Best Food from Barbados – Top 10 Bajan Dishes you have to try!

Barbados is an island country located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies. It is well-known for its beautiful beaches, rum, and cricket. Barbados is also home to some of the best food in the Caribbean. Here are the top 10 dishes you have to try when you visit Barbados!

Bajan Fish Cakes

Fishcakes are a popular dish in Barbados made with saltfish (cod), potatoes, onions, and peppers. The fishcakes are fried or baked and served with white rice. Traditionally, fishcakes are served as an appetizer or side dish but they can also be eaten as a main meal.

Bajan fish cakes are a Barbadian specialty, and they’re definitely worth trying. They’re light and airy, prepared with a meticulous blend of spices and seasonings. The key ingredient is salted boneless cod, which gives the cakes their unique flavor.

Marie Rose sauce is another essential element – it’s traditionally served on top of the fishcakes and adds a delicious tangy kick. These cakes are perfect for parties or cocktail gatherings, but they also make an excellent breakfast dish when served with salty bread (a popular breakfast item in Barbados).

Cou-Cou and Flying Fish

Cou-cou is a traditional dish of Barbados made with cornmeal and okra, served with flying fish (a type of saltwater fish found in the Atlantic Ocean). The flying fish is usually fried and served on top of the cou-cou.

The cou-cou is boiled until it has a pudding-like consistency and then served with flying fish that has been sautéed, grilled, or baked. It is a popular breakfast dish in Barbados but can also be eaten for lunch or dinner.

The traditional way to make cou-cou is by boiling okra until it breaks down and forms a mush, commonly known as aguanieve. This gives the dish its unique texture and thickness. Once the okra is cooked, cornmeal is added to form a doughy mixture. The cou-cou is then formed into small balls and served with flying fish.

Pepperpot

Pepperpot is a traditional Barbadian stew made with beef, pork, or lamb that has been cooked until it is falling apart. The meat is simmered in a spicy sauce made with peppers, onions, garlic, and other spices. Pepperpot is usually served with rice, cou-cou, or bread.

Pepperpot is a hearty dish, originally from Guayana. The stew is full of flavor and the meat is incredibly tender. To season the meat, people commonly use garlic, lime juice, basil, sugar, thyme onion salt and cinnamon. The best part about this dish is that it can be made in advance and reheated, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights.

The Bajan pepperpot is a dish that, while typically served at Christmas, has evolved to be eaten year-round. It is prepared with the juice of the root of the bitter yucca – called Casareep in the Caribbean – which helps keep it fresh. If no vegetables are added, though, the pepperpot can last for an extended period of time.

Conkie

Conkie is one of Barbados’ most well-known dishes on important national dates, such as independence. The island attained independence from the British crown on November 30, 1966, and since then, Barbadians have celebrated with a big party during which stew dumpling, also known as conker pie or conky mealtime snack.

This dish is a contribution of Africans who came to the Caribbean as slaves to work in sugar plantations. It’s similar to the Kenkey from Ghana, but it’s salty and lacks spices. The conkies are made up of corn flour, pumpkin, sugar, and various seasonings, depending on your preferences add raisins, cherries or coconut, all wrapped in banana leaves that must be previously cooked before being eaten.

They are sliced and wrapped in the leaves of another plantain, and then cooked until ready in boiling water. This dish, which also serves as a light meal, is eaten hot with its leaves on. Some people claim that although it is delectable, eating more than one is difficult because it fills you up so quickly.

Jug-Jug

Jug-jug is a traditional Barbadian dish that is usually served during the Christmas season. It is made with pigeon peas, rice, pork, and spices. The ingredients are cooked together in a pot until they are tender and the flavors have melded together.

Jug-jug is a hearty dish that is perfect for a cold winter day. The rice and pigeon peas make it filling, while the spices give it a warm, comforting flavor. This dish is usually served with bread or cou-cou.

Some researchers believe that Jug Jug is a take on Scottish haggis, which traditionally includes sheep heart, liver, onions, salt and spices cooked in water with added broth. The Christmas season is especially important to Barbadians, and Jug Jug is a common addition to cooked ham throughout the holiday. It may be found at any time of year in Barbados’ numerous restaurants.

