Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner in the Dominican Republic

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

For breakfast, locals like to eat tropical fruits such as bananas, passion fruit, papaya, mangoes, pineapples, jagua, and sapodilla. Breakfast is also never complete without its traditional mango. With its salty flavor, it serves as a perfect snack to start the day. It is prepared by mixing mashed plantain, malanga and yucca, sometimes varying a little by adding pumpkin called auyama. They add fried shallots, cheese, eggs, or salami to add to their rich flavor.

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

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

A festive treat for special events is a Dominican food called Sancocho, which is a stew made by mixing seven different types of meat, various tubers, and vegetables. Eat with them during Holy Week, and you will delight in tasting their sweet beans called habichelas con dulce.

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