The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Antiguan-Barbudan Foods. If you manage to be in an Antiguan-Barbudan restaurant or you are visiting Antigua and Barbuda, I recommend the following:
1. Fungee and Pepperpot
It’s the national dish of Antigua and Barbuda, and while you might think of it as a kind of mushroom and pepper stew, it’s actually much more interesting than its fancy name suggests. Fungee are polenta-like bread dumplings made from a mixture of cornmeal and okra. To make fungee, boil okra in salted water and mix with wet cornmeal until the mixture is stiff. Pepperpot, on the other hand, is a one-pot stew that originated in Guyana but has been adapted for the Caribbean.
2. Susie's Hot Sauce
The exceptional, award-winning taste of Susie Original is created in her own kitchen by Aunt Susie using her own special recipes. It was an instant hit in Antigua and has since spread in popularity around the world. Known for its delicious taste, Susie’s Original is the perfect complement to any meal. Use it as a marinade or condiment for every meal. Visitors insist that family and friends bring bottles of Suzy Sauce.
3. Wadadli Beer
Antigua’s national drink is Wadadli beer, which is another name for the island. It’s produced by Antigua Brewery, which is also licensed to brew international beer and soft drinks. It’s a refreshing, bubbly and nuanced drink that will surprise even experienced beer drinkers. It’s simple, palatable and one of the most popular lagers in the Caribbean.
4. Goat Water
A light brown soup consisting of goat meat, breadfruit, onions, tomatoes, flour and fresh herbs. Sometimes dumplings, potatoes and sweet potatoes are added to the dish for extra flavour. Savoury and spicy, it probably originated in Ireland and is an adaptation of the classic Irish stew, where the goat meat is replaced by beef. Exotic, unique and unusual, this soup represents all of Caribbean cuisine.
5. Pork Chops with Bananas and Bacon
This exotic dish from Antigua and Barbuda includes grilled pork chops and grilled plantain cubes wrapped in bacon. It is recommended that the plantain slices be drizzled with lime juice before grilling. The pork chops are usually seasoned with cumin, butter, salt and pepper, and the plantains are skewered for easy cooking.
6. Black Angelhair Fritters
These delicious Antigua fritters are made with blue crab meat, chopped snail, chopped vegetables, eggs, baking powder, spices and black angel hair noodles. The combination of these ingredients is fried in oil, and the frying pans are usually garnished with chopped tomato and parsley. As a garnish, we recommend the fritters with a mild curry sauce.
7. Antiguan Butter Bread
The Antigua sandwich is a soft sandwich that requires no additional butter after cooking. Cheese bread is common for breakfast, but many locals enjoy it throughout the day. There are many bakeries all over the island where locals go to buy this freshly baked delicacy. In addition to cheese, the bread is often topped with toppings such as sardines or a bright red local sausage called salami.
8. Ducana
It is a sweet potato recipe from Antigua, made by wrapping grated sweet potatoes and coconut in a banana leaf and then steaming the dumpling. Similar in texture to a tamale, ducana is slightly sweet and spicy, a perfect complement to salted fish or conch.
9. Rum Punch
Rum Punch is a classic Caribbean cocktail made with rum, fruit juice, syrup and water. To make it, remember this Caribbean proverb: “One sour and two sweet, three strong and four weak”. Mix fruit juice, syrup, rum and water in a glass or pitcher, then pour into a glass with ice. To further enhance the flavour, it is recommended to add a few drops of bitters or a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg.
10. Antigua Gold Rum
Golden rum is a rum that lies somewhere between a light white rum and a more complex dark rum. Due to vague regulations and many varieties, the final character of golden rum often varies, but it is generally aged in oak barrels to achieve its complexity and characteristic amber colour. Gold rom can be drunk straight, but can also be used in cocktails and long drinks.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Caribbean Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.