Five Delicious Creole Dishes You Need To Taste in Belize

Belize has a rich mix of cultures, and one of the predominant ones is Creole. Descendants of the slaves who worked on Belize’s sugar plantations, the Creoles have a unique language and culture.
Here are five of their food items you need to taste. Don’t forget to accompany your Creole feast with a cold Belikin beer or a homemade fruit drink.
Johnny Cakes
Johnny cakes are like American biscuits, but they’re made with coconut milk for that unique Caribbean flavor. You can have them for breakfast or dinner. Many Belizeans top them with beans, cheese, sausage, eggs, or bacon. You can also serve them with butter and jam or honey.
Rice and Beans
This is one of the most popular meals in Belize. Every diner and restaurant has it on the menu. Most Belizeans make it for Sunday dinner. A classic rice and beans dinner includes stewed chicken or beef, potato salad or coleslaw, and the rice and beans.
A truly traditional dinner would use gibnut meat, but gibnuts are a protected species now. Most Belizeans also serve it with Oxtail or fried fish. It’s a classic meal you can find anywhere in Belize. Pass around the Marie Sharp’s Hot Sauce for real Belizean flavor.
Boil Up
If you’re hungry after a full day of touring Maya monuments or zip-lining, get ready to tuck into a boil up or “bile up.” A traditional boil up includes boiled eggs, fish, pigtail, sweet potatoes, cassavas, bananas, plantains, onions, and spices. It also includes “boil cakes,” which are like dumplings.
The Creoles serve it with a spicy tomato sauce and a chunk of Creole bread. This is a hearty meal you’ll typically see at big celebrations.
Dukunu
Also called Duckanoo, this is a popular Belizean cuisine. It is a blend of corn, coconut, brown sugar, and spices. Tied in a plantain leaf and steamed, it will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Fry Jacks
Most people who visit Belize rave about these fried puffs of dough. With a soft center and a crisp golden crust, they are the perfect side dish to any meal. Many Belizeans top them with refried beans and cheese for a quick, delicious meal. You can also top them with jam or honey.
Enjoy Tasty Eating in Belize
You’ll never go hungry in Belize, where delicious food is right around the corner everywhere you go. Make these Creole treats part of your Belize adventure.