Guyana has such a mixture of ethnic groups that anyone visiting to explore the diversity of the rainforest should definitely also investigate the incredible dishes and street foods which the Guyanese pride themselves on.
On a tour of a typical market you will see the fresh fruit and vegetables which are then mixed with herbs, spices and seasonings to create unique delicious dishes.
On a market tour you should definitely try the street food:
Saltfish and bakes: Fluffy and airy quick bread, filled with salted-fish fried to perfection with onions, garlic and tomatoes.
Channa and Sour: Soft boiled chick peas lightly fried with herbs and spices. Enjoy with spicy pepper sauce / sour
Eggball: Boiled eggs wrapped in seasoned potatoes/cassava and deep fried. Enjoy with Mango sour or chutney of choice.
Pinetarts: Small, triangle shaped pastries filled with pineapple jam.
Coconut water: said to have all sorts of healing properties; a revitalising drink; one that has hydrating or Ôcool-down’ properties for the body, and much more. And because of this, the mostly fresh, young and green coconut is cherished not only for its jelly fruit, but more so for the water that runs from it.
And traditional home-cooked dishes to try:
Pepperpot: A slow cooked stew made with cassareep (a sticky black sauce made from cassava root). The cassareep gives the dish its strong aromatic fragrance and is most often cooked with beef, pork, goat or mutton, and flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and other spices. Pepperpot is thought of as a national dish
Slow cook recipe for Guyanese Pepperpot from Metemgee
Roti and Curry: Indian inspired flat bread that is a staple of Guyanese cuisine – wrapped snugly around various savory curries of chicken, fish, beef, shrimp, channa or potatoes.
Cook-up Rice: A one-pot dish made with rice, beans, and meat or seafood, flavored with coconut milk, onions, and other spices.
Metemgee: A stew made with a variety of root vegetables, fish, and sometimes meat, cooked in coconut milk and flavored with pepper and other spices.
Fried Rice: A popular dish made with rice, vegetables, and sometimes meat or shrimp, fried with soy sauce and other seasonings.
Chow Mein: A Chinese-inspired dish made with stir-fried noodles, vegetables, and sometimes chicken or shrimp.
Salara: A sweet dessert made with grated coconut, sugar, and spices, rolled in dough and baked.
Black Cake: A dense fruitcake made with dried fruits, nuts, and rum, traditionally served during Christmas and other festive occasions.
Gordon Ramsey explores Guyana’s cuisine
Our tours of Guyana include a market tour, tasting and cookery session with famous local chef Delvin Adams who played host to Gordon Ramsay.
