Caribbean cuisine has exploded in popularity. The spice-forward, waste-nothing style that brings together East Asian, European, African, and Indigenous American cooking practices has garnered many fans around the world. More and more restaurants have sprung up in metropolitan areas and old favorites are finally getting the spotlight they’ve always deserved.
If you want to get a taste of some of the popular foods from the Caribbean, here is a list of recommended dishes:
- Doubles
This popular street food found in Trinidad and Tobago consists of two soft fried flatbreads filled with curried chickpeas and pickled cucumbers, topped with a variety of sauces and chutneys. These sauces typically include a cilantro-forward sauce made with garlic and local peppers, a cucumber chutney, a coconut chutney, or a mango chutney.
2. Saltfish Buljol
This popular breakfast is also from Trinidad and Tobago and makes use of the bountiful codfish found everywhere in the Caribbean Sea. After being soaked and boiled to cut away some of the salt flavors, the codfish is quickly sauteed with onions, tomatoes, peppers, and a kiss of lime. This dish is commonly served with either ground provision or avocado.
3. Ackee and Saltfish
Ackee and Saltfish is the national dish of Jamaica, which combines codfish with the ackee fruit. Ackee made its way to Jamaica from West Africa through the slave trade. For the dish, ripened ackee is combined with codfish, peppers, thyme, onion, and scallion in a saute, and then served with fried dumplings, boiled ground provisions, and/or avocado.
4. Patties
Patties are a handheld pastry that’s very similar to an empanada. This Jamaican street food staple is often filled with spiced meat, vegetables, or seafood. Entire fast food chains are built around this dish.
5. Tostones
Tostones are a popular snack and side dish everywhere in Latin America. They are green plantains that are sliced, fried, flattened, and then fried again, resulting in a delicious crispy craggy texture. Tostones are typically served with garlic or chili sauce.
6. Ropa Vieja
While it literally translates to “old clothes” this beloved Cuban dish is a lot more appetizing than it sounds. Shredded steak is browned and then simmered with onions, peppers, and lots of tomatoes until tender. This dish is often served with rice or other sides.
7. Black Cake
Black Cake or Caribbean Fruit Cake is a holiday tradition in many Caribbean countries. A rich, dense, and moist cake is made by mixing the batter with dried fruits, rum, and a variety of Caribbean spices. In some households, Clack Cake preparation begins a full year in advance as fruits are pre-soaked in rum or wine to get ready for next year’s batch.
8. Rice and Peas
This is the classic, go-to staple, across many Caribbean countries. White rice is boiled with kidney, pigeon or gungo peas in coconut milk and a variety of seasonings and spices. This flavorful rice is served with meat, fish or a vegetarian option.
