Food/Recipes (recetas) of typical Dominican dishes
if you have a favorite recipe please let us know
Sancocho is Dominican Republic's favorite. This hearty stew type dish is traditionally made with 7 different meats. It can also be made with whatever meat and vegetables you have on hand. There are as many versions of this recipe as there are stars in the sky (maybe not that many, but very close).
It is normally made on special occasions. Many people like to cook it for Christmas. It does take a time to prepare but it is worth the effort. Enjoy this hearty stew with some rice and avocado and you'll think your in Dominican Republic yourself!
Platanos/ Plantains are in the Banana family. What is thought to be a tree is really an herb, the worlds largest herb for that matter. It has a compacted, water-filled leaf stalk that is composed of leaf sheaths that overlap each other and grow from an underground stem called a rhizome, unlike a trees woody stalk.
The very black platanos are usually used in deserts because they are so sweet. If you fry a green platano it makes crunchy pieces while frying a sweet one the pieces are soft.
What is a platano (plantain) and what do you do with it?
This plant can grow as high as 20 feet (6 meters) in height, which is about as tall as a two story house. There are over 500 different types of bananas including green, red and yellow versions. They are very high in potassium and virtually fat free. The platano looks like very large bananas and are usually not eaten raw, they need to be cooked. These fruits are very versatile as they can be boiled, baked, or fried. Served as a vegetable, starch, or made into a sweet dessert. They can be used unripe or very ripe. An unripe platano is green, hard, and very starchy. The riper they get the more yellow and sweeter they become as the starch turns to sugar. They turn from solid green to a yellow orangish color with dark spots to black, when they become very soft and mushy. They can be used no matter how ripe or unripe they are. When they are green they closely resemble potatoes and are not sweet. As they become riper they become sweeter and they texture changes.
Picture of platanos (thanks Scott for the picture)
Peeling the platano takes a little practice, especially when it is very green and hard. It does not peal like one would think (like a banana). The skin does not want to come off easily. I don't know the Dominican way for peeling but I found that if you cut it in half then score the skin lengthwise on 2 sides the skin does come of easier. Cut off both ends. Take a knife and try to peel away the skin. If you use your hands they will get a brownish stain so try as well as you can to use your trusty knife as much as possible. If you do have to use your hands moisten them rub with salt to help prevent sticking. The ripe platano is easier to peel. Just cut the top off and peel the skin down. Once the skin is off and you have a pretty very light yellow veggie in front of you it is time to decide what you want to make.
Mangú is a very typical Dominican breakfast favorite. It can be served for other meals but it is typically for breakfast.. Mangú closely resembles mash potatoes in appearance and texture but the flavor is very different. It is made from the green platano (plantain),the hard banana looking vegetable that is seen everywhere in the country. There are as many different ways to prepare mangú as there are preparers.
I usually figure about 1/2 to 3/4's of a large platano as a serving for the average human.
For Mangú it is best to cut the platano into about 3 pieces lengthwise (I also divide each piece in half lengthwise). Put the pieces in a pot covered with water (add a little salt if you would like) and boil those pieces to death. They have to be nice and soft. It usually takes 20 minutes or longer. Add water as needed to keep them submerged. Just make sure they are soft. Much easier to mash when they're soft and this way you won't get lumps.
Now those platanos are soft and ready for the next step. It is time to decide what you want to add for the mashing process (while mashing sauté up some onions -red if you have them- to put on top of or inside the mash). Pulverizing them! Some use the water the platanos were boiled in to mash them. Some add a bullion cube, stock, bacon grease, small pieces of cooked meat (bacon or ham) to flavor the mash. Some use milk as in making mash potatoes. Try all the ways, variety is always good.Add the liquid slowly so as not to get then too runny. I like to add a little green oil (olive oil) or a little butter also. Use a potato masher or even a blender or food processor. I was taught to use the bottom of a beer bottle. This is what my friends and I use. Anyhow, just start mashing them up til they are nice and smooth. Add the onions or some cheese while mashing if you'd like. Keep mashing until it is nice and smooth. Taste testing all the while to get the flavors correct.
Fry up some eggs (scrambled are typical), and some fried salami or ham, slop that wonderful Mangú on the plate. Top it with some of those sautéed onions. Then savor the flavor of a typical Dominican breakfast....yummmm.....
Monfongo is another dish made from Platanos. They are cooked and mashed with different types of meat added. Then served with a broth you can add to it. It is served in a Pinion. As soon as I get a decent recipe for this typical dish I'll put it here.
Picture of Monfongo in a pinion (thanks Scott for the picture)
angle, I don't know why and it's not really that important but this is the "Dominican way". Heat up some oil (like making french fries) and drop the slices into the oil. Fry them until they are just a little crusty. Just before they get a brown color. They are cooked soft but not crispy yet. Put on paper to drain some of the oil. Then as soon as you can touch them, smash 'em! Use anything handy, I use a beer bottle again. The bottom of a plate, anything flat will do. If you are lucky enough to have a Tostonera (this is 2 round pieces of wood, hinged, with a knob-like handle in the center) whose sole purpose is to smash tostones. Press each piece to flatten it out, it will get a little scalloped edge sometimes. I like mine very thin but but normally they are flattened to about half of the original thickness. Then put the flat platano back into the oil and cook until it has a nice light brown color, just a thin outside crust. Remove from the oil. Drain. Salt if desired. These can be served plain, with ketchup/ketchu is very typical. I like mine with some vinegar. Any way you like them they are great. Serve then as you would any potato or french fries. Enjoy!
Platano Maduro/fried sweet plantains These are made with the black skinned platanos. As sweet and ripe as they can get. Peeled and cut down the length of the platano into long, flat strips. Between 1/2 to 1 inch thick, depending on your mood. Fry these pieces in a little green (olive) oil, lard, or any other type of oil or butter. Do not cover the platano in oil, just enough so the oil is half way up the side of the platano. Fry, turning, until they are golden brown and caramelized. Drain. These can be served as you would any potato dish also and the flavor and texture is much different than the tostones
Tostones/Fried Platano chips Peel the plantain and cut in in slices about 1/2 inch thick, usually cut on an
picture/image of tostones/fried platano
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