Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (2024)

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En Español Recipe ↆ Video ↆ

These delicious, crunchy, flaky, deep-fried Yaniqueque wonders are a must-have on a visit to Boca Chica, the popular Dominican beach.

By Clara Gonzalez - Last reviewed . Published Dec 20, 2001

Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (1)

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Why we ❤️ it

What is Yaniqueque, and where did it come from?

You know what? there seems to be a lot of theories and quite the disagreement. The most widely accepted theory is that it came from the British West Indies with Cocolo immigrants and that its name is a corruption of the name Johnny Cakes, a dish with which it shares very little in common.

Learn more

Dominican Cocolo food and culture

Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (2)
Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (3)

Yaniqueques.

Other equally argued-for theories exist. But I am not a food historian and I am comfortable accepting that the answers to these questions are not quite vital.

To further complicate things, this dish is known as "arepa" in some parts of the country, and "hojuela" in Samana, the North, and Northwest, where the more famous "Arepa" is known as "Torta".

Yaniqueque from Samana is something entirely different, and I won't touch upon that one here.

About our recipe

There are also several variations of the same dish throughout the island, This is the Yaniqueque Dominicano as I know it. There may be differences between regions, and even between homes, but they won't be too far from each other. If you have a different Yaniqueque recipe, I'd love to hear about it.

Buen provecho!

Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (4)

Video

Recipe

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Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (5)

Yaniqueque [Recipe + Video] Fried Dominican Johnny Cake

By: Clara Gonzalez

These are delicious, crunchy, flaky, deep-fried fast food wonders, a must on a visit to Boca Chica. We love Yaniqueques!

5 from 35 votes

Save for Later Print Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 25 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Party

Cuisine Caribbean, Dominican, Latino

Servings 6 yaniqueques (aprox)

Calories 293 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 cup all-purpose flour, plus ¼ extra cup for working the dough and sprinkling on the counter(you might not use all)
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ¼ cup water
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil, for the dough, can be the same type as below
  • 2 cup oil for frying
  • ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt, for sprinkling

Instructions

1. Mix dry ingredients

  • Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

2. Make the dough

  • Mix flour with water and the oil for the dough and mix in. Work the dough on a lightly floured surface until everything is well mixed. You may need to add some flour if it is too sticky or a little bit of water if it is too dry. Don't knead the dough more than absolutely necessary to combine all the ingredients.

    Let dough rest for 10 min covered in plastic film.

3. Roll out the dough

  • Divide the dough into 8 portions, and extend each with a rolling pin on a lightly floured surface until it is very thin, nearly translucent. The thinner it is, the crispier it will be. If the dough is sticking, dust with flour as it becomes necessary. For better looking yaniqueques, you may cut them into perfect circles using an empanada cutter, or a cup adn knife, this is optional.

    Cut a couple of small slits into the dough circles two 1-inch [2.5 cm] using a paring knife. If the circles are a bit misshapen when you lift them, don't worry, that's how they look when you buy from street vendors.

4. Frying the yaniqueques

  • Heat oil over medium-high heat (350 ºF [175 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.

5. Serving

  • Sprinkle with sea salt to taste and serve.

Cook's Notes

How to make Yaniqueques

Yaniqueques come in all sizes, from the LPs (those were some big disks which were popular before cassettes and CDs, for you whippersnappers) to little ones served with chocolate de agua for breakfast.

Make yours in whichever size you like. I prefer mine about 4" [2.5 cm] in diameter as they are easier to handle.

Nutrition

Calories: 293kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 4gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 628mgPotassium: 61mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gCalcium: 13mgIron: 2mg

Nutritional information is calculated automatically based on ingredients listed. Please consult your doctor if you need precise nutrition information.

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More Dominican Appetizers Recipes (Picaderas)

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  • Guava and Cheese Empanadas (Empanaditas de Guayaba y Queso)
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Yaniqueques: Video-Recipe of Authentic Dominican Crispy Fritters (2024)

FAQs

What are yaniqueques made of? ›

Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together. Add melted butter and mix until well combine. Add water, 1/4 cup at a time, until you achieve a dough that is easy to handle and not sticky. Knead with your hands and form small balls of the same size (about eight).

What is Yanikeke in English? ›

Yaniqueques or yanikeke are a Dominican Republic version of the johnnycake, supposedly brought over in the nineteenth century by English-speaking migrants (possibly of Afro-Caribbean descent). These cakes are made with flour, baking powder, butter and water; they are typically deep-fried.

Where does the name Yaniqueque come from? ›

Yaniqueque or Yanikeke are the epitome of Dominican street and beach food. It's really hard to say where its name and origins lie. They are thought to come from the Johnny Cake or Shawnee Cakes of the native inhabitants from the Atlantic seaboard of North America, which are still popular today in New England.

What is Riki Taki? ›

Rikitaki and Frikitaki are street sandwiches, the first consumed mainly in Santiago and other northern cities, the latter in Santo Domingo. They're made with Pan de agua – a common baguette-type bread – cabbage, green tomatoes or onions, ground beef or salami, and egg.

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