Barbadian cuisine

Bajan cuisine is a mixture of African, Indian, and British influences. A typical meal consists of a main dish of meat or fish, normally marinated with a mixture of herbs and spices, a number of hot side dishes, and one or more salads. The meal is usually served with one or more sauces. ^[1]

The national dish of Barbados is Cou-Cou & fried Flying Fish with spicy gravy.^[2] Another traditional meal is "Pudding and Souse" a dish of pickled pork with spiced sweet potatoes. ^[3]

Main courses

• Fried flying fish
• Fried or grilled fish such as kingfish, swordfish, mahi mahi, and "dolphin" (dolphinfish). A whole roast red snapper is a delicacy.
• Barbecued, or stewed lamb or pork chops
• Curry beef or mutton
• Baked or fried chicken
• Grilled or fried prawns
• Grilled Turkey wings
• Saltfish in a spicy tomato sauce
• Pepperpot

Hot Sides

• Rice and peas – rice with split pea and gravy.
• Macaroni pie
• Cou-Cou
• Sweet Potato, grilled, mashed or as fries
• English Potato grilled, mashed or as fries
• Fried Plantain
• Breadfruit grilled or fried
• Chow Mein
• Steamed mixed vegetables, such as broccoli, pumpkin, cabbage, and onion
• Buttered cassava or yam

Salads

• Garden Salad
• Pasta Salad
• Potato Salad
• Coleslaw
• Plain Sweetcorn, beetroot or pineapple

Sauces

• Bajan pepper sauce
• Ketchup
• Tartar Sauce for fish

Lighter Meals

• Wrap roti, usually with beef, chicken or saltfish with potatoes, spices, and sometimes chickpeas
• Cutters- fried Flying fish in a bap
• Fishcake
• Samosas often made with Conch
• Pumpkin soup
• Conkies

Beverages

• Rum and Rum Punch
• Banks beer
• Sorrel drink
• Mauby
• Fruit juice

Foreign Food in Barbados

American staples such as pizza, Hot Dogs and burgers are fairly common, as are British fish and chips. Chinese, Indian, and Thai dishes are available in the main towns. A few Mexican and Brazilian restaurants are available on the South Coast. There are upmarket sushi restaurants in or near large resorts.

References