Dominican Republic Holiday Dishes

🇩🇴 Dominican Republic

Dominican Christmas Recipes

The Dominican Republic's Taíno, Spanish, and African culinary roots come through in its holiday dishes, seen in dishes like Pollo Navideño (Christmas Chicken) and Moro de Guandules con Coco (Rice with Pigeon Peas and Coconut).

Moro de Guandules con Coco (Rice with Pigeon Peas and Coconut) Pasteles en Hoja +12
14 holiday dishes, each with a recipe ↓
📖 See the Full Roundup: What Are the Most Popular Dominican Christmas Foods? →
The Dominican Republic's Taíno, Spanish, and African culinary roots come through in its holiday dishes, seen in dishes like Pollo Navideño (Christmas Chicken) and Moro de Guandules con Coco (Rice with Pigeon Peas and Coconut).
Pollo Navideño (Christmas Chicken)
Dominican Republic's Top Pick

Pollo Navideño

For families that prefer poultry, Pollo Navideño is a festive choice.

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More Dominican Republic Holiday Dishes to Try

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Ensalada Rusa (Russian Salad)
Ensalada Rusa
Ensalada Rusa, or Russian Salad, is a creamy potato salad with a Dominican twist.
Tostones or Maduros (Fried Plantains)
Tostones y Maduros
Plantains are a staple in Dominican cuisine, and they make their way into Christmas meals as well.
Habichuelas con Dulce
Habichuelas con Dulce
This classic Dominican dessert is a favorite during the holiday season.
Moro de guandules con coco
Moro de Guandules con Coco
Rice with pigeon peas and coconut milk, the Christmas rice.
Dominican pasteles en hoja
Pasteles en Hoja
Plantain and root-vegetable dough filled with beef, wrapped in banana leaves.
Dominican pernil asado roast pork
Pernil Asado
Garlic-and-oregano roast pork shoulder, the Nochebuena centerpiece.
Dulce de leche
Dulce de Leche
Slow-cooked milk caramel served in small cubes.
Dominican Christmas flan
Flan de Navidad
Rich caramel flan for the holiday table.
Dominican buñuelos
Buñuelos
Yuca fritters soaked in anise syrup.
Batida de lechosa papaya shake
Batida de Lechosa
Papaya and milk shake served at the holiday table.
Bottle of mamajuana
Mamajuana
Rum, red wine and honey steeped with bark and herbs.
Dominican sancocho de siete carnes
Sancocho
The seven-meat stew cooked for New Year’s and big celebrations.
Dominican pudín de pan
Pudín de Pan
Spiced bread pudding with raisins.

A Guide to Dominican Christmas Food

The Dominican Nochebuena table is a roast, a rice and a spread of sides: pollo navideño or roast pork, moro de guandules con coco (rice with pigeon peas and coconut), pasteles en hoja, ensalada rusa and tostones or maduros. Dessert is almost always habichuelas con dulce, the sweet cream of beans that is more Easter than Christmas elsewhere but appears on Dominican tables all season.

Start with the recipes above, then see the full roundup of popular Dominican Christmas foods, or explore all Dominican food and recipes from across Latin America and Spain. For the whole season across Latin America and Spain, see the Latin Christmas Foods hub.

Craving more Dominican Republic flavors?

Explore our complete roundup, or browse all Dominican Republic recipes and stories.

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