Experience a hearty, flavorful journey through the Dominican Republic’s culinary heritage with Dominican Sancocho. This dish combines a medley of meats and vegetables in a thick, savory broth, making it a comforting staple perfect for family gatherings or chilly evenings.
Sancocho (from the Spanish verb sancochar, “to parboil”) is a traditional soup (often considered a stew) in several Latin American cuisines derived from the Spanish dish known as Cocido. Dominican Sancocho is considered one of the national dishes and is by far the ultimate comfort food of the Dominican Republic.
Quick Facts of Dominican Sancocho
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Servings: Makes enough for 8 servings
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Dietary notes: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
There is a variant called Sancocho de siete carnes which includes pollo (chicken), res (beef), and cerdo (pork) along with other meats.
“Sancocho de siete carnes” means “Seven meat Sancocho,” and is considered the ultimate sancocho dish. In the Dominican Republic, Longaniza (a type of pork sausage) is also used.
Sancocho de gallina (hen sancocho) is common as well, often made for special occasions or on weekends.
While sancocho de habichuelas (red bean sancocho) my favorite, by far, and sancocho de pigeon peas are common, other types of sancocho are very rare in the Dominican Republic.
This is a typical hearty soup made with root vegetables and several types of meat, one of its ingredients is Culantro, Culantro is not an alternate spelling of cilantro. Culantro is a completely different plant from cilantro.
Although the two are cousins, they look nothing alike and are quite easy to differentiate by appearance.
Culantro, Eryngium foetidum, has long, serrated leaves and sports a blue flower when permitted to bolt. It is the leaves of culantro that are popular in the Caribbean and Asian dishes.
Culantro is also often called spiny cilantro or wide cilantro (ancho). Check with your market’s produce manager if you do not see any in with other fresh herbs.
Quick Facts:
- Preparation time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Total time: 1 hour 40 minutes
- Servings: Makes enough for 8 servings
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Dietary notes: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
Ingredients:
- Meats:
- 2 chicken legs, cut into pieces
- 2 chicken thighs, cut into pieces
- 2 smoked pork chops, cut into pieces
- 2 pork chops, cut into pieces
- 2 chorizo sausages, cut into pieces
- Vegetables and Starches:
- 1/2 lb squash, cubed
- 2 yellow onions, chopped
- 2 green peppers, chopped
- 3 green plantains, peeled and sliced
- 1 lb manioc (yucca/cassava), peeled and cubed
- 1/2 lb potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 lb yautia (malanga/tannier), peeled and cubed
- 2 corn cobs, sliced
- Herbs and Seasonings:
- 1 package of coriander (cilantro), chopped
- 1/2 package of culantro, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt, oregano, and sour orange juice, to taste
Authentic Recipe for Dominican Sancocho – Hearty Soup with Root Vegetables and Meats
Ingredients
Meats
- 2 chicken legs cut into pieces
- 2 chicken thighs cut into pieces
- 2 smoked pork chops cut into pieces
- 2 pork chops cut into pieces
- 2 chorizo sausages cut into pieces
Vegetables and Starches
- 1/2 lb squash cubed
- 2 yellow onions chopped
- 2 green peppers chopped
- 3 green plantains peeled and sliced
- 1 lb manioc yucca/cassava, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 lb potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1 lb yautia malanga/tannier, peeled and cubed
- 2 corn cobs sliced
Herbs and Seasonings
- 1 package of coriander cilantro, chopped
- 1/2 package of culantro chopped
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt oregano, and sour orange juice, to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Meats
- Clean and Season: Clean and season the meats with salt, oregano, sour orange juice, onion, green pepper, cilantro, and culantro.
- Cook the Meats: In a large pot, heat the vegetable oil over medium heat. Add the chicken and pork chops little by little to get a little color. Once all the meat is in the pot, cook for 5 minutes. Then add the smoked pork chops and chorizo. To prevent sticking, add small quantities of water and let the steam cook the meats for about 15 minutes.
Prepare the Squash Mixture
- Cook the Vegetables: While the meats are cooking, in a medium soup pot, combine the squash, onion, green pepper, salt, pepper, and half of the cilantro and culantro with water. Simmer until the squash is soft and comes apart.
- Blend the Mixture: Remove from heat, let it cool slightly, and blend until creamy.
Combine and Cook
- Prepare the Vegetables: Prepare the remaining vegetables. In a large soup pot, fill halfway with water, add the prepared vegetables, meats, and the blended squash mixture.
- Simmer: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Let the sancocho simmer for 30 to 40 minutes or until it reaches your desired consistency.
Serve
- Serve with Rice and Avocado: Serve hot with white rice and avocado slices for a complete meal.
Nutrition
Notes:
- Alternative Meats: Feel free to adjust the combination of meats based on availability and personal preferences.
- Consistency: Sancocho can be as thick or as broth-like as you desire. Adjust simmering time accordingly.
- For more information in this Dominican squash look for all Tia Clara tips here
Tips and Tricks:
- Sour Orange Juice: If you can’t find sour orange juice, a mix of regular orange juice and lime juice can be used as a substitute.
- Storage: Sancocho tastes even better the next day! Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Is rare the occasion that a gathering in the Dominican Republic does not include a Sancocho served at dinner or at the end of the night as a concoction or a cure-all to heal all the heavy drinkers’ problems.
Sancocho is more than just a stew; it’s a celebration of flavors, bringing warmth and comfort to the table. This dish is a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of the Dominican Republic, making every spoonful a delightful experience.
Explore More
Looking for more hearty dishes? Dive into our collection of comforting soups.
Cook with love, eat with joy!
For more delicious recipes and cooking tips, visit The Petit Gourmet. Dive into our collection of refreshing and healthy dishes to keep your kitchen vibrant and your taste buds delighted.
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