If you love food like we do, I’m sure you already have a list of food you must taste before you die. All countries, have at least one dish or food item that they are known for. That one food item that when you announce you are going there, everyone says you gotta try. In Belize, our main dish to eat is Rice & Beans, Stewed Chicken, Plantain and Potato Salad. While culturally, everyone in Belize knows this as the main dish, this is quite common throughout the Caribbean.
As a diverse nation with several smaller ethnic groups, Belize has so much more to offer in terms of food. There are so many things to eat in Belize that you just won’t find anywhere else. These make for an absolutely delicious culinary experience.
So as a visitor to our beautiful country, there are a few dishes that we feel is a ‘must try’ on your trip. If you love to try new food, this should be a breeze. If you are a little less adventurous, but want the full cultural experience on your visit, try some of these, they will definitely broaden your perspective. So without further ado and in no particular order, here we go.
- Munch on some Bukut. Don’t be fooled by the smell or nickname “stinking toe bukut”. The fruit from the Cassia Grandis tree once opened is a sweet delicacy and is said to have many medicinal properties.
2. Try some Orange Walk Tacos. Everyone in Belize knows that if you’re travelling to the northern districts, you must taste the tacos. Don’t forget to stop in as this is definitely one of the things to eat in Belize.
3. Enjoy some Relleno/ Chimole/ Black Dinna. Once you get over the fact that your food is actually black, the taste is absolutely delicious. Check to make sure you got an egg. If you didn’t, go ask the cook for one.
4. Head to Punta Gorda for some Caldo. This traditional Mayan chicken soup has a variety of ingredients and is a bit more red than most soups. It’s been rumored that when the Annato paste (which gives the red color) is unavailable, traditional cooks use the blood of the chicken as a substitute.
5. Work your way down to Dangriga for some Hudut. This classic Garifuna dish is comprised of mashed plantains, fish and coconut milk. Sounds simple, but the taste is finger-licking good.
6. Satisfy your tastebuds with Sere. Similar to Hudut, this soup-like meal is primarily made up of ground foods like plantains, cassava and cocoa, with fish and coconut milk as its main ingredients.
7. Grab a refreshing Ideal. So this is more of a drink than food. These are little bags of juice. They can be artificially flavored or made from various fruits. Either way, you and the kids will definitely enjoy them slightly frozen on a hot day.
8. Try Bollos from Cayo. In the north, Belizeans call it Tamales. In the west, Belizean call it Bollos. There a slight difference between the two. Taste them and determine for yourself.
9. Feast like a king/queen on a packed Gibnut lunch. Okay, so Gibnut is also called the Royal Rat, but in our defense, even the Queen of England enjoys this one. So why not eat royally while you’re here; it’s delicious.
10. Eat your way around with Fry Jack for breakfast. No matter where you are in the country, everyone knows about fry jacks for breakfast or supper. There are many versions of this but one truth remains, it’ll be one of the best breakfasts you’ll have.
11. Bite into a Johnny/ Journey Cake. Another breakfast favorite, this one got its name from logwood cutters who use to take them on their journey to cut wood. Today you can eat it as substitute for bread with eggs, ham, cheese, beans or a variety of other sides.
12. Be wonderfully deceived with Cochinita Pibil. Often mistaken for chicken tacos meat, this shredded pork and chicharones when added to corn tortillas and chopped pico de gallo is to die for.
13. Indulge in some Craboo & Milk. Untraditional yes, tasteless never. These tiny fruits are heavenly when combined with sweet milk. Pick up a cup on the street corner or make your own, either way you are on your way to one of the best sweet treats in Belize.
14. Treat yourself to some Soursop Ice Cream. Ice Cream alone should garner a yes, but add a little of the thick extract from this fruit and you have a delicious dessert. The fruit is also known for its cancer fighting properties.
15. Tuck into a traditional Cassava Pudding at any local deli. Often called ‘plastic cake’, cassava pudding is a bit starchy, sticky and very tasty.
16. Spoil yourself with Sweet Potato Pound. This sweet treat is a Creole dessert that is considered comfort food here in Belize. Sit back in indulge in all its delicious goodness.
