditions and identity.
So, if you are going to travel to this idyllic destination, allow us, using our knowledge, to give you a tour of the most typical Dominican dishes so that you can get an idea of which ones to try and where to find them.
What are the 10 typical Dominican dishes?
Traditional food in this Caribbean country is a fusion that makes any tourist’s mouth water. That’s why today we want to recommend 10 typical Dominican star dishes.
Mofongo
If you are one of those who enjoy tasting unique flavors, you cannot return from your trip to the Dominican Republic without trying this famous dish.
Made with fried green plantains mashed with garlic and pork cracklings, its flavor will transport you to the essence of Dominican cuisine.
Undoubtedly, a true delight that you can not miss.
Dominican flag
This is the national dish par excellence. La bandera combines stewed meat (chicken or beef), red beans and white rice. It is so common on the tables of Dominicans that it practically forms part of their culinary DNA.
Also, if you notice, the colors of this dish and the way it is served seek to represent those of the national flag.
Sancocho
It is a thick, brothy stew, an emblematic dish served on special occasions such as New Year’s Eve dinner or your first visit to this Caribbean destination.
This delicacy full of vegetables, meat, tubers and seasonings is served with slices of avocado and white rice. We can assure you that it is a feast for the palate of those who try it.
Cassava dumplings
This Dominican appetizer is prepared with yucca and is often filled with soft cheese. This ingredient gives it a palate-pleasing texture and delicate flavor, making it the perfect companion to any meal.
If you are traveling with children, keep in mind that they usually love this dish.
Mangú
A good way to start the day is with a hearty breakfast based on soft mashed green banana.
This dish is accompanied by its history, as rich as its flavor, with roots rooted in cultural heritage and a sweet version that you can’t miss.
We recommend you to fill up with energy to start the day in the best way. It is served with red onion sautéed with vinegar and oil.
Beans with sweet
You read that right, in the Dominican Republic there is a sweet bean dish.
This is a traditional Lenten and Easter dessert made with red beans, condensed milk, cinnamon and other ingredients.
Although there are other ways to make it, this typical Dominican dish is usually made with condensed milk.
Dominican rice
Rice is the companion of most typical Dominican dishes. Whether as a side dish or as a main course, it is always present.
From the classic white rice to more elaborate combinations with chicken, seafood or pigeon peas, this millenary cereal is a pillar of local gastronomy, as well as an infallible staple on the Dominican table.
Yaniqueques
These fritters are made from fried flour and become the perfect food to enjoy anytime, anywhere. In fact, as a street snack, they go down like hot cakes.
In addition, you can find many versions of this delicious dish on the island: warm, salty, sweet, crunchy. It is said that no one at home has managed to make yaniqueques like the ones you can find in the streets.
Tostones
They are fried and smashed green plantain slices, so versatile that you can eat them at any time of the day and with any dish. Undoubtedly, the ideal companion for any meal or simply to enjoy them alone as chips.
This dish has become, by its own merits, the perfect wild card in this gastronomy.
Fried fish
And to put the finishing touch, we bring you the fried fish.
On an island surrounded by water, the flavors of the sea cannot be missing on the table. Thus, it is not surprising that fried fish is a star dish in the country.
Fresh and crunchy, usually prepared with grouper or chillo, it is a must on any day at the beach. It is usually accompanied by tostones.
In which regions can you taste typical Dominican dishes?
The island’s rich and varied gastronomy reflects the country’s cultural and geographic diversity. Each region has its own typical Dominican dishes to delight local palates and attract visitors from all over the world.
The experience and local knowledge of our guides helps us show you where to find them during your trip.
In the northern region or El Cibao
Sancocho is the undisputed king of the table in the northern region of the island. This stew comforts anyone who tastes it.
Other typical Dominican dishes of the northern region are mangú, the region’s breakfast par excellence, mofongo, although the latter is popular throughout the country, and yaniqueques, especially popular in the beach areas.
The dish of habichuelas con dulce is especially popular. In this area, it is also common to enjoy the moro de gandules and cod in various presentations.
In the south of the Dominican Republic
In the south of the island, typical dishes are infused with fresh seafood flavors. From the famous fish with coconut, to the exquisite Dominican-style seafood locrio, southern cuisine is a celebration of the seafood that abounds off the coasts of San Cristóbal, Santo Domingo and beyond.
To immerse oneself in the culinary richness of Santo Domingo is to enter the very heart of the Caribbean. Since being named Capital of Gastronomic Culture of the Caribbean in 2018 and 2019, the city has shone with the diversity of its flavors.
In the south, it is also customary to prepare a variety of dishes including fish with moro, fried plantains, white rice with pigeon peas, seafood casserole, crab and lambí, among others.
In the east of the island
Eastern tropical flavors blend with international influences.
The Dominican flag is a clear example that harmoniously blends rice, beans and meat to satisfy the hunger and the palate.
In this area, pica-pollo, a local version of fried chicken with spices, is also common. Try the most original version of these dishes in Punta Cana, in the east of the island.
In the west and northwest
Chechen with pork, made with green plantains and pork, or liniero goat stew are just a few examples of the culinary delights found in the west of the island.
Here, traditional cuisine is fused with local flavors to create unique dishes that reflect the culture of the region, especially in the town of Montecristi.
If you are looking for an authentic gastronomic experience, contact us. At Enjoy Travel Group we can help you because our local experts will design a tailor-made trip for you to explore the best kept secrets of the tasty Dominican gastronomy.
