“Moro” (Rice & Beans together)
Dominicans eat rice & beans in some combination virtually everyday… this is one of my favorite versions!
-2 cans red beans
-1/2 medium-size onion minced
-Handful of fresh cilantro
-2 cans of water
-About 1 Tsp oregano
-4-5 cloves minced garlic (approximately 2-3 Tsp)
-Salt to taste
-3 Tbsp vegetable oil
-2 cans of white rice
Start with oil in large pan, add beans with all their juices, onions, cilantro, water, oregano, garlic & salt. Bring to boil & let simmer for about 30 minutes. Add rice (I use the same cans to measure, the typical water:rice proportion is 2 water : 1 rice, but all rice is different on its absorbency, so you’ll need to check it as the rice cooks to see if you need to add more water). Stir after adding rice, cook for about 30 more minutes or until rice is tender. Try to avoid stirring again until the end of cooking time or your rice will become mush. Serve & enjoy! These amounts should serve 6-8.
“Mangú” (The plantain version of American Mashed Potatoes)
This recipe is very simple & very yummy!
-1 green plantain (those things in the grocery store that look like big bananas)per person is the rule to knowing how many to buy
-butter or margarine
-milk, 1/2 & 1/2, or water
-onion
-white vinegar
Peel the plantains (you’ll want to make sure all of the skin is off or it will turn blackish-brown as it sits & cooks… doesn’t hurt anything, it’s just better to get it off if possible). Boil until tender (just like potatoes). Mash with butter/ margarine & your choice of water/milk/cream. Consistency will be chunkier than potatoes. To serve, the onion should be sliced & rings sauteed in vinegar until tender & starting to brown. Place onions on top, serve & fill your tummy.
“Pollo guisado” Stewed Chicken
Dominicans eat chicken, a lot! Seasonings are almost always the same, oregano, cilantro & garlic are essential, the cooking methods vary. This is one of the simple recipes that as I’ve been traveling across the States I’ve shared with some of you.
-Chicken, cut into small pieces (we used 4 chicken breasts, but any quantity or part of the chicken may be used, Dominicans eat the feet & all)
-1 1/2 bell peppers diced
-1/2 onion minced
-handfull fresh cilantro
-2 Tbsp oregano
-About a head of minced garlic (5-6 Tbsp… if you’re not as much of a garlic fan as Dominicans that can be lessened)
-1 small can tomato paste
-Salt, soy sauce & white vinegar to taste
-2 Tbsp vegetable oil
You’ll want a large saucepan, starting with vegetable oil in pan, let the peppers, onion, cilantro, oregano, garlic & pinch of salt simmer just a little as you add in the chicken. As chicken starts to cook you’ll want to water down 2 tsp’s tomato paste & add. The idea is that the chicken stews as the water cooks off. Add 2 Tbsps vinegar. After about 15-20 minutes as the chicken is well cooked & the majority of the water is cooked off, you’ll want to add soy sauce (for taste as well as color, Dominicans don’t like white meat) & tomato paste (don’t feel that you need to use the whole can, but you want to add the majority of paste at the end of cooking time so that you get a thicker sauce) . The chicken can be served over the rice & beans or hold its own.
“Espaguetti blanco” White Spaghetti
This my rendition of the Dominican homemade version of an alfredo sauce. It’s a favorite of all my friends!
-Pasta (I often use spiral pasta, but you can use spaghetti or any other kind of noodles)
-2 Tbsp margarine or butter
-1/2 onion sliced
-1 1/2 bell peppers sliced
-1 Tbsp minced garlic
-1 can evaporated milk
-Salt to taste
-1-2 cups Milk or 1/2 & 1/2
-Parmesan cheese
Bring salted water to boil & cook pasta. Sautee onions & garlic with margarine/butter. Add evaporated milk & milk or 1/2 & 1/2 (the amount that you add depends on how much pasta you are cooking. You can also used only evaporated milk, Dominicans make do with what they have, so often they will start with one can evap. milk & add milk/cream/water so that they have enough sauce for their pasta).
Let sauce simmer until pasta is almost done & add peppers. Drain pasta & combine with sauce. Once combined, stir in parmesan cheese until to your tastebuds’ liking. Serve & enjoy!
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