Yaniqueque

Yaniqueque (derived from the English "Johnny Cake") is a thin, crispy disc of fried dough that is the iconic beach snack of the Dominican Republic. Made from a simple dough of flour, water, baking powder, and salt, yaniqueques are rolled thin, cut into large circles, and deep-fried until golden and crackle-crisp. They are often sprinkled with salt or garlic powder and served hot.

The yaniqueque is most closely associated with the beaches of Boca Chica, Juan Dolio, and the eastern coast, where vendors walk the sand carrying towers of golden discs balanced on their heads or in large baskets. The cry of "Yaniqueque!" echoing across the beach is as much a part of the Dominican seaside experience as the turquoise water and palm trees.

The name derives from the English "Johnny Cake," a term brought to the eastern Dominican Republic by English-speaking migrants from the Turks and Caicos and other Caribbean islands. Over time, the pronunciation was Dominicanized to "yaniqueque," and the flat, crispy fried version became distinctly Dominican.