Typical dishes of the Caribbean region

When you travel to another country it is likely that what you want is to enjoy every corner of that new place. The same happens with the gastronomy of the Caribbean region. People like to know new places and that is why we love to travel. After traveling, we always return to our home, to the starting point ... but we return changed, because every corner of the world will bring new things to our lives and our way of seeing the world, so without a doubt, the typical dishes of the Caribbean region They are going to help you come back with that sensation.

It also happens with gastronomy. When you travel to a new country, you discover a gastronomy that has nothing to do –normally- with the gastronomy of our country of origin. Curiosity and the desire to discover new flavors push us to discover the gastronomy of the places we visit.

If you plan to travel to the Caribbean, I am sure that in addition to enjoying its idyllic landscapes and paradisiacal beaches, you will also want to enjoy all the typical foods of the Caribbean region. If you already have your trip prepared, keep reading because next I am going to talk to you about the gastronomy of the Caribbean region, so you will know what to expect and what you can eat when you are there enjoying your vacations.

Typical foods of the Caribbean region

In the Caribbean islands gastronomy has always been influenced by different currents, so that today the Caribbean population enjoys dishes that mix indigenous, European and other world cultures. The inhabitants of the area prefer the basic ingredients to use in many preparations.

Some of the foods that are used the most in their gastronomy are sea and river fish, shellfish, beef, chicken, pork and animals of mount. On the other hand, they also use other natural products such as yucca, banana or legumes. Other products derived from milk, rice, corn or native fruits are also eaten. But with all these foods they are able to make exquisite dishes in their gastronomy.

One of the typical dishes of the Caribbean region is the sancocho It is prepared with different types of meat while the indigenous people of the Sierra Nevada area in Santa Marta normally eat vegetables, respecting animal life more than in other places. Rice is another of the great protagonists and is prepared in different dishes such as: elarroapastelado, rice with crabs or roast rice.

Within its gastronomy you can not miss drinks and rum It is the most popular although the juices of various natural fruits such as mango, melon, papaya or rice water are also common.

The culinary traditions of the Caribbean

Authentic Caribbean cuisine is an excellent representation of influences from other cultures as I mentioned above. With a mixture of recipes, Caribbean cuisine is widely prepared so that everyone in the world can enjoy it.

The food and culture of the Caribbean changed forever when European traders brought African slaves to the region. The slaves fed on the remains of the owners' food, so for their dishes they had to settle for what they had. This was the birth of the most contemporary Caribbean cuisine.

African slaves mixed the knowledge of spices and vegetables that they brought from their homeland and incorporated them into the fruits and vegetables of the Caribbean islands,as well as other staple foods found in the area. This created many different dishes because many products on the islands at the time were too fragile to be exported. Fruits most frequently found in Caribbean cuisine include yucca, yams, mangoes, and papaya fruits. Among the products that are too fragile to be exported are the fruit of the tamarind or the Caribbean bananas.

Although Caribbean food is a bit spicy, it is one of the healthiest options among the culinary traditions of different regions.The islands of the Caribbean are full of vegetables and fruits,so healthy life is not something difficult to achieve. In addition, beans, corn, chili, potatoes and tomatoes were also included in their gastronomy, making their dishes even more exquisite.

When slavery was abolished in the islands, the slave owners had to find another place to help them, so it was the Indians and the Chinese who introduced different dishes of rice or curry to mix in the conventional Caribbean cuisine.

Seafood, one of the typical dishes of the Caribbean region

The Caribbean islands are in a privileged location that is why they have one of their specialties known to all: seafood. Salted cod is an island specialty with scrambled eggs.Lobster, sea turtles, shrimp, crabs, sea urchins ...They are also specialties on the islands and people eat it with pleasure. These sea animals are also used to make exotic Caribbean foods like curried coconut shrimp.

Desserts

Desserts are also an integral part of the Caribbean culinary experience and very important in its gastronomy. Sugar cane is one of the main products in the area, which is why it is present in a large number of cakes, pies and cakes. The natives of the Caribbean incorporate desserts in all meals. In the restaurants of these regions they also place emphasis on desserts since in their culture,dessert is as important as the main dishand you have to taste it just as well and with the same desire.

Typical dishes of the Caribbean region that you cannot miss

As a summary, here is a list of the typical foods of the Caribbean region that you cannot miss:

• Goat stew
• Roasted pork
• Chicken with rice
• Callalu
• Papaya

Would you recommend more typical dishes of the Caribbean region?