Dominican bites

Post related to the Dominican Republic.

Pan fried steak with onions (biztec encebollado)

Pan fried steak with onions (biztec encebollado)

Biztec encebollado, or steak with onions is a quick and easy recipe. The thinly cut steak cooks quickly and pairs wonderfully with your favorite grain or salad. Many of my Dominican-style recipes can be seasoned quickly with a home-made "season all." Bija or ground annatto seeds will add natural coloring to dishes and help thicken meat  sauces. Pan fried steak with onions (biztec encebollado) 1 1/2 lbs. sandwich steak1 medium white or red onion4 big garlic cloves1 teaspoon of bija (ground annatto seeds)1 teaspoon of salt1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepperOptional: 2 tablespoons of season all1 tablespoon of cooking oil…
Read More
Braised chicken gizzards recipe: a treat for adventurous palates!

Braised chicken gizzards recipe: a treat for adventurous palates!

This braised chicken gizzards recipe includes cumin, ground annatto seeds or bija, and a blend of onions, garlic and herbs. A delicious treat for the adventurous palate. Easy print recipe included at the end. Dominican cuisine includes an array of foods considered unusual in certain countries: chicken feet, pig ear, cow's tongue, guts. It is the uncommon textures that makes them an interesting eating experience. Growing up near the countryside in the Dominican Republic, my mom often needed to cook a whole chicken to feed our big family. Stoves with ovens were less common, so meats were regularly braised. Back…
Read More
Fried eggplant recipe (torrejas de berenjena)

Fried eggplant recipe (torrejas de berenjena)

This very simple fried eggplant recipe (a.k.a. torrejas de berenjena) uses an egg wash to achieve a crunchy texture that contrast well with the soft fried eggplant. An old time Dominican recipe and one of my favorites! Fried eggplant recipe 1 big Italian eggplant3 eggs1/2 teaspoon of salt1/4 teaspoon of black pepper1 teaspoon of parsley (oregano or basil flakes (take your pick))1/4 cup frying oil or enough to cover the bottom of your frying pan In a mixing pan, beat the eggs and add the salt, pepper and herbs. Stir.Wash the eggplant and cut it in 1/4 inch thick, round…
Read More
Moro de guandules rice cooker recipe (pigeon pea rice)

Moro de guandules rice cooker recipe (pigeon pea rice)

This moro de guandules rice cooker recipe is an easier alternative to the traditional Dominican cooking method that yields the same results in flavor and texture (minus the concón). At home, we eat rice almost every day. White rice is my one guilty pleasure and many of the Chinese dishes we cook are served on plain rice. So, we own a rice cooker or two. I also own the Dominican "rice pot" that makes good "concón," and although I enjoy making rice the Dominican way, I have to admit that I have succumbed to the convenience of using a rice…
Read More
Dominican black beans recipe – Slow cooker version

Dominican black beans recipe – Slow cooker version

This Dominican black beans recipe (a.k.a. stewed black beans or "habichuelas negras guisadas") adapts the Dominican black beans recipe to the slow cooker. This results in the same delicious black beans, without the hassle of stove-top cooking. The calabaza squash and potato add thickness and complexity to this dish. Slow-cooking the beans allows you to set and be worry-free for a few hours. Those who have boiled beans on the stove-top before are familiar with the issues of foaming and boiling over. I like to cook my legumes from scratch and only use canned beans when the dry ones are…
Read More
Maiz con dulce – Dominican sweet corn recipe

Maiz con dulce – Dominican sweet corn recipe

"Maiz con dulce" is a traditional Easter-time Dominican sweet corn dessert. Along with "habichuelas con dulce", pots of sweet corn are cooked and shared among family and neighbors in Dominican towns during Lent and Semana Santa (Holy Week). Because my mother had a preference for "habichuelas con dulce" or sweet beans, she rarely made maíz con dulce at home. So, I eagerly awaited the mug full of maíz con dulce from my aunt. Pictured here is her very own chacá, made this year. My aunt is a great cook. I will be sharing more of her recipes in this site.…
Read More
Una cosa dice el burro, y otra el que lo apareja.

Una cosa dice el burro, y otra el que lo apareja.

Your Dominican wisdom bite of the day: "Una cosa dice el burro, y otra el que lo apareja". Literal translation: The donkey says one thing. The man who rigs it says another. Meaning: The plan that matters is the plan made by the decision-maker. Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Use: colloquial
Read More
Cooking with bija – using annatto seeds

Cooking with bija – using annatto seeds

Using annatto seeds for cooking is easy and effective, helping you achieve vibrant food colors the all natural way. Bija, also known as annatto seeds or achiote, is an all natural food colorant commonly used in Central America and the Caribbean. Native inhabitants of the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americans used the pigment in bija seeds for body art, as well as cooking. This was the case for the Taino indians of Quisqueya (the island currently shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, also known as Hispaniola). Bija is a traditional spice of Dominican cuisine that has slowly…
Read More
No widgets found. Go to Widget page and add the widget in Offcanvas Sidebar Widget Area.