Black Pudding

Black pudding is a type of sausage that is popular in many parts of the world, including Barbados. It is made with pork blood, fat, and oatmeal, and it is usually cooked in a casing. Black pudding has a rich, earthy flavor and a dense texture.

It is often served as part of a traditional breakfast or Saturday lunch. In Barbados, black pudding is typically served with souse, a dish made with pickled pig’s feet and ears.

The pig’s feet are cooked until they are very tender, and then they are marinated in vinegar, onions, and spices. The dish is usually served cold or at room temperature.

Barbecued Pigtails

Barbecued Pig Tails may not be the most glamorous dish in the Caribbean, but this Trinidadian invention arrived in Barbados where it was adapted to the local taste and quickly became one of the most mouth-watering options when preparing food on a charcoal grill.

To begin, the meat is brined in garlic cloves, bay leaves, and green herbs before being cooked. It’s simmered in fragrant spices before going on the hot grill until it’s browned in your favorite barbecue sauce.

Pork is an excellent source of protein, and when properly prepared, it can be used as a salt substitute in rice and peas. Pork barbecues may be found on the streets of Barbados, but they are more frequent during holidays on the island.

Guava Cheese

A Barbadian favorite, Guava Cheese is most often eaten as a dessert or used to fill pies and cakes. With origins in Portugal, this sweet snack has a texture similar to dulce de leche. It’s also called Guava Paste, Guayabate or simply Guava Paste in the US.

The recipe for making Guava Cheese has been passed down thru generations and remains unaltered in all countries where it’s enjoyed – including India which Portuguese immigrants introduced it centuries ago.

The seeds must be separated from the fruit, then the pulp is cooked with sugar until a thick paste is produced. Sometimes lemon juice is added. Then it is given the classic rectangular shape and left to cool to harden.

This dessert acquires a silky consistency and at the same time has a certain resistance similar to that of soft cheese, but in this case, it is sticky.

Bajan Chicken and Potato Roti

This is a very popular dish in Barbados and can be found at most roadside stands. The roti is a flatbread that is made from flour, water, and oil. It is then filled with chicken, potatoes, and other vegetables. The roti is then rolled up and cooked on a griddle.

The chicken and potato roti is a very filling dish and is often served with mango chutney or tamarind sauce. It can also be served with a side of salad or rice. Bajan chicken and potato roti is one of Barbados’ most beloved street foods. It’s essentially Indian-style roti stuffed with chunks of meat (usually beef), chopped potatoes and spices.

There is no excuse for not trying this fantastic dish on your next trip to Barbados if you enjoy bajan chicken and potato. Scotch Bonnet pepper should be added, but a habanero bell pepper can be used as a replacement as well.

Rock Cakes

Rock cakes, which originated in England, arrived in Barbados in 1640, the year when the sugar industry began. During World War II, they became well-known because they were both delicious and cheap since they used less sugar and eggs than comparable cakes.

Even after all these years, Rock Cakes remain popular among Barbadians. Although they’re called cake, their texture is more akin to a galette. They often contain nuts and cherries as ingredients. To make this snack, you’ll need wheat flour, butter, yeast milk sugar, and egg. You can also add oatmeal or nuts before rolling the mixture into balls and baking them in the oven.

The name derives from its resemblance to a stone when it’s finished. Although not the most beautiful name, this product is one of the most requested pastries in Barbados. What’s more, it’s an almost irresistible temptation for younger members of the family.

More Traditional Food From Latin America

Conclusion

There are plenty of reasons to visit Barbados. Known mainly for its natural goodness and the rum it produces, the cuisine has been making its way to become another strong attraction of the island.

Barbados is home to some of the tastiest food in the Caribbean. From street food like chicken and potato roti to traditional desserts like guava cheese, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So next time you’re planning a trip to Barbados, be sure to try some of these delicious dishes!

The island offers a wide range of culinary delights, both old and new, from a variety of eras. Local and traveling customers alike get their fill of Bajan foods, whether they are looking for street food or gourmet cuisine.