A traditional Dominican dish that features the best flavors of the Caribbean country.
By Yadsia G. Iglesias
I’ve never been to the beautiful Dominican Republic, but having lived my entire life so close to it (Puerto Rico), I’ve had the pleasure of tasting most of their classic dishes. MangĂș is one of them, probably the most well known Dominican dish. It’s made by mashing green (unripe) plantains and traditionally eaten for breakfast.
A friend from high school first introduced me to it. Her mom used to add vinegar to the plantains themselves before mashing, which gave them that extra kick of flavor that I craved the most. Years later, another Dominican friend told me that the vinegar is optional, but should always be added to the onions instead.
Different variations exist. Some people add bacon or chopped salami to it. Other people mix the onions right in, adding a splash of vinegar to the mix. When it comes to fat, I prefer a fat free version (girls, right?), but you can either add some butter or olive oil to make it smoother and more flavorful. One thing that can’t be missing from your plate is a fried egg on the side.
PrintMangĂș (Mashed Plantains)
A traditional Dominican dish that features the best flavors of the Caribbean country.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 3 Plantains, green, unripe
- Water, for boiling
- Salt, to taste
- 1 big Yellow Onion
- 1 tbsp White Vinegar
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil or Butter, optional
- Cilantro, optional
Instructions
- Peel the plantains, then cut each one into three pieces. In a pot, cover with water, add some salt and bring to a boil. Cook until ‘fork tender’ (make sure they’re very tender, but not falling apart).
- While the plantains are cooking, slice the onion. Cook over medium heat with 3 tbsp of water and the vinegar. Remove from heat when they become translucent (about 7 minutes). Set aside.
- Drain the plantains, add the butter or olive oil, and mash with a fork. If you need to, add some warm salted water to make the plantains smoother instead of adding oil.
- Once they’re completely mashed, serve topped with onions and some cilantro. Eat warm.
I’ve had mangu at Dominican friend’s house as part of a brunch spread. You’re right, it’s delicious with eggs and I like your figure-friendly version.
Thank you, Joan!
I’ve never had plantains. Dominican food is something we don’t do much of in Australia, but I’ve heard it’s fabulous. Thanks for sharing this dish as I love learning about new foods :D
Wow, I love Mangu and for some reason I thought it was much more difficult. I just bought 8 beautiful green plantains and making pernil. Thanks for sharing.
I can’t wait to make this, I love it but can’t find it on any menu.
★★★★★