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A spread of Caribbean dishes

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Caribbean Recipes

58 recipes — each showing allergens, prep time, and servings. Page 1 of 3.

Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Where it's from

Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Haiti

Caribbean cuisine is highly regional, shaped by Indigenous, African, European, Indian, Chinese, and diaspora influences.

National dish

ackee and saltfish · cou-cou and flying fish · oil down

Different islands have their own national or emblematic dishes; no single dish covers the whole Caribbean.

Signature ingredients

allspicescotch bonnet pepperplantainscoconut milksaltfish

Core techniques

  • jerk seasoning and grilling. Meat or seafood is seasoned with pepper, allspice, herbs, and aromatics before grilling or smoking.
  • stewing. Meats, seafood, legumes, and vegetables are commonly cooked in seasoned gravies or coconut-based sauces.
  • frying. Fritters, bakes, plantains, and patties are often fried for snacks, sides, and street food.

A typical day of eating

Breakfast

Breakfast often includes dishes such as saltfish, bakes, fried plantains, porridge, or cocoa tea.

Lunch

Lunch commonly features rice and peas, stewed meats, curries, fish, provisions, or roti.

Dinner

Dinner typically includes a hearty plate of rice, peas or beans, stewed or grilled protein, and root vegetables.

Street food

Jamaican pattydoublesaccrasbake and shark

Comfort food

rice and peaspelaucallaloosancocho

Popular desserts

black cakegizzadacoconut dropssweet potato pudding

Typical drinks

sorrelmaubyrum punchcocoa tea

Holidays & festival food

Christmas

black cake · sorrel · pastelles

Christmas foods vary by island but often include spiced cakes, festive drinks, and savory wrapped dishes.

Carnival

doubles · corn soup · pelau

Carnival foods are often portable, filling, and tied to street celebration and late-night eating.

Easter

bun and cheese · escovitch fish · hot cross buns

Easter tables in parts of the Caribbean commonly include spiced breads and fish dishes.

Saltfish Buljol — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Saltfish Buljol

A Trinidadian salt cod salad flaked and tossed with tomatoes, onions, and oil, a no-cook Caribbean breakfast staple.

30 min Serves 4
Fish Seafood
Tostones — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Tostones

Twice-fried green plantain slices, smashed flat and salted, a crispy Caribbean side.

20 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Stamp and Go — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Stamp and Go

Crispy Jamaican saltfish fritters seasoned with Scotch bonnet and scallion, named for their grab-and-go convenience.

45 min Serves 2
Egg Fish Seafood +1
Pepperpot — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Pepperpot

Warm up with Guyana's legendary slow-cooked meat stew, steeped in a uniquely dark and savory cassareep broth infused with cinnamon and cloves. A magnificent holiday tradition!

240 min Serves 8
No listed common allergens
Sorrel Drink — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Sorrel Drink

Refresh yourself with this vibrant, deeply crimson hibiscus beverage! Steeped with warming spices like ginger and cloves, it's the ultimate festive Caribbean thirst-quencher.

1470 min Serves 2
No listed common allergens
Cuban Sandwich — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Cuban Sandwich

Roast pork, ham, and Swiss cheese pressed between Cuban bread with mustard, pickles, and butter until crisp and melted.

15 min Serves 3 Kid-friendly
Dairy mustard Wheat
Rice and Peas — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Rice and Peas

Enjoy this iconic Caribbean staple of perfectly fluffy rice and kidney beans, gently steamed in rich, aromatic coconut milk. A versatile side that brings the warmth of the islands to any meal!

75 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Mannish Water — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Mannish Water

A robust Jamaican goat soup spiced with allspice and Scotch bonnet, traditionally served as a hearty restorative broth.

120 min Serves 5
Wheat
Mango Chutney — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Mango Chutney

Green mangoes simmered down with sugar and warm spices into a sweet-tart Caribbean condiment.

60 min Serves 4
mustard
Guava Duff — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Guava Duff

A Bahamian steamed guava dumpling served with a rich buttered rum sauce.

120 min Serves 8
Egg Dairy Wheat
Ital Stew — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Ital Stew

A Rastafari-inspired Caribbean vegetable stew simmered in coconut milk with fresh herbs, no meat or heavy salt, just clean, hearty flavor.

60 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Cuban Ropa Vieja — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Cuban Ropa Vieja

Savor the tender, melt-in-your-mouth shredded beef slow-cooked in a robust, tomato-based sauce rich with peppers and onions. This iconic Cuban staple is hearty, deeply flavorful, and incredibly satisfying!

180 min Serves 5
No listed common allergens
Bakes and Saltfish — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Bakes and Saltfish

Enjoy these fluffy, golden fried dough "bakes" paired perfectly with beautifully sautéed, well-seasoned salted cod. A timeless Caribbean breakfast pairing that truly hits the spot!

45 min Serves 4
Fish Dairy Seafood +1
Bajan Souse — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Bajan Souse

A refreshing Barbadian dish of tender pork pickled in a tangy lime, cucumber, and onion brine, served chilled.

90 min Serves 5
No listed common allergens
Jamaican Bammy — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Jamaican Bammy

A traditional Jamaican flatbread made from grated cassava, pressed and pan-fried, then soaked in coconut milk for a soft, slightly sweet bite.

45 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Asopao — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Asopao

A soupy Puerto Rican rice stew with tender chicken and sofrito, simmered until thick and porridge-like, Caribbean comfort food in a bowl.

60 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Trinidadian Bake and Shark — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Trinidadian Bake and Shark

Fried shark fillets tucked into a soft Trinidadian fried bake, piled high with condiments, the iconic street-food sandwich of Maracas Beach.

60 min Serves 4
Wheat Fish Seafood
Macaroni Pie — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Macaroni Pie

A Caribbean baked macaroni and cheese, egg-bound and enriched with sharp cheddar and evaporated milk for a dense, custardy casserole.

60 min Serves 4 Kid-friendly
Egg Dairy mustard +1
Rum Cake — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Rum Cake

Indulge in the quintessential Caribbean celebration cake! This decadent, incredibly moist dessert is drenched in a luxurious, sweet, and buttery dark rum syrup that melts in your mouth.

120 min Serves 8
Egg Dairy Wheat
Pelau — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Pelau

Savor the irresistible harmony of caramelized chicken, rice, and pigeon peas cooked together in one pot with rich coconut milk. It's an earthy, comforting, and deeply satisfying one-pot wonder!

75 min Serves 5
No listed common allergens
Chicken Foot Soup — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Chicken Foot Soup

A Caribbean soup of slow-simmered chicken feet with pumpkin and yam, yielding a rich, gelatinous broth prized for its collagen and depth.

90 min Serves 4
No listed common allergens
Haitian Griot — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Haitian Griot

Indulge in Haiti's favorite dish featuring citrus-marinated pork chunks that are boiled until tender, then fried to a crispy, golden brown perfection. Serve with pikliz for the ultimate flavor explosion!

120 min Serves 5
No listed common allergens
Trinidadian Doubles — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Trinidadian Doubles

Dive into this beloved street food featuring perfectly spiced, curried chickpeas sandwiched between two warm, pillowy fried flatbreads. It's an explosion of Caribbean flavor in every bite!

60 min Serves 4
Wheat
Cornmeal Porridge — Caribbean recipe Caribbean Lens Verified Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients.

Cornmeal Porridge

A warm Caribbean breakfast porridge of cornmeal simmered in milk with cinnamon and nutmeg until thick and creamy.

20 min Serves 4 Kid-friendly
Dairy

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