Yaniqueque is a popular Dominican street food. Essentially a fried dough, it is made using flour, water, and salt. The ingredients are mixed into a dough, divided and formed into discs. They are fried until golden.
Yaniqueque can be eaten plain or with sweet or savory toppings and fillings. It is a street food found sold mosty by beachside vendors.
There is little variation in yaniqueque. They can be thin and crispy or made fluffy by using a rising agent like baking powder. The fluffy variations are adequate for savory fillings like cheese, seafood and salami. Some recipes use butter to add some richness or sugar for sweetness.
Origin & Cultural Significance
The origin of Yaniqueque is not known. Some believe that Yaniqueque was inspired by Johnnycakes because of their somewhat similar name and appearance. J
ust about every Caribbean island has some sort of fried bread. The crispness of Yaniqueque is what makes it unique to the Dominica Republic. While not the most popularly known food it remains quite popular within the Dominican Republic and a nostalgic food for Dominicans living outside of the Dominican Republic.
Dominican Yaniqueque Recipe
Yaniqueque is a Dominican street food. Essentially a fried dough, it is made using flour, water, and salt.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour - 2 ¼ cup
- Baking powder - ¼ tsp
- Baking soda - ¼ tsp
- Salt - 1 tsp
- Water - ¼ cup
- Vegetable oil - 3 tbsp
- Oil (for frying) - 2 cups
- Coarse salt - ½ tsp
Instructions
- Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add the water then oil to the dry ingredients.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until well mixed. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky or a bit of water if it is too dry. Don't knead the dough more than absolutely necessary to combine all the ingredients.
- Cover the dough with plastic film and let it rest for 10 minutes.
- Divide the dough into 8 portions.
- Flatten each piece with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface until it is very thin.
- Cut a couple of small slits into the dough circle using a paring knife.
- Heat oil over medium-high heat 350 ºF .
- Fry the circles of dough, turning them halfway until they turn golden brown on both sides, rest on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.
- Sprinkle with sea salt to taste and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 668Total Fat: 61gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 55gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 492mgCarbohydrates: 27gFiber: 1gSugar: 0gProtein: 4g
Nutrition is provided and calculated by Nutritionix. It is for general information purposes and is only a rough estimation.