Here’s a detailed look at the food and cuisine of Dominica:
Dominican Cuisine Overview
Dominican food is a flavorful fusion of African, Caribbean, French, British, and indigenous Kalinago influences. It is known for its rich spices, fresh local ingredients, and hearty meals.
1. Popular Traditional Dishes
a. Mountain Chicken
- Despite its name, it’s not poultry. It’s made from a large frog (Leptodactylus fallax) native to the island.
- Once a delicacy, now endangered and rare.
b. Callaloo Soup
- Made from taro (dasheen) leaves.
- Cooked with coconut milk, herbs, and sometimes crab or meat.
- A popular dish during Independence celebrations.
c. Sancoche (Sancocho)
- Thick, hearty stew with meat, ground provisions (yam, cassava, dasheen), dumplings, and vegetables.
- Spiced with thyme, garlic, hot pepper, and coconut milk.
d. Saltfish and Bakes
- Salted cod (saltfish), sautéed with onions, tomatoes, and peppers.
- Served with fried dough balls called “bakes.”
e. Pelau
- One-pot rice dish made with meat (chicken or beef), pigeon peas, and vegetables.
- Colored and flavored with burnt sugar and spices.
2. Side Dishes & Ground Provisions
- Ground provisions: Root vegetables like dasheen, tannia, yam, sweet potatoes, cassava, and plantains are staples.
- Often boiled and served with stews or sauces.
3. Breads and Snacks
- Bakes (Johnny cakes) – Fried bread served with fish or cheese.
- Cassava bread – A traditional flatbread made from grated cassava.
- Accras – Fried fish cakes, often eaten as a snack or appetizer.
4. Fruits & Natural Juices
Dominica, known as the Nature Island, is rich in tropical fruits:
- Mangoes, papayas, guavas, passion fruit, soursop, golden apples, bananas, coconut, starfruit
- Common local juices: Soursop juice, lime juice, seamoss drink, and ginger beer
5. Seafood
- Given its coastal setting, fish and seafood are common:
- Flying fish, conch, crab, lobster, tuna, snapper
- Often grilled, curried, or used in stews.
6. Sweets and Desserts
- Cassava pudding
- Coconut tart
- Sweet potato pudding
- Banana fritters
7. Drinks
- Fresh local juices
- Cocoa tea (a thick hot chocolate made with local cocoa and spices)
- Bush tea (herbal teas from local plants)
- Rum punches and local rums (e.g., from Bellarose Rum)
