What do people eat in Suriname?

Diet

Rice is a staple food along with cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, chicken, and seafood. Favorite meals include Moksie alesie (a creole rice dish with chicken, white beans, tomatoes, peppers, and spices), bami (a noodle dish mixed with a dark sauce, fried chicken and a hot pepper mixture), saoto ( chicken soup) and poffertjes (tiny dutch pancakes)
Pom or Pomtajer is a root of the cassava family. It is ground into a mush and mixed into a casserole with fried chicken and baked in the oven. It is usually eaten with rice and is very popular on special occasions

Mealtime

Mealtime customs in Suriname can vary depending on the cultural background of the individuals involved. Suriname is known for its diverse population, and each ethnic group may have its own unique mealtime customs and traditions.

Family and Community Meals: Surinamese culture places great emphasis on family and community, and mealtime is often seen as an opportunity for bonding and socializing. Family members and friends gather around the table to share a meal, engage in conversations, and strengthen relationships.

Washing Hands: Before sitting down for a meal, it is common practice in Suriname to wash hands thoroughly. This is considered an important hygiene custom to ensure cleanliness before handling food.

Serving Food: Surinamese meals are often served family-style, with dishes placed in the center of the table for everyone to share. It is customary for the host or hostess to serve the guests before serving themselves as a sign of hospitality.

Eating with Utensils or Hands: Suriname's mealtime customs include a mix of utensils and hand usage. Depending on the dish, people may eat with spoons, forks, or their hands. For example, traditional Surinamese dishes like roti or saoto soup are often eaten by tearing off pieces of bread or roti and using them to scoop up the food.

Sharing and Generosity: Surinamese mealtime customs often revolve around sharing and generosity. It is common for people to offer food to others at the table, ensuring that everyone is well-fed and satisfied. This reflects the spirit of hospitality and community-oriented values.

Appreciation of Food: Surinamese cuisine is diverse and flavorful, and it is customary to show appreciation for the food that has been prepared. This can be done through compliments to the cook or by expressing enjoyment and gratitude for the meal.

Dining Etiquette: Basic dining etiquette, such as chewing with the mouth closed, not talking with a full mouth, and using utensils appropriately, is generally expected in Surinamese mealtime customs. These practices demonstrate respect for others at the table and promote a pleasant dining experience.

Cultural Influences: Surinamese mealtime customs are influenced by the various cultural backgrounds present in the country. Depending on the ethnic group, customs such as eating with hands, using specific spices or ingredients, or observing religious dietary restrictions may be followed.

Popular Suriname Recipes

Bami - Main Dish
Chicken masala (murgi talkari) - Main Dish
Saoto (Soto Ayam) - Soup

Back to Suriname Facts

World Regions

Africa Asia Central America Europe Middle East North America Oceania South America The Caribbean

Most Popular

United States of America China France Italy Canada Spain India Brazil Mexico

All Countries

Afghanistan Akrotiri Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Clipperton Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Republic of the Cook Islands Coral Sea Islands Costa Rica Cote d’Ivoire Croatia Cuba Curacao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dhekelia Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia Gabon Gambia, The Gaza Strip Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Holy See Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Jan Mayen Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Korea, South Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macau Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island North Macedonia Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Islands Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Pierre and Miquelon Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Sudan, South Suriname Svalbard Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States (US) Uruguay Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands Wake Island Wallis and Futuna West Bank Western Sahara World Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe