Belizean cuisine is an amalgamation of the various cultures that have influenced the country over the years, from Mayan to Creole, Garifuna to Mestizo, and more. Here’s a list of ingredients commonly found in authentic Belizean recipes.
A
- Achiote (annatto)
- Allspice
B
- Banana
- Banana Leaf
- Bay Leaves
- Beef (Meat Pies)
- Bell Peppers (green, yellow, red) in Belize commonly known as “Sweet Pepper”
- Beans (red, black, kidney, pinto, butter)
- Bird Pepper
- Bitter Orange
- Bread Fruit
- Black Pepper
- Black Recado
C
- Cabbage
- Callaloo
- Canela (cinnamon)
- Carrots
- Cassava
- Cashews (fruit, nuts)
- Cayenne Pepper
- Celery
- Chaya (Mayan Spinach)
- Chayote
- Cheese (see Dutch Edam Cheeze, Happy Cow Cheese)
- Chicken
- Chile, Ancho, Molido, Pasillo
- Chicken Feet (Ceviche)
- Chorizo
- Cilantro (coriander)
- Cloves
- Coco (also known as tarro root)
- Cocobrut
- Cocoa (Powder, Nibs, Fruit)
- Coconut (crusts, bun, milk, oil, meat, cake, shrimp, pie)
- Cocoyol (also known as “Supa”)
- Conch
- Corn (Masa, Porridge, Tortilla)
- Cornmeal
- Cow Foot (Soup)
- Crab (Blue)
- Cucumber
- Cumin
- Curry
- Custard Apple
D
- Dasheen
- Dutch Edam Cheese (Hardback Cheese)
E
- Evaporated Milk
- Epazote
F
G
- Garlic
- Gibnut (Royal Rat)
- Golden Plum
H
- Habanero (Pepper)
- Happy Cow Cheese (Processed Cheese)
J
L
- Lard
- Lime
- Lobster
M
O
- Okra
- Onion (Spanish)
- Oregano (Mexican)
- Oxtail
P
- Papaya
- Pavo (Turkey)
- Pepitos
- Pig Feet (Pattitas)
- Pig Tail (Split Pea Soup with Pigtail)
- Pigeon Peas
- Pineapple
- Plantain
- Potato
- Pork (Pibil)
- Pumpkin
R
S
- Salad Cream
- Sapodilla
- Shrimp
- Seafood
- Serano (Pepper)
- Split Peas
- Soursop
- Sour Orange
- Sugar (white, brown)
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Sweet Potato (Pone)
T
V
- Vinegar (white)
W
- Wangla (sesame seeds)
- Watermelon
- Worcestershire Sauce
Y
- Yam
Z
- Zircote
- Zucchini
Many of these ingredients, while common in Belize, are also staples in other Central American and Caribbean countries. Belizean cuisine is a delightful mix of local and regional flavors!