When considering what restaurant to eat at next, keep Dominican food in mind. This unique culture includes savory and sweet dishes that everyone will love. Here is some insight into the history and top meals you can enjoy from this style of tasty cuisine.

Understanding Dominican Cuisine

The History of Dominican Food

When the Spaniards took over the island of Hispaniola in 1492, they introduced their affinity for seafood, ham, wine, and rice. They used a lot of cinnamon, nutmeg, and saffron in rice dishes. This cuisine then mixed with the local Taino Indians, a group who relied on agriculture. They grew yucca, potatoes, garlic, plantains, and cassava, as well as hunted small game and fished. New flavors entered this unique style of cooking when African slaves began living on the island. They added creole flavors, such as Cajun spices, to the locally available vegetables and meats.

Dominican Staple Dishes 

Most meals include a version of sazón or sofrito, a combination of local herbs and spices like cilantro, achiote, salt, and garlic that can amp up the flavor of any meat, vegetable or grain. Rice, beans, yucca, plantains, and seafood are all staple ingredients found in this cuisine.

When eating at a Dominican restaurant, start the evening with quipes, fritter-like balls of whole grain mixed with ground beef and cilantro sauce. Empanadas are also a staple and may be sweet or savory, offering rich seafood, vegetables, and plantains as insides. Then, move on to ceviche, which is fresh, raw seafood cured in citrus juice.

For dinner, try a Dominican stew called sancocho, which contains beef, chicken, and pork. This savory dish includes corn, spices, plantains, and yucca, and is topped with lime juice and garlic. Or, dig into linguini mariscada—pasta with calamari, muscles, scallops, clams, and red sauce. Rum plays a critical role in the cultural traditions of Dominican heritage, and most Spanish restaurants will offer this delicious drink made out of sugar cane juice. Sip it alone to savor the sweetness or drink a mamajuana made out of rum, red wine, and honey with herbs and bark.

If you want to try Dominican food, head to Mamajuana Café Paterson in Paterson, NJ. Their exceptional chefs create unique dishes, and the traditional architecture creates the perfect ambiance for a date, a gathering with friends, or a solo dinner. Call the restaurant at (973) 925-5172 to make a reservation or visit their website to browse their menu.