I've fallen hard for the bold, soulful cooking of Guyana, and I'm so excited to share 27 traditional recipes that celebrate this beautiful country. From rich one-pot wonders and spiced curries to flaky patties and sticky sweet desserts, there's a whole world of flavor waiting for you. I can't wait for you to try them all.
1. Gojas
Gojas are the Guyanese version of the Indian pastry, gujiya. They’re fried turnovers with a spiced coconut, brown sugar, and ginger filling. If you haven’t tried this combination of flavors before, get ready for a mind-blowing experience.
2. Guyanese Black Cake
This decadent dessert looks like chocolate cake, but don’t be fooled. There’s no chocolate on this cake at all!
The Guyanese black cake gets its iconic color from being soaked in rum. It’s what makes it ridiculously moist, dense, and rich in flavor.
It’s also studded with rum-soaked fruits and nuts. Think of it as the Guyanese version of the fruitcake.
3. Guyanese Beef Patties
These beef patties will be your newest favorite snack. Buttery and flaky pastry houses a delectable filling of ground beef, peas, and carrots seasoned with garlic, onion, thyme, ketchup, and cassareep. The patties are baked, not fried, so they’re not greasy at all – just purely amazing.
4. Guyanese Pepperpot
Pepperpot is an Amerindian stew that only comes out for Christmas and big celebrations, mostly because it needs a long, slow simmer to get just right. But honestly, please don't save it for once a year!
I'm telling you, the hours it takes are completely worth it. You can throw in beef, pork, mutton… pick your protein and let it work its magic.
5. Guyanese Pancakes
Don't go looking for fluffy flapjacks here, because Guyanese pancakes are something completely different. Inspired by Portuguese malasadas, they're actually adorable little donut holes!
Sure, they're technically dessert, but I say breakfast is the perfect occasion. Starting the day with a plate of these, drizzled with maple syrup, honey, or a quick homemade syrup, just feels like winning.
6. Salara
Salara is a yeasted bread with pinkish swirls and a sweet, coconut filling. It’s a popular street food sold for cheap by bicycle vendors in Guyana.
But of course, homemade is so much better. It looks complicated, but when have I ever shared a difficult recipe with you? This recipe for salara is surprisingly easy, anyone can pull it off.
7. Guyanese Cook-Up Rice
If plain steamed rice makes you yawn, wait until you meet Guyanese cook-up rice. This is a magical one-pot dish: the grains simmer in creamy coconut milk, soaking up all that richness alongside peas and beans, plus whatever meats you have on hand.
It's incredible how a handful of humble ingredients turns into something so deeply satisfying. Every spoonful hits you with pure, cozy joy.
8. Metemgee
Metemgee is this beautiful, plant-powered bowl. It's loaded with yam, cassava, sweet potato, plantains, and other hearty roots.
Everything simmers away in a rich coconut milk broth until it transforms into a sweet, warming soup that gets my taste buds dancing. There's also garlic, thyme, chiles, and habanero tucked in there, so you get a gentle kick that makes it wildly exciting.
9. Cassava Pone
Cassava pone is a dessert made of cassava and pumpkin. Like a cross between a cake and a pudding, it’s delectably moist, sticky, and ooey-gooey.
Besides the sweet cassava, this dessert also contains coconut and butter. It’s flavored with ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper, too.
10. Peas and Rice
After one taste of this peas and rice, I'm pretty sure you'll never look at plain steamed rice the same way again. There's no boring mix of grains and legumes here, oh no.
The rice is cooked with toasted cardamom, thyme, onions, garlic, celery, pepper, butter, and creamy coconut milk. Every single bite is ridiculously good. It's the kind of side dish that threatens to steal the whole meal.
11. Bacon and Fish Rolls
Small pieces of filleted fish are rolled in bacon and baked to perfection. Can you just imagine how delectable that combination is?
It’s like surf and turf on a different level. It’s technically an appetizer, but serve it with peas and rice or roti, and you’ll have a delicious meal!
12. Guyanese Chow Mein
Yes, the Guyanese have their own version of the Chinese chow mein, and it is freakin’ delicious. A mix of noodles, veggies, meats, and a thick, delectable sauce – that’s what I’m talking about. The Chinese staple is given a Guyanese flair with the inclusion of cassareep – a cassava-based sauce.
