Dominican Republic Food

Columbus, who discovered this volcanic island on Sunday, November 3, 1493, called it Dominicano. The territory of the Dominican Republic has 1600 km of sea coast - in the north Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea to the south. Dominican Republic is the second largest country in the Caribbean. History of the Dominican Republic - is the story of an Indian Island Kiskeya, whose name translates as "mother of all lands". The natives who inhabited the island before the arrival of the Spanish sailors, were descended from tribes that came from the tropical forests of Venezuela and from the banks of the Orinoco River. They called themselves "Taíno". Official language is Spanish. In tourist centers and speak in English, French, German and Italian. And in the hotels of the Dominican Republic you will understood in any language. The historical part of the city of Santo Domingo, recognized by UNESCO cultural heritage.

Many people think that Latin American and Caribbean cuisine doesn't differ from country to country. However, ways of cooking food in the Dominican Republic are really unique. History tells us that the Dominican Republic experienced the influence of both France and Spain. In addition, Aboriginal foods and ways of its preparation also helped create a remarkable and delicious dishes.

Dominican cuisine is simple to prepare and very healthy. Are used only natural ingredients. The main feature of it - the extensive use of legumes, bananas and other vegetables (including exotics) in the original, combined with meat products and fish. This abundance of spices used in cooking, at first glance is huge, but it is not so - all the spices are consumed in the measure, and almost do not spoil the original flavor. For cooking use only a certain kind of bananas "Platano" - Green and quite hard, do not eat them raw. Side dish usually served on rice, red beans, cassava, mashed bananas from the forest with a bow "manga" and various salads.

National dishes that use local people on a daily basis are: a thick soup with meat, rice and vegetables "asopao", stew meat, beans, rice, salad and fried bananas " Bandera", baked in banana leaves, meat and vegetable" bed-en - Ohashi, roast pork "puerko al-Puja" or "puerko-Assado", vegetables and meat ragout "sankocho", pork served with fried bananas, and certainly exotic - whole braised pig carcass in a pit, stewed with vegetables and herb chicken, tripe on-Dominican "monfongo" etc. As a side dish using rice and red beans in all sorts of combinations, cassava, mashed bananas from the forest with a bow "manga" and various salads.

Continuing on the table there are cakes of cassava, "Kasaba" (as usual, and with various fillings) and "tostones" - fried bananas. Fish and seafood, despite their abundance and diversity, almost non-existent in the traditional Dominican cuisine, but recently they have been in larger numbers appear in the menus of cafes and restaurants. The most popular fish, roasted on a spit or a lattice, grilled fish with coconut crumbs, fish in a sauce of coconut milk "Pescado con coco", a variety of seafood, "mariskos" crabs in a sauce "Cangrejo gisado" etc.

And, of course, have the widest distribution of a variety of tropical fruits - bananas, coconuts, pineapples, arable land, guava, mango, green lemon Zest and other exotic fruits. Their use in natural form, in the form of juices and fruit cocktails. Everywhere brew good coffee, especially good grade "Santo Domingo".

Rum is the national alcoholic beverage of the Dominican Republic, which does not manage any festival anywhere in the country. Rum is widely popular among the local population of the Dominican Republic, along with local brands of beer "Quisqueya", "Presidente" and "Bohemia". Rum varying quality and spills can be purchased at any store or tent.

Among the 15 varieties of rum, manufactured in the country, the main positions occupied by "Brugal", "Barselo" and "Bermudes". Produce dark rum (with a classic golden hue) and light (white, often with the addition of lemon, which gives the drink a delicious taste).

Rum drink alone or added to cocktails. For example, "Piña Colada" (Rum, often 3 species, coconut milk and pineapple juice, ice), Daiquiri (rum, lemon juice, ice chips) and, of course, the famous and the most popular "Free Cuba" (rum Coca-Cola and ice).

Interest of local alcoholic beverage "pru" (a product of fermentation of juice plants of the same name). Coffee is brewed everywhere.

Cuba Libre Cocktail

Cuba Libre Cocktail

Cuba Libre was invented in Cuba in about 1900. At that time the U.S. fought a war with Spain. Cuban patriots supported Spain in this military conflict, and this led to the fact that in Cuba were American troops. According to legend, one of the American officers entered the bar and asked the bartender to mix golden rum, Coca-Cola, add ice and lime juice. The soldier drank a drink with such pleasure. With his comrades immediately interested and asked the bartender to make a few more cocktails. Merry mood the soldiers offered a toast to the liberation of Cuba. "Por Cuba Libre!", - Yelled gay American soldiers, still unaware of Fidel Castro and the Communists.

However, some facts refute this version. Formally, Cuba was freed in 1898, and American military forces left the island in the same year, but cola has appeared in Cuba only in 1900. Therefore, according to a refutation, as expressed in 1965 by Fausto Rodriguez, Cuba Libre was first mixed in 1900, an unknown member of the American signal units, which had remained in Cuba.

Cuba Libre quickly has started to gain popularity. In 1945, the combination of 2 drinks immortalized popular ensemble The Andrews Sisters, who sang the hit "Rum and Coca-Cola".

Cocktail preparation Cuba Libre

1 part rum: 2 parts cola: a little lime juice.
At the bottom of a tall glass of ice is placed, then swell ingredients.
All mixed.
In a glass put lobule lime as a garnish.


Sit on the balcony, fill a glass of crushed ice, squeeze lime, hold the glass toward the sky (best effect during sunset), pour the rum that would not see the horizon, add a little Cola to close the sky, gently mix, lean yourself and..................

Among the popular youth club version of a cocktail Cuba pentad. Coca-Cola in this version is added to the cocktail of half lemonade and soda.

There is also a wonderful cocktail of Cuban Missile Crisis. To make it, takes a much more robust rum, such as Bacardi 151, alcohol concentration is about 75%.