It’s widely known that weekends are reserved for sleeping in, lounging around on the couch, and, above all, brunch. Unfortunately, you can only have so many eggs Bennies and frittatas before falling into the dreaded brunch rut. If you’re craving something with a little more spice on your Sunday morning, Caribbean cuisine offers a delicious mix of exotic spices and tropical flavors, upping the ante on your weekend breakfast.
When it comes to brunch, the Islands do it better, and it’s all thanks to their ability to transform basic foods with extraordinary flavors. Here are some of the best Caribbean brunch dishes you’ll find anywhere.
1. Jerk Chicken
Photo courtesy of vividbistro.com
Jerk rub consists of a number of seasonings, including cloves, cinnamon, and chipotle powder. Some places cook it twice, once the stove and once in the oven, to really soak in that delicious flavor.
2. Sweet Plantains
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No need for cheesecakes or crème brûlée. Sweet plantains are all you need. Coated in a crispy sugar shell, sweet plantains evoke a dark sweet flavor that’s as rich as a tan from the Caribbean sun.
3. Codfish Fritters
Photo courtesy @crandleberries on Instagram
Fried fish never tasted so good. Dip it in some pineapple salsa or any chutney, and damn, you got some serious eats going.
4. Lobster Mac and Cheese
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Mac and cheese is common brunch fare, but you haven’t had it like this before. Tender cooked lobster is added in the mix to make for a spicy twist on an original favorite, automatically making it ten times better than your favorite baked macaroni and cheese.
5. Butter Rum Waffles
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Buttermilk waffles and fried chicken are so old school. Whenever you can, try some expertly seasoned jerk chicken on top of sweet butter rum waffles, a major upgrade on what you thought was already delicious.
6. Fried Escovitch
Photo courtesy of vividbistro.com
These crispy, fried thin strips of fish will replace your ordinary chicken strips in a heartbeat. They’re marinated in vinegar and onions, among other seasonings, packing in flavor you never knew could come from a fish.
7. Curry Shrimp Scampi
Photo courtesy of vividbistro.com
People don’t typically associate the Caribbean islands with pasta, but they seem to have gotten it right by adding curried shrimp on top. Seafood is a big deal down there, and we’re not complaining because it sure does beat the plain old shrimp scampi.
If you’re having major cravings for Caribbean food now (and really, who wouldn’t?), you can satisfy those munchies at Webster Hall’s Websy Boozy Caribbean brunch happening on Saturday, July 9 in NYC. We promise it’ll be just as good as it sounds.