Tasty Caribbean dishes for you to try at home

Caribbean cuisine is renowned for its unique blends of herbs, spices and fresh fruit and vegetables. It is also rich with delicious seafood, tasty chicken and pork and heart, warming curries and stews.

Influences include Cajun, African and European cooking, but the style is all its own. The great thing about Caribbean dishes is the variety of ingredients used. If you have a Caribbean fruit and veg box delivered to your door, you can use the contents in hundreds of different Caribbean dishes.

Feeling hungry? let us make tasty Caribbean dishes at home

The good news is that there are loads of different websites with Caribbean  recipes on, as well as books and magazines galore to browse. We have picked out ten tempting Caribbean dishes to start you off on your own culinary adventure. The full recipe details and ingredient lists can be found on Yummly and BBC Good Food.

1. Caribbean pork and mango salad

This healthy salad packs plenty of flavour, not least because of the amount of ingredients it contains. Caribbean fruit and vegetables are in full attendance with cherries, green onions, oranges and cucumber. Coucous is also in the mix, along with Caribbean style rub and boneless pork chops.

2. Caribbean shrimp and pineapple skewers

The Caribbean is famous for its sea food, with shrimp a firm favourite for many people. This recipe sees the peeled shrimp combined with pieces red and green pepper and pineapple for a variety of textures. The kebabs are cooked in a mix of spices and sauces including soy sauce, minced garlic, curry powder, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. This gives them the sweet, warming taste of the West Indies.

3. Pumpkin and ginger soup

Comforting pumpkin flesh is slowly simmered with fresh ginger, chicken broth and coconut milk to create a satisfying pumpkin and ginger soup. Other ingredients add texture and spice, making this soup filling enough to be a light meal on its own or with some crusty bread. This is a great Caribbean dish for vegetarians who want to experience the famous combination of Caribbean spice and warmth in a bowl.

4. Jerk chicken with rice and peas

This Jamaican one-pot meal provides one of the most traditional Caribbean tastes there is. Chicken thighs are cooked with onions, ginger, garlic and scotch bonnet chillies and added to coconut basmati rice and kidney beans. The jerk flavouring includes aromatic all-spice flavouring. Then everything is heated, stirred to perfection and served. Easy and satisfying!

5. Mango chicken, bean and rice bake

This dish uses chicken drumsticks and turns them into a delicious tray bake for any occasion. It has a similar taste to jerk chicken with the added fruitiness of mango adding an extra dimension. All the ingredients are cooked in a large roasting tin with the drumsticks and chopped pieces of mango on the top. Foe even more fruity tanginess, you can serve it with mango chutney and lime wedges.

6. Black bean curry

This is a nutritious, vegetarian meal that is easy to prepare and tastes wonderful. It contains many ingredients that you would find in a Caribbean fruit and veg box, such as chillies, red peppers, onions, black beans and tomatoes. Herbs and spices are added to produce a taste sensation and the finished dish can be served with rice for a filling main meal.

7. Barbecued plantain

Satisfy the vegetarians at your next barbecue with this flavoursome cousin of the banana – the plantain. Peel, slice and wrap them in tin foil, but not before adding some butter, demerara sugar and orange juice. 

Grind some salt and pepper over the top to help bring out the flavours. Check they are cooked with the point of a knife. They should be soft, but not too mushy. Plantains can also be added to other sweet or savoury Caribbean dishes.

8. Trinidadian fish stew

Another famous Caribbean dish, this hearty fish stew is a great meal to share with friends on a summer’s day. Added lemon and lime add a zingy taste, while added fresh thyme adds a beautiful herby tone. Skinned white fish fillets such as cod or hoki form the main ingredient. Then, the stew is then completed with other Caribbean ingredients like onions, coriander, garlic and dark rum.

9. Tropical fruit smoothie

Make adding fruit to your diet a breeze with this tangy, tasty smoothie that’s perfect for breakfast or an after-work boost. It’s also a great way to use up any Caribbean fruit you have sitting around. Blend passion fruit, mango and banana and add some orange juice for a great source of vitamin C. This can help you ward off infections because it helps boost the immune system It also provides good amounts of potassium and fibre and is 100% vegan.

10. Rum punch

No Caribbean party is complete without copious amounts of rum punch. This classic cocktail combines sweet and sour tastes with lots of fruit for that tropical feel. Use a good quality rum and add freshly squeezed orange and lime juice. 

Other ingredients include sugar and grenadine syrup, Angostura bitters, nutmeg and ice cubes to serve. Enjoy adding fruity garnishes, such as fresh orange slices and maraschino cherries to taste.