The following highlights some of the popular Traditional British Virgin Islander Foods. If you manage to be in an British Virgin Islander restaurant or you are visiting British Virgin Islands, I recommend the following:
1. Mussel Pie
Mussels are popular on the island and are the star of the dish. The clam pie is filled with steamed clams, fresh papaya, onions, potatoes and bacon, seasoned with curry, lemon and thyme.
2. Fungi
Mushroom (pronounced foon-gee) is a staple of the traditional Virgin Islands diet. It consists of cornmeal and okra that have been cooked and boiled until thick. Mushrooms are often eaten with boiled or salted fish.
3. Fish Chowder
It’s a thick, milky fish stock and I love the combination of baby potatoes, carrots, sweetcorn and peas with a big fish fillet. The dish in question is “white” soup, which is because it has cream in it. It also has boiled potatoes in it, like almost all British dishes. In short, the fish sauce starts with onion gravy, then the potatoes are boiled in the stock, the cream is added and finally the fish is boiled for a few minutes.
4. Bush Tea
A general meaning for any natural herbal tea derived from native plants, including lemongrass, it is the hot drink of choice in the Virgin Islands. Popular cold beverages include maubi, sorrel, soursop, seaweed and passion fruit. Ginger root drinks are also popular.
5. Callaloo
Spinach, okra and local vegetables form the base of this thick stew. Add clams, crab, fish, corned beef or smoked corned beef for extra flavour. This dish is usually served with plenty of mushrooms.
6. Paté
Like empanadas, “pate” (pronounced pah-tays) are light meals and one of the most common dishes in the US Virgin Islands. Tourists and locals alike love these pies for their crispy, crunchy and airy texture. The pie is filled with ingredients such as different types of meat, snails or clams, salted fish, scotch bonnet peppers, vegetables and spices.
7. Roti
The proper definition of roti is a flatbread similar to an omelette. But most people who serve roti sell it as a sandwich prepared with a curried meat, seafood or vegetable filling wrapped in thin bread.
8. Johnny Cake
A delicious and simple Johnny Cake is as popular in the Caribbean as French fries are in the United States. These flour and fried favourites are often paired with traditional dishes such as broth, sousé, grilled chicken, fish, curries and other island delicacies.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Caribbean Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.