The Dominican Republic has a long list of delicious food common with nearby countries like Puerto Rico and Cuba, as they share similar cultural traditions. As such, their cuisine has Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, and African ingredients.

For breakfast, the locals like to eat tropical fruits like bananas, passion fruit, papaya, mangoes, pineapples, jagua, and sapote. Breakfast is also not complete without its traditional mangu. With its tasty flavor, it makes a perfect appetizer to start the day. This is prepared by mixing mashed plantain, taro, and cassava, sometimes varying a bit by adding a pumpkin called squash. They add fried shallots, cheese, eggs, or salami to add to their rich flavor.

During lunch, don’t be surprised if the Dominican flag is served to you. Also known as La Bandera Dominicana, this dish is prepared with white rice, beef, pork, chicken or goat, and a bean stew made from white, red or black beans or even pigeon peas. It is served with salad or steamed vegetables, making for a complete meal.

Dinner is usually light on the stomach, which can consist of a simple sandwich and a refreshing drink with natural fruit juices or a cup of hot chocolate or tea, depending on the season.

A festive treat for special events is a Dominican meal called Sancocho, which is a stew made by mixing seven different types of meat, various root vegetables, and vegetables. Eat with them during Easter and you will be delighted to taste their sweet beans called habichelas con dulce.

Discover the delicious cuisine that the Dominican Republic has to offer!