17. Share some Cassava Bread or Ereba with any meal that has gravy. The Arawak plant used can be deadly if incorrectly prepared. However, in Belize, it has been perfected and the bread is often eaten with vegetables or fish. Note, you won’t be able to find this bread at a bakery.
18. Grab a few Meat Pies if you’re in a rush. So small you can fit 2 in your hand at a time. It’s a whole lot of soupy/meaty goodness in one muffin sized dough crust. They are most popular in the early mornings and you can often just grab one from one of the vendors riding bikes with an ice cooler & horn.
19. Make your own chocolate with Belizean cacao. Pick it, grate it, sweeten it and eat it. Maybe you won’t be able to do all the steps but at least taste the chocolate.
20. Don’t choke on your Cahn Sham. Ground or powdered sweetened parched corn is pretty good. Because of the texture, you have to be careful not to eat it too quickly. Also, be prepared to lick it out of your hands. That’s the best way to have it.
21. Get your fork into a sumptuous Boil Up. Of all the foods you taste, boil up is most likely going to be the one you take a nap after. This dish is filled with heavy ground foods such as yams, plantains, cocoa, cassava, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, eggs, pigtail, fish, and so much more.
22. Devour a Dukunu. Grind corn is combined with milk and chicken and neatly wrapped in the corn packet. While delicious, this dish is highly labor intensive to make but can be bought for about BZ$1.50.
23. Sink your teeth into some Cut-o-Brut & Tableta, another well known Creole sweet treat. Made mostly of coconut pieces and sugar syrup, this one is more of a snack that you could grab on the go from a street side vendor.
24. Eat some Fried Breadfruit. Okay, so this one is more of a Caribbean favorite but it’s so delicious we couldn’t keep it off our list. Unfortunately, it’s seasonal and usually available during the Spring months.
25. Slurp a steaming bowl of Cowfoot Soup. Stop thinking about the foot for a second and taste the meal. We guarantee you’ll fall in love with this soup which is often served for lunch with rice or corn tortillas.
26. Discover what most Belizeans can’t live without, Recado Seasoned chicken. Recado is a blend of spices put together to make a firm paste. Most stewed chicken, beef and pork is seasoned with this. After living with this for a few years, it’s one of the hardest thing to live without.
27. Try the tasty Stewed beans with dumpling and pigtail. This is a rather common household dish. Some people substitute the pigtail with chicken or other meat, but together they make for a great meal at any time of the day.
28. Book a special Hickatee meal. These endangered turtles require cooks to obtain a permit to catch them. If you can find a place that sells it during your stay, be sure to taste it. It’s definitely one of the top things to eat in Belize.
29. Dine on some Bamboo Chicken (Iguana). Another wild animal meat often called “game meat” is the iguana. This is often cooked just like chicken and is just as tasty if not better. In some cases, the eggs are also served as part of the meal.
30. Look out for Pepitos on the streetside. These baked pumpkin seeds with salt are often in high demand. They’re a little high in sodium and require a little work to get to the seed, but they are a very quick common snack to grab on the go.
So there you have it in a nutshell, 30 things to eat in Belize before you die. Of course with any meal there’s got to be a drink. So, as bonus, here are 5 drinks I’m sure you’ve never thought of trying but trust us when we say, they taste better than they sound.
- Cashew Wine
- Spuddy
- Sorrel Wine
- Fevergrass Tea
- Xocolatl Tea
Hope you find this list useful and of course, if you’ve tried some of these please share your thoughts with us. We’d love to hear what you thought about them. If you’re planning to be in Belize and would like to try some of these, we can definitely take you to some of our favorite places. Or join us for our Mestizo Food, Rum & Ruin Tour to get to know more about Belize.
Elaine Masters
My goodness! I never knew there were such unusual and tasty dishes and drinks in Belize. It’s all tempting, even the toe fruit and perhaps the cow’s foot soup. All the more reasons to finally visit Belize. #weekendwanderlust
Admin
Yes Elaine, there are so many unusual but delicious things to try here and much more to see.
Obligatory Traveler
Reading this I realize that there are so many yummy things we didn’t get to try when we visited Belize. This post is making me want to go back and visit so I can eat more great dishes. #WeekendWanderlust
Admin
And to think that’s just scratching the surface. Let us know when you get back, we’ll take you to some of our favorites places to eat.