Next stop on our culinary quest: Saint Lucia! This gorgeous island is located just south of Martinique, and is splashed by the Atlantic on the east side, and the Caribbean on the west. It’s covered in rolling hills and lush, green rainforests, and volcanic mountains that protrude into the sky, and isn’t just a hiker’s paradise, it’s a haven for foodies too!
Saint Lucia was first colonized by the French and went between French and British ruling until 1814, when British finally took control. In 1979, it became an independent Commonwealth country. The population in Saint Lucia is primarily made up of people of African descent, as the native Caribs were replaced with enslaved Africans to do labour. There is also a prominent mixture of ethnicities that influence the culture, and therefore the cuisine, on the island. With the local ingredient selection, many delicious dishes are made. Fruits and vegetables, such as bananas, breadfruit, oranges, citrus fruits, mangoes, avocados, yams, pineapple, passion fruit, coconut, dasheen, cassava, and hot peppers are used in meals throughout the day. Seafood, like in many surrounding nations, is a staple.
Dishes in Saint Lucia are heavily influenced by African, Caribbean, French, and British cuisines – though there is a notable East Indian presence as well. Food is spiced with onion, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cocoa (Saint Lucia is a huge producer of cocoa). The national dish is Saltfish and Green Fig Pie – if you want to give it a try, click here for a recipe. Other common Saint Lucian dishes include: Bouyon (a soup similar to gumbo), pepperpot stew, curry, blackened corn, Colombo, roti (a wrap), and accra (saltfish fritters). As with most of the Caribbenan, rum plays a huge part in Saint Lucian drinks, and the local distillers make sure it’s readily available.
So, have you ever been to Saint Lucia? What was your favourite dish? All I know is that after exploring the cuisines of all of these countries, I want to take a Caribbean cooking course!
Coming up on Wednesday, we’ve got the Recipe of the Week – stay tuned!