Hispaniola: it’s the island that is occupied by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, and this week we’re going to check out the food of these two nations. The island is situated between Cuba (to the west), and Puerto Rico (to the east), and is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea.
Haiti occupies the western third of the island, and the Dominican Republic occupies the eastern two thirds. Their cuisines are very different, as Haitian food is derived from French, African, and Taíno Amerindian cultures, while Dominican food is derived from French, African, and Taíno Amerindian cultures.
In the Dominican Republic, food is much more inspired by the Spanish. It’s not as spicy as much of the food in the Caribbean, but is otherwise very similar. Several popular ingredients include: rice, beans, chicken, goat, pork, sausage, cassava, yuca, plantains, coconut (the milk and the meat), onions, garlic, and cilantro. Several traditional Dominican dishes include: arepa (corn meal and coconut cake), paella (just like the Spanish variety, but with annatto instead of saffron), sancocho (stew made of chicken, fish, or pork), and ponche (egg nog!).
Rice and beans, like many countries in the area, are the staple food in Haiti. Manjé Kréyol, Haitian Creole, is the predominant type of cooking in the country. Dishes almost always involve rice, beans, and spicy peppers (scotch bonnet peppers, to be precise). Hearty stews, comprised of vegetables, beef, goat, chicken, or fish are very popular, and easy to make with the available ingredients. Common ingredients include: rice, beans, sweet potatoes, papayas, chayote, guavas, cassava, okra, conch, and goat. Popular Haitian dishes include: griot (fried pork), kremas (a sweet, cold drink), llabouyi bannann (a banana and plantain mash), diri et pois coles (rice and red beans), and boillion (Haitian soup). Though this is the cuisine of Haiti, there is currently a food crisis happening in the country, and after the earthquake of January 2010, Haitians are suffering more than ever. To make a donation or see what efforts are being made to help, see the United Nations World Food Programme webpage.
Do you have a favourite recipe from Hispaniola? If so, let me know! Coming up on Wednesday, we’ll have a recipe for you to try out.