Dominican cuisine was gifted a truly delightful legacy by its African roots: mofongo. This traditional delicacy is made by mashing fried plantain, garlic and pork rind in a mortar, forming a dough that is then shaped into small balls, like ice cream, and served in a bowl. This dish is sometimes paired with shrimp or a piece of avocado, or dipped in meat broth right before eating.

Sancocho, one of the nation’s most typical dishes, is served at parties and special occasions such as New Year’s. This thick stew is made with several ingredients: meat, vegetables, tubers and condiments. It is always served with white rice and sliced avocado, but like any traditional dish, there are different versions.

Another traditional Dominican dish is mangú, which is simply mashed green plantains. The preparation is just as basic: boil or stew the plantains in salted water, and then mash them with a bit of oil or butter, and a trickle of water if necessary, creating a smooth purée with no lumps. Mangú is usually topped with red onion sautéed in oil and vinegar.