10 Must Try Bajan Foods

Calling all Foodies! They say to fully understand a culture you must taste it. Here are 10 must try Bajan foods to enjoy on your next visit to Barbados.

1. Macaroni Pie

Everyone loves cheesy macaroni but imagine taking it to another level and baking it with an extra layer of cheese on top and added Caribbean spices. Macaroni Pie is a staple in every Bajan home and restaurant. This sliced cheesy goodness is often served with baked chicken or fish.

Where can you find macaroni pie? We recommend trying it in Oistins Fish Market with a side of your favourite local catch and some fried plantain.

2. Flying Fish

True island life must include a diet of fresh, local seafood. The flying fish is a delicacy in Barbados, served either breaded and fried or steamed. Fun Fact – The flying fish can be found on the Barbados dollar coin and is part of Barbados’ National Dish.

Where can you find flying fish? Oistins Fish Market has some of the best local seafood, including flying fish. Visit on a Friday Night for the fish fry to enjoy the local food, music and overall cultural experience.

3. Cou Cou

The National Dish of Barbados is ‘Cou Cou and Flying Fish.’ But what in the world is cou cou you ask? Cou Cou is made by beating cornmeal and boiled okra with a wooden paddle until it turns into a smooth and creamy texture – like mashed potatoes.

Where can you try the National Dish of Barbados? Head to Almond Shak Deli, a short walk from Craggy Nook Villas along the South Coast Boardwalk. Their lunch buffet features a range of local dishes – most of the food on our list.

4. Cutters

Not a sandwich but a cutter. To qualify as a cutter, you must begin with a salt bread (like a bun but in a league of its own). Add a slice of cheese for a cheese cutter, some fish for a fish cutter or sliced ham for a ham cutter. (You get the point). Add some lettuce or tomato and a few drops of Bajan pepper sauce for and added kick.

Where can you find a cutter? Cutters Restaurant of course! Or you can head to the ever popular, Cuzz Cutters on Carlisle Bay. They serve award winning fish cutters from a shack on the beach and are a MUST visit to anyone on the island.

5. Roasted Breadfruit

Eat healthy with this Bajan superfood staple. Explaining a breadfruit to a visitor is a difficult task. The easiest way is to point to one of the many breadfruit trees around the island or better yet to taste it for yourself. Breadfruit is about the size of a grapefruit and grows on trees. They are not a fruit but are more similar in texture to a yam. Breadfruit are loaded with vitamins and minerals. Try eating breadfruit chips, or the popular roasted breadfruit loaded with a filling of your choice.

Where can you try roasted breadfruit? Yelluh Meat restaurant is our go to spot for this Bajan food.

6. Fish Cakes

Street food lovers look no further than this ball of goodness. Bajan fishcakes are the perfect combination of crispy yet fluffy. The batter is made with cod fish, local herbs and flour and is fried and is commonly served with a ketchup-mayo, pepper sauce mix.

Where can you try Bajan Fish Cakes? Our favourite place is Hot Legendary Fish Cakes. Many restaurants feature Bajan fishcakes on their appetizer menu.

7. Conkies

This savory yet sweet treat is traditionally served in the month of November, the month of Barbados’ Independence. The cornmeal, sweet potato, coconut and pumpkin mixture is wrapped in a banana leaf before it is steamed. Most people will add raisins and cinnamon to their conkies to make them sweeter.

Where to find Conkies? The most authentic conkies are made in Bajan homes. You can sometimes find them selling in the hot food section in local supermarkets.

8. Jug Jug

Christmas Dinner in Barbados is not complete without the Jug Jug. This traditional Bajan food is made by boiling pigeon peas in a stock of your choice along with onions, thyme, chives and other seasonings. Once cooked the mixture is blended and butter is mixed in. Pigeon Peas are known to have many health benefits and are affordable to most Bajans.

Where to find Jug Jug? Unfortunately, this one is hard to find as it is only served around Christmas at various Bajan Buffets. Brown Sugar Restaurant near Carlisle Bay is your best bet.

9. Guava Cheese

This sweet, fruity, chewy dessert is a Bajan favourite. Guava Cheese is made by boiling guava pulp with sugar and spices until it is a smooth thick texture. The mixture is poured out onto a pan to cool before slicing into squares and adding more cane sugar.

Other Bajan sweet treats to try include, Rum Cake, Cassava Pone, Sugar Cakes and Sweet Bread. Most of these snacks can be found at any supermarket or gas station.

10. Mauby

Not a food, but a drink. Mauby is made by boiling the bark of a tree and adding sugar. It has a bitter (acquired) taste that resembles root beer. In the good old days, a ‘Mauby Woman’ would walk around selling and serving cool mauby from a container balanced on her head.

Today you find Mauby in Barbados’ fast food restaurant Chefette.

Other drinks you must try while visiting Barbados include the local beer Banks and Bajan Rum Punch which can be found at most rum shops and bars. If you are on the island around Christmas time you can try the seasonal sorrel drink.

How many of these Bajan foods have you tried? Comment below to let us know. To read more on Barbados visit our Bajan Buzz Blog or better yet book your stay with us at Craggy Nook Villas.