Best Barbadian Food – 35 Best Barbadian Dishes And Traditional Food In Barbados To Try

Best Barbadian Food – 35 Best Barbadian Dishes And Traditional Food In Barbados To Try

The Barbadian cuisine in the Caribbean also known as Bajan cuisine with African, Portuguese and Indian influences is good! Read here best restaurants in Bridgetown, best drinks in Barbados and Breakfast in Barbados

There are authentic traditional food in Barbados to try and drinks in Barbados! Click here to book online Barbados activities and day trips

You can find local meals in Barbados for around $5 USD per person. At lunch, you might want a chicken sandwich for $10 USD salad, burger and pizza with a fresh fruit drink for $20 USD. You can have a budget of $20 USD a day enough decent meals in Barbados if you go for street food and free breakfast.

Read here Barbados sim card for tourist, how to get from Barbados airport to Bridgetown and what to wear in Barbados

WHERE TO STAY IN BARBADOS

The accommodation is really expensive and you will find hotels starting from $60-80 USD if you want the cheapest option. AirBnb is also available, mostly for about $50 USD a night. 

Click here if you want to find the best deals with Booking in Barbados

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Best Barbadian Food: Best Barbadian Dishes And Traditional Food In Barbados

BARBADIAN DISHES: TRADITIONAL FOOD IN BARBADOS

1. COU COU & FLYING FISH

Barbados’ national food, cou-cou and flying fish, is rever by both young and elderly generations. Because the key ingredients of cou cou are affordable, the dish became popular among Barbados’ early colonial people. Cou-cou and flying fish have West African origins and are an excellent illustration of African influences in Caribbean cuisine.

2. PEPPERPOT

Pepperpot is a meal that originates in Guyana and is popular on the island of Barbados.  It’s a spice-and-hot-pepper flavour stew meat meal. Pepperpot is usually made with pork, beef, or mutton and consume with bread and butter, though it can also be serve with rice.

3. RICE AND PEAS

Rice and peas are a big part of Barbadian cuisine. You’ll see this combo – pigeon peas and rice as a side dish to almost every common Barbadian dish. This will usually have pork, pigeon peas (which is popular and a staple type of bean dish in the Caribbean and in Latin America), celery, white rice, tomatoes and thyme.

4. JUG-JUG

Barbados’ jug-jug is a classic Barbados meal. There are a few different versions of the meal. Split peas or lentils, bacon or pork, hot peppers, steak, onions, chives, roll oats, and butter are common ingredients in jug-jug.

5. PIG TAILS

Pig tails are well-known in Barbados. They’re famous salt meat that, because it’s salty, it is used to flavor rice and peas. Pig tails were barbeque on the side of the streets in Barbados and are pretty tasty.

6. CONCH FRITTERS

Conch fritters is another way of enjoying conch, which is the main delicacy of Barbados. Conch fritters are of course deep fried and served with their dipping sauce (ketchup, lime juice, and mayonnaise).

The Conch fritters are made with a mix of conch meat, garlic, celery, peppers, onion, and you can add more seasoning.

7. Brown Stew Chicken

Brown Stew Chicken in Barbadian cuisine is not boiled. Barbadian steamed chicken is usually braised with the signature tomato sauce of Barbados. You might just find the Bajan food in one of your local food tours or while meeting locals.

8. BROASTED CHICKEN

On the subcontinent, broasted chicken is highly common as Barbadian food. However, it’s indeed fried inside a pressure cooker. Oil is used to fry the broasted chicken.

9. CHICKEN PILAU (BROWNED DOWN)

Chicken Pilau or also known as Browned Down is one of the most popular Barbadian dishes. Chicken thighs are ideal for this chicken pilau since they are inexpensive and can be cooked at a lower temperature.

10. BAJAN CHICKEN SOUP

The thick, hearty, and satisfying Bajan chicken soup is a huge bowl of Barbados. It contains anti-inflammatory elements such as garlic, parsley, turmeric, ginger, and thyme, as well as a variety of spices and herbs to combat colds, flu viruses, and viruses.

Every Bajan household has a recipe for Barbados Chicken Soup, which is traditionally made every Saturdays.

11. BAJAN CUTTERS

Bajan Cutters are similar to sandwiches, but so much better as Barbados food to try! A Bajan salt bread, a freshly made bread roll with such a crusty exterior and a soft, fluffy interior, is the starting point. Despite its name, bajan cutters aren’t particularly salty.

12. Sea Eggs Barbados

Sea Eggs Barbados is one of the most popular Barbadian food that tourists love to try. Sea eggs can be cooked by frying, stewing and sautéing in Barbadian cuisine. You will even see a few locals that can eat row.

13. CHICKEN FEET

Chicken feet as street food in Barbados is quite popular. Chicken feet are usually fried and then covered with flavored sauce. You can find also find some boiled in soups and later deep-fried. Chicken feet is perfect to share this meal with a cold beer. 

14. FRIED PLANTAINS

Fried plantains is one of the most popular snacks in Barbadian cuisine. Fried plantains are often served as sides to most of the main dishes in Barbados. They can be eaten with meat or standalone snacks.

15. Fish Cakes

Fish Cakes are a traditional Barbados food. Fish cakes are a delicious snack that can be eaten with salad or rice. Fish cakes are made with flaked salted cod and mixed with herbs and spices.

16. Barbadian Roti

Barbadian Roti is one of the most popular Barbadian snacks to try. Barbadian roti is usually made of chicken, potato wrapped and mixed with vegetables. Barbadian Roti is coming from Indian influence.

17. MACARONI PIE

Macaroni Pie is a delicious snack to try in Barbados. Macaroni pie is long, tube macaroni, butter, cheese, eggs, milk, onions, mustard, ketchup, so either red pepper sauce or chili powder for added spiciness makeup. Macaroni Pie is most often baked as a dish and topped with breadcrumbs and grate cheese.

BEST BARBADIAN FOOD: BARBADIAN CUISINE SNACKS AND DESSERTS TO TRY

18. BREADFRUIT

Breadfruit is a tropical evergreen tree native to New Guinea as well as the Malay Archipelago. The skin of the fruits is warty light green, whereas the meat is cream-color and starchy. Breadfruit with ripe fruit has a sweet flavor and is frequently used in desserts or sliced into pieces and sun dry for preservation.

19. PAWPAW

Pawpaw is a custard-apple-family deciduous tree or shrub. The papaya is also occasionally referred to as pawpaw. Pawpaw is so delicious and you can eat it as a snack or dessert in Barbadian cuisine.

20. RUM CAKE

Rum cake is a national dessert anyone? Rum and cake mix two of the most delicious things in mankind, and rum cakes are a must-try in Barbados and the Caribbean.

The rum cake is popular around the holiday season, and rum is usually potent in the recipe, it is added once the cake is done baking. A butter rum sauce is also added over the top of a rum cake.

21. PUDDING & SOUSE

Pudding and souse is a classic Barbadian dish that is only offered on Saturdays. It is made up of two components like pudding and souse. Pork intestines are commonly used to serve pudding and souse.

22. CONKIES

Conkies is a West Indian traditional meal that is notably famous in Barbados. Cornmeal, spices, grated pumpkin, coconut, sweet potatoes, raisins, flour, sugar, butter, and eggs are used to create it. Conkies are traditionally served every November to commemorate Barbados’ independence.

23. CURRANTS

Currants were created by drying a small, seedless grape type known as black corinth or carina. They can take up to three weeks to dry. Currants have a sweet, tart, and strong flavor that adds texture and richness to both sweet and savory recipes due to their small size.

24. TAMARIND BALLS

Tamarind balls are a Barbadian delicacy produced from the sticky flesh of tamarind, water, and brown sugar. The mixture is formed into round balls with a distinct sweet and sour flavor. Tamarind balls are frequently rolled in sugar yet another time before being consumed or store in sealed containers.

25. BLACK CAKE

Black cake is a rich, molasses spice cake fill with inebriated dry fruits which is a feature of Caribbean Christmas celebrations. The cake is thought to have evolved from Christmas plum pudding recipes brought to the West Indies by British colonizers in the 18th century. 

Although the rich deep black cake color resembles that of chocolate cakes, it is actually the result of rum and wine soak dry fruits.

26. Bajan Rock Cakes

Bajan Rock Cakes is one of the most popular Barbadian desserts to try. You will find it for breakfast as well and kids love it so much. Bajan rock cakes are made with chocolate added to the baked dough coming from the United Kingdom influence.

27. Guava Cheese

Guava Cheese is so sweet and a perfect combination of cheese and fruits. Guava cheese is originally from Barbados and served for dessert with sugar added.

BARBADIAN DRINKS TO TRY

28. RUM PUNCH

The Rum Punch is considered the most popular and party drink in Barbados. It can be popular, but it is actually a strong drink. Made with one part sour, two parts sweet, three parts strong, and four parts weak served over ice.

29. BANKS BEER

Barbados is home to Banks Beer. Barbados’ beer, is brew with Barbados’ water, locally filtered via limestone rock, and a specific yeast strain that gives Banks Beer its distinct Bajan taste and quality. Banks Beer is always the most popular beer in Barbados.

30. MAUBY

Mauby was prepared from the bark of the Mauby tree and thus is sweetened to taste using cinnamon, orange peel, nutmeg, and cloves. It has a distinct flavor with a harsh aftertaste, and some people aren’t fond of it! It is, nevertheless, a favorite of many others.

Mauby was traditionally offered by sellers who travel about cities and villages with buckets carefully balance on their heads, pouring the delightful drink.

31. CORN ‘N’ OIL

Corn ‘n’ Oil is a rum and falernum cocktail created with age blackstrap rum and falernum. The drink features the spice of Velvet Falernum, bitters, lime, and molasses-rich rum in a typical Caribbean taste combination. Corn ‘n’ Oil tastes best when it’s served cold with ice.

32. MOJITO

Now you might know how to do this in your home, but Barbadian mojitos? Never a bad time to try them while in the islands! Never a bad time to have your mints and white rums.

33. FALERNUM

Falernum is a syrup liquor with an alcohol content of 11% or a non-alcohol syrup from the Caribbean. It’s most well-known for its use in tropical cocktails. Falernum usually has ginger, lime, and almond flavors, as well as cloves or allspice.

34. COCONUT WATER

Coconut water is a must to try in the list of nonalcoholic drinks in Barbados. You will see street vendors at the beach passing by with coconut water and when you are under the sun is so refreshing plus so healthy.

35. APPLE JUICE

Apple Juice is a popular non-alcoholic drink in Barbados. Apple juice can be served warm or even cold and it’s always refreshing.

Hope you liked our Barbadian food blog post. Let us know if we missed any food in Barbados and which one is your favorite in the list of Barbadian dishes.

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