What do people eat in Grenada?
Diet
Grenadian foods have been heavily influenced by East Indian, African and French cooking. The soil is very fertile in Grenada and the ocean is another source of food.Breadfruit, yams, sweet potatoes and cassava (manioc) are very popular foods. “Callaloo” is a dish made with meat and dasheen leaves (also known as taro leaves). Seafood such as conches (lambi), crabs and shrimps are also popular. Some dishes even use armadillo or iguana meat. Chili peppers are an integral part of many dishes.
Breadfruit can be used in many ways. It may be combined with green bananas to make a dish similar to potato salad. The breadfruit flower is eaten with sugar, and the fruit can be made into flour. A favorite Grenadian dish is “oil down,” made with breadfruit cooked in coconut milk and spiced with Grenadian saffron (turmeric).
Nutmeg and fresh mace are the most popular spices. Nutmeg is the seed of the fruit of the nutmeg tree. Mace is a red membrane that covers the nutmeg kernel inside the fruit. When the mace is dried, it fades to a yellowish-orange. It is used for seasoning wine, sauces, soups, stews and seafood. Cookies and cakes are also flavored with this pungent spice. Nutmeg is used to flavor drinks like eggnog, milk drinks, rum punches and wines.
Popular Grenada Recipes
- Callaloo Soup - Main Dish
- Callaloo Soup - Main Dish
- Callaloo Soup - Main Dish
- Chicken Pelau - Main Dish
- Curried Chick-peas - Side Dish
- Grenadian Spice Cake - Dessert
- Grenadian-Style Grilled Chicken - Main Dish
