This little country on the Amazon basin is a melting guyanese dhal of cultures and traditions. Guyana has a very vibrant history and was fought after by the Dutch and British. During this period, African slaves were brought here to work on the sugar plantations.
After the abolishment of slavery, indentured immigrants from India, China, and Portugal were shipped in, bringing with them their native dishes. The country’s first people, the Amerindians, also played a part in developing this unique cuisine. Together, this land of six races brings to the world food like no other nation on earth. Let us jump right into the most delicious dishes you must try in Guyana. Pepperpot is the national dish of Guyana and celebrates the contribution of the nation’s first people. It is a slow-cooked meat stew using beef, but some versions use mutton, pork or chicken.
Soaking up the decadent stew with a piece of homemade bread is a great way to enjoy this dish, especially on Christmas morning. Cassava bread is a crispy-thin flatbread made from grated cassava dried to a powder. The taste of cassava bread is like that of a rice cracker and it goes well with peanut butter or pieces of avocado as a fantastic snack. Farine is made from cassava root flour and has the consistency of couscous. The taste is bland, similar to rice, and goes well with a delicious curry or spiced vegetables. Metemgee is a hearty and thick soup bursting with the flavors of African influence.
This tasty dish involves boiling together vegetables and hearty starches such as plantain, yam, cassava, sweet potato, and others. The vegetables and starches are all combined with some meat in a coconut milk broth. This blend of peas, rice, meat, and coconut milk is a heart-warming meal. Cook up is a highly customizable dish with many variations using different types of beans, peas, and meat. This dish is of East Indian origin and uses meat such as chicken, fish, duck, shrimp, and crab.
It simmers until the meat is tender and a thick gravy is left behind. Dhal is a gravy dish made from boiling yellow split peas in water with garlic, pepper, and other spices. A swizzle stick is used to make the dhal smooth and then slightly burnt cumin and garlic are added for a hint of smokiness. This flavorful gravy with rice or roti can be topped with any meat or vegetable dish. Coconut choka is ground fire-roasted coconut seasoned with onion, garlic, and lots of pepper.
It is enjoyed with rice and dhal and is quite a zesty meal. Choka can also be made from roasted eggplant and tomatoes or fish, which are then mashed and seasoned with onion, garlic, pepper, and fresh herbs. India and is a meal eaten at Hindu religious functions. It is usually eaten using the fingers rather than a spoon. Bake and saltfish is a typical breakfast meal and consists of fried dough and saltfish. The dough puffs up as it is fried in oil for a crispy outer shell and a pillowy-soft hollow inside.
This is a direct influence of the British and Irish. Black pudding is a blood sausage with rice, flavored with fresh herbs and other seasonings, stuffed into the intestines of a sheep or cow. White pudding contains all the ingredients of black pudding except the blood. This Portuguese pickled meat dish is made from chopped pieces of succulent pork seasoned with large amounts of garlic, pepper, and fresh herbs. The meat sits in brine for up to 4 days to pickle before cooking in its fat until brown and tender. It goes best with homemade bread and is popular during the Christmas season. This dish has European origins and consists of chicken feet.