If you are after exquisite culinary experiences featuring quintessential Curacao dishes, then the list below will help kick-start your gastronomic ventures whether your heart beats faster with the sound of stews, seafood, desserts, or quirky takes on traditional Caribbean flavours. With influences from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the Caribbean, the local cuisine is a fusion of various flavours and ingredients that can excite every palate.
Keshi Yena – Filled Cheese Balls
Regarded as a local staple, Keshi Yena is a Curacao signature dish that blends various cuisines and cultures so harmoniously, producing food that melts inside the mouth. Made with Gouda or Edam cheese to create a large round ball, which is then stuffed with pork, chicken, or another spiced meat, along with tomatoes, onions, capers, and olives, Keshi Yena is not fully complete before these yummy stuffed balls are baked until golden.
Bitterballen – Meatballs With a Twist
This one has its roots in Dutch cuisine and is a flavoursome meatball filled with veal or beef. However, you may also find an alternative to the traditional Dutch bar snack that is more suited to vegetarians, where the cooks replace the meat with either cheese or vegetables. In any case, bitterballen is served with a dip made from a strong mustard and pairs well with Dutch beer.
Oliebollen – Doughnuts, Another Way
If you love doughnuts, then chances are you will adore the Dutch version of the classic recipe. Oliebollen (meaning oil balls) are deep-fried dumplings made from a sweet dough that is then covered in powdered sugar. Although they are a favourite dessert served around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, many local pastry shops make them throughout the year.
Funchi or Tutu
Both of these have African origins and are made of cornmeal whose consistency looks pretty much like a soft, creamy polenta. Served fried, they are both popular side dishes that can accompany almost any meal with a savoury taste. The only distinction between these two is that tutu is usually spruced up and given a twist from the funchi recipe with the addition of black-eyed peas.
Stroopwafels – “Delicious” is Just a Word
A delicious pastry perfect for those with a sweet tooth that also emerges from Dutch gastronomy. You will find it complementing a cup of coffee or tea experience with two extra thin waffles and a layer of caramel bonding the two waffles. The yummy dessert is even more enjoyable when consumed right off the iron. What is also exciting about stroopwafels is the story that backs them up! According to legend, a baker invented them and wanted to use the leftovers from his bakery in a creative way. It seems they nailed it!
Stoba – Hearty and Nutritious
A stew-like dish usually made with goat meat, although any meat will do, as well as a combination of meat and vegetables. Stoba is, as expected, spiced with local herbs and spices, while some cooks prefer to give this dish their own spin, by adding a touch of sweetness to it. In this attempt, papaya seems to be doing the job just fine.
Poffertjes – Pampering the Sweet-Toothed
Another sweet with Dutch origins that’s essentially puffy mini pancakes covered in powdered sugar and butter and served fresh and hot. The delicious treats always have the perfect size as they come with their very own pan. Poffertjes can either be consumed as a dessert or a snack on the go, especially when wanting to gratify your senses while at the beach or exploring the island.
Seafood – An island Must Try
There is no way to visit a Caribbean island and not treat your palate with fresh seafood, and Curacao is no exception. One of the most popular dishes in Curacao in this category is raw herring (aka rauwe haring), which is a fish that looks very much like anchovy whose preparation wants it to be frozen for a few days. Then, it is left to ripe by being buried in thick salt.
Fish tacos are also beloved throughout the island and served with different fish species in all kinds of ways. Now, if you prefer shellfish, you will most likely love the fresh clams and mussels that are found in great abundance throughout Curacao. And, of course, shrimp could not be left out of such a list, and is the star in many local recipes.
Arepas – Pita Bread, Only Lighter!
A dish originating from Venezuela that’s actually a lighter version of pita bread. The puffy patties are made with corn on a clay slab. The secret to the best and most appetising arepas is to make them soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. These flavoursome pancake-like treats are stuffed with anything you desire, from avocado, corn, and meat to cheese. And, as you may have already suspected – Curacao cooks have added a few spicy touches to the recipe to give it more oomph!
Pastechi – A Typical Breakfast Option
Pastechi is a fried, stuffed dough pocket with a delicious crust that is quite similar to an empanada. You will see it served at food trucks and many spots across the main streets and is a popular breakfast pastry, whose filling can be anything from tuna and beef to codfish, cheese, or chicken. The locals usually accompany it with a batido (a smoothie-type of drink – see below for more details).
Popular Curacao Drinks
Whatever you decide to eat, a glass of local green rum or blue liqueur will certainly augment your dining experience (or enhance your nightly ventures). In fact, both the local rum and liqueur are the main ingredients in most cocktails and drinks. The traditional way to make the Curacao liqueur is from a local fruit called lahara (bitter in taste) and dried citrus peels from locally-grown citrus fruits.
Another equally beloved Curacao drink with Antillean roots is Awa di Lamunchi which is made with water, sugar, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Finally, there’s Blue Baoase Cocktail, where Blue Curacao is the star, along with coconut rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice.
As for those liking smoothie-like drinks, a Batido seems to be just perfect as it blends sugar, milk, and fresh fruit. As for the flavour, it ranges from guava and watermelon to papaya and passion fruit.