13. Guyanese Oil Roti
Roti, or paratha, is a crispy-on-the-outside, flaky-on-the-inside Indian flatbread that’s perfect for soaking up thick stews. As you’ve already probably guessed, this scrumptious bread has also been embraced by the Guyanese. In fact, many of their dishes are usually served with roti on the side.
14. Féroce D'Avocat
My dear millennials, this one’s for you. Feroce d’avocat is a combination of salt cod, cassava, habaneros, and wait for it… avocados.
While it seems like an odd mix, it absolutely works. It’s a salty, rich, and creamy dish similar to guacamole. In fact, it’s also sometimes referred to as antillais guacamole.
15. Sponge Cake
Time to head on over to the dessert station! The Guyanese sponge cake is a decadent yellow cake with a moist and dense consistency. While called a sponge cake, it’s actually more similar to a pound cake in texture.
16. Guyanese Boil and Fry Channa
Here's a whole different way to fall in love with chickpeas. You boil them, then fry them up with roasted geera (or cumin) and the transformation from basic to amazing is almost unfair.
That toasted cumin secret changes everything. I love serving this with mango sour, a tangy, spicy condiment that zings everything right up.
17. Guyanese Curried Chickpeas
Vegetarian friends, you're going to want this one in your back pocket. These curried chickpeas are anything but boring, I promise. With butter, a hit of lime juice, curry powder, and a whole crew of warm spices, they turn out so savory and irresistible, you honestly won't miss the meat at all.
18. Guyanese Lime Cookies
Last but not least are these crispy lime cookies that are bursting with citrus flavors and spices. The combination of lime, nutmeg, and cinnamon creates such bright and warming flavors. They’re light and refreshing, so don’t be surprised if you snack on them one after another.
19. Guyana Pholourie
Pholourie is an Indian-influenced dish of deep-fried split peas. The peas are seasoned with curry and other spices, giving them such complex flavors.
The balls are deep-fried, so obviously, they’re very addictive. So much so that you’ll see this snack served at most Guyanese parties and special occasions. You can snack on them on their own, or dunk them in mango sour or chutney for even more flavor.
20. Guyanese Chicken Curry
This chicken curry is everything I crave when I think about Caribbean comfort food. The sauce is thick and savory, blanketing every piece of tender chicken in pure deliciousness, no wonder it's a crowd favorite. Yellow curry powder leads the flavor charge here, but you'll also catch whispers of turmeric, coriander, cumin, garam masala, paprika, and a bay leaf in the background.
21. Guyana Bara
Bara is another dish adopted by the Guyanese from Indian cuisine. These are vegetarian fritters with a split pea base.
Seasoned with cumin, green onion, and turmeric, you can’t deny the wonderful flavors in these crispy fried balls. I’m pretty sure you won’t even notice they’re vegetarian!
22. Coconut Buns
The Guyanese buns are sweet and coconutty. Freshly grated coconut gives the bread a unique texture and flavor.
But don’t feel like you can only use freshly grated coconut here. I understand if you don’t have the time!
23. Guyanese Fish Cakes With Mango Sour
Have you ever eaten your fish cakes with a tangy mango sauce on top? You’re in for a treat!
You can use various types of fish for this recipe – from snapper to trout to catfish. It’ll be crisp on the outside and flaky on the inside, whichever one you pick.
24. Guyanese Ground Provisions
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25. Tamarind Balls
This Guyanese delicacy is like sweet ecstasy. My goodness, its wonderful flavor combinations will tickle your tastebuds like no other food would.
All it takes are three ingredients: fresh tamarind pulp, coconut sugar, and granulated sugar for dusting. But man, the flavor is out-of-this-world fantastic. They’re sweet, salty, tangy, and just plain addictive!
26. Fry Bora With Shrimp and Potatoes
These are long, green beans that originated in China. In Guyana, home cooks chop the beans into shorter pieces and add them to fried rice.
This version, however, does things a little differently. The beans are sauteed in shrimp and potatoes to create a dish that’s a complete meal in itself.
27. Tennis Rolls
They’re freshly baked dinner rolls with a smear of butter and a sharp cheddar cheese filling. They sound simple, but man, they’re terrific.
The smell of the rolls alone is enough to make your mouth water and your tummy rumble. Enjoy this in the morning or the afternoon with your favorite drink for a delightful, light meal.