Caribbean Dishes Everyone Should Try Once
Caribbean food incorporates a lot of fresh vegetables and fish and is full of flavor. Caribbean food includes foods from different islands with different traditions and tastes. If you want to expand your food horizons, you have to try a few of these Caribbean dishes at a Caribbean restaurant.
Dish #1: Goat Water
Goat water is a dish from the Caribbean island of Montserrat. It may be called water, but it is a hearty stew that is often served at celebratory events in Montserrat. This soup is made with a goat stew flavored with onions, tomatoes, breadfruit, green papaya, and spices. It is generally served with either rice or bread to help absorb all broth and enjoy all the flavors. It has a composition similar to that of an Irish stew.
Dish #2: Jerk Chicken
Jerk chicken is one of the most well-known foods from Jamaica. Jerk chicken is made with a unique blend of sweet and spicy spices at the same time. It can be made with both a wet marinade of spices, or it can be a dry rub as well. This is a dish that everyone enjoys and is served in both simple and fancy restaurants.
Dish #3: Stewed Salt Fish
If you enjoy seafood, you will want to try the stewed salt fish from the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis. This stew is different from many other ones you will find throughout the Caribbean, including breadfruit, spicy plantains, and coconut dumplings. These additions make for color and hearty stew that is both sweet, salty, and spicy all at once.
Dish #4: La Bandera
La Bandera is a dish from the Dominican Republic. It is basically their version of mofongo. It is a classic lunch dish that everyone enjoys eating. It consists of rice with red beans, meat, and a salad. It is also often served with some fried green plantains on the side for a bit of dessert to go with this all-encompassing working day lunch that everyone loves.
Dish #5: Conch Fritters
Conch fritters are a Bahamas creation. The conch is a large, shelled sea mollusk that is abundant across the Caribbean. With this dish, the meat from the conch is shredded and cooked in a battery to make a patty. The batter consists of a mixture of spices, chilis, celery, onions, and bell pepper. The fish is dipped in the special batter, and then it is deep-fried. It is like a Caribbean version of a crab cake.
Caribbean cuisine draws on the cultural traditions and foods of multiple islands and cultures and is rich, diverse, and flavorful. The above dishes are just a sampling of some of the most famous dishes found on a few of the different islands in the Caribbean.