The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Jerriais Foods. If you manage to be in an Jerriais restaurant or you are visiting Jersey, I recommend the following:
1. Mussels
Jersey mussels are grown according to traditional methods in Normandy and Brittany from mussels on wooden stakes and strung floors. Known as ‘Bouchot’ clams, they are available from mid-summer and are sweet and juicy and in great demand during the short summer months. They are usually steamed in a covered pan for a few minutes before serving to ensure they are as fresh as possible. They are often served with fries and Moules et Frit is a popular dish.
2. Jersey Royal Potatoes
Grown in Jersey, these unique early beans have a yellow skin with a creamy white interior and an oval shape with a firm texture. Jersey’s visual appearance and flavour are said to be unparalleled due to its fertile, well-drained soil and suitably warm climate. Their flavour is distinctly sweet, slightly nutty and summery. They are good in salads or with chicken, fish or stews.
3. Frying Conger
Conger eel is a very common white fish, which is ideal for baked or fried preparations, as it is quite soft and meaty. It is washed and seasoned and then dredged in flour and fried. Once it has dried a little, it is dredged again in flour and fried again. It is served with a side dish of mashed potatoes, chips or salad.
4. Les Mèrvelles
Warm and fragrant, Jersey Wonders (as they are called) are delicious doughnut-shaped snacks made from a mixture of flour, butter, sugar and eggs. Traditionally, the dough is twisted before being fried in hot oil until golden brown. Unlike doughnuts, Miracles are never filled with jam or coated with sugar.
5. Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns are slightly sweet and savoury buns typical of the Easter season in Anglo-Saxon countries, traditionally made on Good Friday. Although their origin is not entirely clear, as they seem to date back to pre-Christian times, they were very popular and were associated with various superstitions. The recipes may vary greatly from one source to another, but if these rolls share one characteristic, it is that they are decorated with a cross, symbolising the crucifixion and therefore considered Good Friday.
6. Black Butter (Lé Nièr Beurre)
Nièr beurre, or black butter, is a traditional Jersey countryside delicacy. To make it, peeled and cored apples are slowly cooked over an open fire with liquorice, cider, blackstrap molasses, brown sugar and various spices. The mixture must be stirred continuously and after a few hours can be stirred evenly and then filled into pots. This delicious spread can be used for breakfast, as a side dish, as a condiment or on its own as an addition to savoury or sweet dishes.
7. Bean Crock (Les Pais Au Fou)
Bean Crock is a traditional Jersey dish that is healthy, hearty and very tasty. There are many different recipes and each cook will make some changes to the recipe. One thing that remains the same in all Bean Crock recipes is that they are made with beans and meat or meat substitute and are simmered in a pot with a lid. Here are delicious and healthy traditional bean crock pot dishes. Bean pot rice is a type of clay pot rice with a lid where the ingredients are cooked slowly.
8. Nettle (Ortchie) Soup
This dish is often described as a porridge or soup. It is made from tender nettles, crushed and mixed with wheat or corn flour until the dish has a thick, creamy consistency. Once cooked, it is seasoned with garlic or mint and traditionally drizzled with olive oil.
9. Cabbage Loaf
These are round buns that originated in Jersey. It is made by mixing all-purpose flour, yeast, sugar, margarine, salt and water or milk. When the dough has doubled in size, wrap it in greased cabbage leaves, tie it loosely and put it in the oven to bake. The cabbage leaves add their characteristic flavour to this unusual bread, which is still made regularly in Jersey bakeries.
10. Vraic Buns
Traditionally, these huge, hearty buns were taken by farmers and their families to the beach to enjoy while they gathered vraic (seaweed). A type of bread with nuts and sultanas, it is usually served with jam and cream by the locals.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional European Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.