Caribbean cuisine is a fusion ofWest African,[1]Creole,Amerindian,European,Latin American,Indian/South Asian,Chinese,Javanese/Indonesian,North American, andMiddle Eastern cuisines. These traditions were brought from many countries when they[clarification needed] moved to the Caribbean.[1]
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As a result of thecolonization, the Caribbean is a fusion of multiple sources;British,Spanish,Dutch andFrench colonized the area and brought their respective cuisines that mixed withWest African as well asAmerindian,Indian/South Asian,East Asian,Portuguese, andArab, influences fromenslaved,indentured and other laborers brought to work on theplantations.
In 1493, during thevoyages of Christopher Columbus, theSpaniards introduced a variety of ingredients, includingcoconut,chickpeas,cilantro,eggplants,onions andgarlic.
Ingredients that are common in most islands' dishes arerice,plantains,beans,cassava,cilantro,bell peppers,chickpeas,tomatoes,sweet potatoes,coconut, and any of various meats that are locally available like beef, poultry, pork, goat or fish. A characteristic seasoning for the region is a green herb-and-oil-based marinade called sofrito. Ingredients may include garlic, onions, Scotch bonnet peppers, celery, green onions, and herbs like cilantro, Mexican mint, chives, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon and thyme. This green seasoning is used for a variety of dishes like curries, stews and roasted meats.[2]
Traditional dishes are so important to regional culture that, for example, the local version of Caribbean goat stew has been chosen as the official national dish ofMontserrat and is also one of the signature dishes ofSt. Kitts and Nevis. Another popular dish in the Anglophone Caribbean is called "cook-up", orpelau.Ackee and saltfish is another popular dish that is unique to Jamaica.Callaloo is a dish containing leafy vegetables such asspinach and sometimesokra amongst others, widely distributed in the Caribbean, with a distinctively mixed African and indigenous character.
The variety of dessert dishes in the area also reflects the mixed origins of the recipes. In some areas,black cake, a derivative of English Christmas pudding, may be served, especially on special occasions.