If you are after exquisite culinary experiences featuring quintessential Curacao dishes, then the list below will help kick-start your gastronomic ventures whether your heart beats faster with the sound of stews, seafood, desserts, or quirky takes on traditional Caribbean flavours. With influences from Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, and the Caribbean, the local cuisine is a fusion of various flavours and ingredients that can excite every palate.
Keshi Yena – Filled Cheese Balls
Regarded as a local staple, Keshi Yena is a Curacao signature dish that blends various cuisines and cultures so harmoniously, producing food that melts inside the mouth. Made with Gouda or Edam cheese to create a large round ball, which is then stuffed with pork, chicken, or another spiced meat, along with tomatoes, onions, capers, and olives, Keshi Yena is not fully complete before these yummy stuffed balls are baked until golden.
Bitterballen – Meatballs With a Twist
This one has its roots in Dutch cuisine and is a flavoursome meatball filled with veal or beef. However, you may also find an alternative to the traditional Dutch bar snack that is more suited to vegetarians, where the cooks replace the meat with either cheese or vegetables. In any case, bitterballen is served with a dip made from a strong mustard and pairs well with Dutch beer.
Oliebollen – Doughnuts, Another Way
If you love doughnuts, then chances are you will adore the Dutch version of the classic recipe. Oliebollen (meaning oil balls) are deep-fried dumplings made from a sweet dough that is then covered in powdered sugar. Although they are a favourite dessert served around Christmas and New Year’s Eve, many local pastry shops make them throughout the year.
Funchi or Tutu
Both of these have African origins and are made of cornmeal whose consistency looks pretty much like a soft, creamy polenta. Served fried, they are both popular side dishes that can accompany almost any meal with a savoury taste. The only distinction between these two is that tutu is usually spruced up and given a twist from the funchi recipe with the addition of black-eyed peas.
Stroopwafels – “Delicious” is Just a Word
A delicious pastry perfect for those with a sweet tooth that also emerges from Dutch gastronomy. You will find it complementing a cup of coffee or tea experience with two extra thin waffles and a layer of caramel bonding the two waffles. The yummy dessert is even more enjoyable when consumed right off the iron. What is also exciting about stroopwafels is the story that backs them up! According to legend, a baker invented them and wanted to use the leftovers from his bakery in a creative way. It seems they nailed it!
Stoba – Hearty and Nutritious
A stew-like dish usually made with goat meat, although any meat will do, as well as a combination of meat and vegetables. Stoba is, as expected, spiced with local herbs and spices, while some cooks prefer to give this dish their own spin, by adding a touch of sweetness to it. In this attempt, papaya seems to be doing the job just fine.
Poffertjes – Pampering the Sweet-Toothed
Another sweet with Dutch origins that’s essentially puffy mini pancakes covered in powdered sugar and butter and served fresh and hot. The delicious treats always have the perfect size as they come with their very own pan. Poffertjes can either be consumed as a dessert or a snack on the go, especially when wanting to gratify your senses while at the beach or exploring the island.
Seafood – An island Must Try
There is no way to visit a Caribbean island and not treat your palate with fresh seafood, and Curacao is no exception. One of the most popular dishes in Curacao in this category is raw herring (aka rauwe haring), which is a fish that looks very much like anchovy whose preparation wants it to be frozen for a few days. Then, it is left to ripe by being buried in thick salt.
Fish tacos are also beloved throughout the island and served with different fish species in all kinds of ways. Now, if you prefer shellfish, you will most likely love the fresh clams and mussels that are found in great abundance throughout Curacao. And, of course, shrimp could not be left out of such a list, and is the star in many local recipes.
Arepas – Pita Bread, Only Lighter!
A dish originating from Venezuela that’s actually a lighter version of pita bread. The puffy patties are made with corn on a clay slab. The secret to the best and most appetising arepas is to make them soft on the inside and crispy on the outside. These flavoursome pancake-like treats are stuffed with anything you desire, from avocado, corn, and meat to cheese. And, as you may have already suspected – Curacao cooks have added a few spicy touches to the recipe to give it more oomph!
Pastechi – A Typical Breakfast Option
Pastechi is a fried, stuffed dough pocket with a delicious crust that is quite similar to an empanada. You will see it served at food trucks and many spots across the main streets and is a popular breakfast pastry, whose filling can be anything from tuna and beef to codfish, cheese, or chicken. The locals usually accompany it with a batido (a smoothie-type of drink – see below for more details).
Popular Curacao Drinks
Whatever you decide to eat, a glass of local green rum or blue liqueur will certainly augment your dining experience (or enhance your nightly ventures). In fact, both the local rum and liqueur are the main ingredients in most cocktails and drinks. The traditional way to make the Curacao liqueur is from a local fruit called lahara (bitter in taste) and dried citrus peels from locally-grown citrus fruits.
Another equally beloved Curacao drink with Antillean roots is Awa di Lamunchi which is made with water, sugar, and freshly squeezed lime juice. Finally, there’s Blue Baoase Cocktail, where Blue Curacao is the star, along with coconut rum, coconut cream, and pineapple juice.
As for those liking smoothie-like drinks, a Batido seems to be just perfect as it blends sugar, milk, and fresh fruit. As for the flavour, it ranges from guava and watermelon to papaya and passion fruit.