Caribbean cuisine
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Famous Caribbean food

 

Why these Caribbean
dishes are special

They are famous, must-try food preparations. Experience them during your Caribbean trip or (ingredients willing) in your local Caribbean restaurant or in your home kitchen.

Callaloo

Crab and/or fish soup simmered with callaloo (taro leaf). Other ingredients usually include coconut milk and chilies.

Various Caribbean islands

Conch chowder and fritters

The conch (pronounced "konk") is a Caribbean food icon. This mollusk was once widely enjoyed, but with shrinking availability, prices have soared. Some restaurants now use fillers.

Various Caribbean islands

Curried Goat

Many restaurants use the strong-flavored meat of a mature goat. Better restaurants (whether expensive or mid-priced) use the tender and subtly flavored meat of the young animal (kid). Insist on the latter.

Jamaica

Flying fish sandwich

The small Caribbean fish can soar above the water for considerable distances to escape predators. For the sandwich, the flying fish is fried and doused with hot sauce. The sandwiches are typically sold in food shacks and similar eateries.

Barbados

Jerk pork or chicken

The meat is left for days or longer in an assertive herb-and-spice marinade (lots of chilies). A deep, complex food flavor develops. The meat is usually grilled.

Jamaica

Picadillo

Ground (or diced) pork or beef is cooked with green peppers, olives, chilies, garlic, and more.

Cuba

Keshi Yena

A shrimp (or chicken or beef) mixture is baked inside a hollowed whole Edam cheese ball.

Aruba

Rice and beans

A simple but artfully seasoned side dish for entrees. This food is served a million times a day in the Caribbean Islands.

Various Caribbean islands

Ropa vieja

It's made with shredded beef, tomatoes, and peppers - and spiced with orange-yellow-hued annatto. Ropa vieja name means "old clothes".

Cuba. 

More Caribbean
tips & insights

Dishes migrate and mutate

They move from one island to another. And their recipes often mutate. The ones listed above are no exceptions.

Popular Caribbean drinks

Beer, coffee, fresh fruit drinks, rum (neat or in rum punch, mojito, and other tropical cocktails).

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