Turks and Caicos Traditional Food & Cuisine

Turks and Caicos steamed fish, coleslaw, and peas n' rice

Steamed fish, peas n' rice, and coleslaw. Locally caught snapper will almost always be served as a whole fish. If you get a fillet, it's likely imported!

As is the case everywhere, cultural and geographical factors have influenced the everyday foods of the Turks and Caicos, and many unique dishes and tastes have been the result.

Today it can be hard to find an authentic Turks and Caicos meal, especially on Providenciales. The less-populated islands of North Caicos, Middle Caicos, Salt Cay, and South Caicos are a bit closer to their roots, and old-style dishes are still commonplace.

Island Specialties

History of Turks and Caicos Cuisine

Conch salad from Simone's Bar and Grill.

As would be expected for a small Caribbean nation, seafood has historically played a primary role in local cuisine.

There’s very little fertile soil and freshwater naturally in the Turks and Caicos, so farming has always been difficult. However, okra, peas, pigeon peas, peppers, beans, papaya, plantains, and maize was raised in little patches across the islands and would add some much-needed greenery and vegetables to the diet.

Drought-resistant maize, which was dried and ground into what was known as 'hominy' or 'grits', was also raised and was largely used in place of the rice and cereals common today.

It’s still possible to see maize growing in some of the settlements, such as at Lorimers on Middle Caicos or on the remote west end of Providenciales near Wheeland.

Some food items could also be gathered from the land. Giant blue land crabs, common to many of the country’s wetlands, also provided a bit of variance. Sea grapes and tamarinds added a bit of tang, and sugar apples were the main source of sweet.

Conch fritters are very popular in the Turks and Caicos. Dish from Conch Shack at Blue Hills.

On the salt-producing islands, there was a bit more money to buy imported staples such as rice and some grains, as well as comparatively small quantities of tea, coffee, sugar, and salt meat.

Johnny cake, a pan-baked and slightly sweetened cornbread, largely took the place of wheat breads in the past. The name ‘johnny cake’ is derived from “journey cake”, as this baked good preserved well and was a staple for long fishing and sloop trading trips.

Today, locally caught conch, lobster, and fish continue to define local dishes.

The agricultural scene in the country has seen much improvement due to the increased availability of fresh water and modern hydroponics. Both North Caicos and Providenciales have multiple farms that produce tomatoes, cucumbers, papayas, bananas, herbs, and lettuce, and these fresh vegetables are becoming increasingly used throughout the country.

Field of "guinea corn" maize on North Caicos

Local maize, also known as “guinea corn”, at the North Caicos Government Farm.

Interestingly, two of the most famous local dishes, conch fritters and conch salad, are relatively recent culinary inventions that weren't on the menu 100 years ago.

Popular today, deep-fried fish is another relatively new cooking method. In the past, cooking oil was very hard to come by, so light pan frying, poaching, boiling, or roasting was the norm.

A good current example of authentic local cuisine is pan-poached fresh grouper, peas and rice, and a side of locally grown mixed greens.

Regional Influences

Out of the Caribbean, the countries of the Bahamas and Jamaica have especially had an influence in modern Turks and Caicos cuisine.

Unripe sea grapes on Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos

Sea grapes on Providenciales. These tangy little fruits were used as a flavoring.

Because of close geographical ties and natural population movements, the Bahamas has had the heaviest impact, and many conch dishes and stews here were inspired by the neighboring country.

Originating more to the south, flavorful BBQ jerk chicken and fish from Jamaica added another spicy element.

Elements of Haitian cuisine, typically known as Haitian creole, were brought over by immigrants from nearby Haiti. Pork girot is an example of a locally popular and imported Haitian dish.

Turks and Caicos Food Restaurants

When on vacation in the Turks and Caicos, chances are that you’d like to try some authentic island food. What is the best restaurant for Turks and Caicos food? The answer of course depends on who you ask. In our opinion, some of the best choices are the local seafood dishes from Mangrove Bay Restaurant on Providenciales, and Sunset Café & Bar at Cockburn Harbour on South Caicos.