Underrated Cuisine
Dominican Republic has such a wide variety of tasty Caribbean dishes. Is the food overlooked or underrated? Let's talk about or introduce different meals of the DR.
The Menu is Grand
Pretty much every country has a national dish, not all have a traditional breakfast. With so much different cultural influences brought to the food. That must mean that the menu is grand. It surprises me that the average vacationers only talk about the beaches, beautiful women, resorts and parties when describing their time in Dominican Republic. Makes me wonder if they skipped eating throughout their time on the island. Maybe they were limited, or locals didn't give them more traditional dishes, thinking that the foreigner wouldn't like it. When you're in a new country, try to experience the culture. One of the easiest ways to experience the culture is having some local dishes.
Mangú is the traditional breakfast of Dominican Republic. Mangú is topped with flavorful red onions slices in vinegar, and a fried egg, Dominican fried cheese (golden brown, crispy), with Dominican fried salami. The dish is then referred to as Mangú con Los Tres Golpes (the three beats). Mangú is a meal that you would likely get in the morning menu at a restaurant. Seem to be a more homemade meal, Dominicans love it. I also seen foreigners in bliss when they first tried it. It looks like art. When receiving it, at first you just admire the presentation, usually for a minute or so. Then you think to yourself where to start? After you get in it, may euphoria begin. Light meal, but satisfyingly filling.
Sancocho can be found in many of the restaurants. Sancocho is a homemade classic. Some other Latin American countries make Sancocho also, in their own way. My first time having it, I would describe Sancocho as very similar to a traditional Caribbean homemade soup, except without the rice. Dominican Sancocho is the best of two worlds. As with most Dominican foods you get Latin American and Caribbean flavors masterfully colliding together on your plate. Dominican Sancocho is made with cassava, potatoes, green plantains, carrots, cilantro, corn, pumpkin, onions and garlic, chicken (drumsticks) and beef, and white rice on the side to complete it. I must add that there are many ways that Dominicans make Sancocho. Feel free to share your recipes in the comments, I would love to hear them. This is a meal made for a minimum of 3 people, and the more the merrier. Dominican culture is all about sharing. So, Sancocho fits perfectly for when having guess. Everyone loves it and there’s always enough.
La Bandera Dominicana is the national dish of Dominican Republic. The name comes from the similar colors of the Dominican flag. The red for the beans, the white for the rice and the blue for the…… I guess avocados or chicken? Not sure, but it's so good and that’s what matters. As you can see Dominican meals consist with a lot on the plate. Healthy stuff, so you don't have to worry about packing on the pounds. In fact, here in Dominican Republic you could lose a lot of bad weight within a few months (I’ll touch on that another time). La Bandera Dominicana aka The Dominican flag is flavored red beans, white rice, a stewed chicken, tostones (fried plantains) and avocado on the side. Also, a salad on the side is optional.
I’ll tell you about an amazing dessert called “dulce de coco con leche” (sweet coconut fudge). It's made from coconut, evaporated milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. We drove out to the town Bani and went to bakery named ‘Las Marias’ where supposedly they make the best. If you enjoy coconuts, then you'll love it. It kind of resembles the taste of a light ice-cream. Not heavy on the milk at all, and you must eat it within 2 days to fully enjoy it.
In conclusion with so many different dishes to cover, as a foodie, I’ll have to cover more. We’ll dive into the dishes that are not as popular amongst foreigners but are loved by locals. For now, enjoy these tasty staple meals. whether you order it at your next visit to the Dominican Republic or you chef it up to your delight.