The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Saint-Martinoise Foods. If you manage to be in an Saint-Martinoise restaurant or you are visiting Saint Martin, I recommend the following:
1. Whelk Soup
Soup is one of the most underrated and yet one of the most traditional things you can eat on Sint Maarten and St. Martin. But these are not the soups from the grocery shop in a can: like Whelk soup, Bull Foot soup and Callaloo soup are traditional dishes on the island. Whelk soup recipes vary, but on Sint Maarten, snails are usually stewed in coconut milk or mixed with vegetables and spices. Other ingredients include celery, paprika, onions, potatoes and noodles.
2. Spare Ribs
Spare ribs are St. Maarten’s institutional food, and everyone makes their own special sauce. While the main ingredient is still the rib, the recipe varies depending on who is behind the cooker. Lolos and Sint Maarten Madbils often include ribs on the menu. But if you want to try the pork chop cooked, you can visit the Dutch area of the Sint Maarten Madbils restaurant “palm”, giving “drunken ribs”.
3. Guavaberry Liqueur
Guavaberry is a traditional wine on the island. When it comes to habits, the whole house of St. Martin is high on a bottle guavaberry. It is all about continuing the tradition of drinking this drink at Christmas time. Available, of course, in all supermarkets and liquor stores on the island, and an official shop in Philipsburg allows you to discover this nectar. Typical small restaurants in St. Martin can often include Guavaberry on their menus.
4. Crabmeat Stuffed Shells
Stuffed crab shells are a luxurious and delicious dish in St. Marten. Stuffed crab shells are a delicacy of freshly cooked blue crab meat mixed with a delicious sautéed onion, tomato, spices and Worcestershire sauce. To serve stuffed crab shells (also known as crab fillets), the crab mixture is stuffed back into the crab shells, coated with breadcrumbs and grilled.
5. Conch and Dumplings
Conch and dumplings are a spicy soup made from large conch shells, also known locally as conch shells. The shells are seasoned with spices and herbs and boiled until tender. The mussels are often served with airy dumplings covered with a savoury sauce. Some dishes that can be served with scallops and meatballs are rice, Johnny Cake and vegetables. Tourists say that the clam and meatballs are full of flavour and are an extremely tasty dish that reflects the flavours of the Caribbean.
6. Codfish Fritters
Codfish fritters are a popular Caribbean dish that can be prepared in different ways depending on the island where it is served. In St. Maarten, codfish fritters are made with sautéed vegetables such as chopped onion, tomato, celery, thyme, green pepper and hot sauce. The fried vegetables are mixed with a mixture of flour, milk and egg yolks and then fried in hot corn oil. S t. St. Maarten offers a small or large plate of homemade codfish empanadas from €7 to €14.
7. Callaloo
The soup is a combination of green leafy vegetables (such as peppers or spinach), coconut milk, bacon, yam, onion, peppers, green plantains, flour and cornmeal balls. When ready, kallaloo is served on its own or with toast and avocado slices. This soup is traditionally eaten during Mardi Gras, but is also regularly prepared at local festivals and roadside bars as an energy booster.
8. Locri
This is a rice and chicken dish that has a savoury flavour and is made in a pot. This dish is made in a giant pot, which allows all the flavour to mix and match and gives the best experience. When making locri, all the ingredients are cooked in the pan and the flavour combines in a delicious way that produces the truly unforgettable and enjoyable experience of traditional St. Martin’s food. You can also use beef or pork instead of chicken to make locri. Tourists love Locri for its Caribbean flavour.
9. Johnny Cakes
Johnny Cakes, also known as Saint-Martinois travel cakes. According to legend, this dish is mainly used for breakfast and is prepared by women before their husbands wake up. A man can enjoy it in the morning and go to work with energy. The cakes are easy to make and are now the food of the day, easily found at Lolos in Grand Case or in the food trucks parked next to the Jean Louis Vanterpool stadium in Marigo.
10. The Jacks
St. In Marten, jacks means fried fish… until it’s dry and crispy. Eat it for breakfast like a local. Common side dishes to go with jacks are fried plantains and johnny pie.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Caribbean Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.