The following highlights some of the popular Traditional Anguillan Foods. If you manage to be in an Anguillan restaurant or you are visiting Anguilla, I recommend the following:
1. Seafood Soup
This seafood stew is usually served with a large salad and fresh bread. Onions, garlic and carrots provide the traditional aromatic base, while red and yellow peppers add colour and sweetness. The soup smells of clam juice, wine and coconut milk, and when the clams and mussels are opened, the liquid they release gives the coconut soup an even more oceanic flavour.
2. Fritters
They are usually found in beach hut restaurants and in some of the fancier restaurants on the island. The shells are not only beautiful, but can be delicious. Here the meat is minced and mixed with some white fish, such as sea bream. It is then coated with onions, green and red peppers, coriander and eggs and mashed into balls or shells. Breaded and fried. Youtiao is usually served with a salad and one or more sauces or as a side dish.
3. Fish Salad at Tasty's
Tasty’s Restaurant is a popular and prestigious island restaurant founded and owned by Chef Dale Carty. His unique and delicious seafood salad features small pieces of fresh seafood (snapper, clam, crawfish, lobster and shrimp) cut into bite-sized pieces, then seasoned and sautéed individually, allowing larger portions to be served as a main course. Then place the pieces of seafood on the side of the plate instead of mixing them with the salad.
4. Dumplings
As in many cuisines, Anguilla dumplings are added to many dishes to help add extra texture and flavour. Meatballs, found in soups and fish and vegetable stews throughout the island, are made from a simple cornmeal dough. It is made with a little flour, baking powder and sugar and a little water to hold the dough together. The dough is then kneaded into cigars and steamed or boiled. They are then added to dishes or eaten on their own as a snack in some parts of Anguilla.
5. Callalloo
One of the most common dishes on the island, callaloo is not only the name of the dish, but also the green leafy vegetables that are the main ingredient. Callaloo is also a hot leaf soup that is a great source of iron thanks to the vegetables in the dish. Callaloo leaves are shredded and lightly sautéed with onion, garlic and herbs before okra and pumpkin slices are added. Some restaurants will also add crab meat and a small amount of salt pork. This is then boiled with a little red pepper to add even more heat to the finished soup.
6. Barbecue and Jerk Style Meats
The barbecue is the best in Anguilla. If you want to break the mould, head to Ken’s BBQ in the Valley. It’s open for lunch and dinner, but on Friday nights it’s packed with locals. The prices are very reasonable and the portions are huge. In Anguilla you can also eat fried chicken, which is one of the spicier options. Authentic Jamaican cuisine is served all over the island.
7. Chicken at Jacala
Marinated with spices such as onion, paprika, thyme and soy sauce and cooked to perfection, the delicious chicken is a delicacy often served with eels. Prepared in almost every residential and street stall in Anguilla, this delicacy will not disappoint your taste buds. It can also be found in fine dining restaurants, served in a more elegant manner.
If you found this list useful, here are some more Traditional Caribbean Foods to try out on my Pinterest channel.