Aruba, the “Happy Island,” is a delightful melting pot of cultures, and this vibrant mix is wonderfully reflected in its cuisine. While the Dutch settled here in 1634, Aruba is home to over 90 nationalities, each contributing unique flavors and traditions. From African to Dutch, South American to Indonesian, and Spanish to Indian, the blend of culinary influences has created a diverse and flavorful food scene. Exploring the answer to “What Food Is Aruba Known For” is like embarking on a delicious adventure with countless tastes and nuances.
Savory Delights: Exploring Aruba’s Signature Dishes
So, what food is Aruba known for? The answer lies in a variety of dishes, each telling a story of the island’s rich heritage.
Pan Bati: This flatbread, whose name translates to “beaten bread,” is a staple in Aruban cuisine. Made from corn flour, it’s traditionally cooked in a cazuela, a clay baking dish of Spanish origin. Perfect for soaking up delicious soups and stews, or enjoyed as a sweet breakfast treat topped with jam.
Pastechi: Known as Aruba’s national snack, Pastechis are Aruba’s version of a Latin American empanada. Instead of a cornmeal crust, Aruba’s popular finger food has a crescent-shaped pastry shell. It’s stuffed with beef, chicken, tuna, cheese, ham, or vegetables, often mixed with raisins, cumin, nutmeg, and sometimes hot peppers.
Sopi (Soups): A must-try, the variety of “sopi” reflects the island’s diverse nationalities. Cool island soup, a refreshing fruit soup with pineapple, cantaloupe, apricot, and papaya, is perfect for a hot day. For heartier options, try erwtensoep, a traditional Dutch pea soup, or sopi mondongo, tripe soup. Yambo, a gumbo made with okra, and sopi di pampuna, a pumpkin soup, are also popular. Fish soups, such as sopi di pisca, oyster soup (sopi oester), and lobster bisque, are readily available.
Arroz Moro: Also known as “arros moro,” is a rice and beans side dish. On several Caribbean islands, the item is known as “rice ‘n’ peas.” Aruba’s version mixes fried rice with red kidney beans and a red sauce made from tomato paste and soy sauce.
Funchi: A popular, polenta-like side dish, funchi is served with stews and fish dishes. Cooled funchi is often cut into slices and also served with stews and fish. Funchi fries make great snacks. The mush is poured into a baking tray, cooled in the refrigerator, cut into French fry-like pieces, coated with olive oil, and baked.
Fresh Seafood: Abundant and prepared in various ways, fresh seafood is a cornerstone of Aruban cuisine. Grilled, fried, or covered in Creole sauce, you can find wahoo, snapper, shrimp, lobster, mahi-mahi, and grouper. Zeerover, a wharfside eatery, is a local favorite. Don’t miss keri keri (shredded shark) or pisca hasa creole (fried fish with Creole sauce).
Stoba (Stews): Comforting and flavorful, stews are a staple in Aruba. Cabrito stoba (goat stew) and carni stoba (beef stew) are simmered in a tomato-based sauce until tender. Calco stoba (conch stew) can be found in a white wine vinegar stock or a tomato base.
Keshi Yena: A signature Aruban dish, Keshi Yena consists of meat, onions, peppers, and raisins cooked inside a hollowed-out Gouda or Edam cheese rind. This dish is attributed to 17th-century slaves brought to Aruba by the Dutch, who used discarded cheese rinds to create a flavorful meal.
Sweet Endings: Indulging in Aruban Desserts
Answering “what food is Aruba known for” also means exploring the sweet side.
Cocada: An Aruban grated coconut and sugar candy, sometimes made with condensed milk for a fudge-like consistency. This sweet treat is often served on pieces of coconut shell.
Dutch Pancakes: Inspired by Dutch “pannenkoeken”, Aruban pancakes are large and thin, like crepes. Enjoy them filled with sweet or savory ingredients, from apples and bananas to salami, ham, or cheese. Don’t forget to try “poffertjes,” small, bite-sized pancakes covered with sugar.
Dutch Chocolate: Dutch chocolate gets its smooth, mellow flavor from Dutch cocoa, which is processed with an alkali that neutralizes the natural acidity of the cocoa beans. Look for Verkade and Droste chocolate bars, boxes, and cookies in grocery stores and specialty shops.
More Aruban Flavors to Discover
Bolita di Keshi: Kids—and adults—love to snack on bolita di keshi. These deep-fried cheese balls consist of a mix of cheddar or other yellow cheese and a white cheese such as ricotta or feta, along with eggs and cornstarch.
Pica di Papaya: A spicy Aruban hot sauce made with Madame Jeanette peppers and papayas. The fruit adds a sweet note to the heat.
Ayacas: Arriving in Aruba from South America, each family has a special recipe for the traditional Christmas dish. The basics include smearing plantains or banana leaves with funchi, a cornmeal dough. The cook places a mixture of chicken or pork, spices, olives, raisins, prunes, and cashews on top of the leaf, then folds the leaf around the mix, and ties the little package with a string to hold the filling before boiling it in water.
Bolo Preto: Arubans serve bolo preto, a black fruit cake, at anniversaries, birthdays, weddings, and other special occasions. Locals soak prunes, currants, raisins, dates, and figs in a mixture of cognac, port wine, and cherry cordial for two days, two weeks, or in some recipes, two months.
My Way Sauce: One of the best things to do in Aruba if you’re relaxing near Eagle Beach is to take a food break at Mama’s Food Truck. The Aruban steak, pork chops, chicken, and fish entrees pop with flavor when paired with My Way Sauce, Mama’s special lemon butter mixture.
Patacon: Tia Rosa Snack in Savanata won first prize in one of Aruba’s annual food truck competitions for its patacon. The many-layered Venezuelan sandwich is a mouth-stuffing combination of ingredients. Instead of bread, fried plantains bracket the enticing beef, chicken, cheese, ham, and fried egg concoction.
Burgers, Aruba style: It’s okay to crave a burger. After all, American fare is part of the island’s melting pot. But some of the best burgers on the island are not American or Aruban, but actually Colombian versions of the U.S. classic served by Chalo Burgers, a food truck in Palm Beach.
Experience the Flavors of Aruba
From savory stews and fresh seafood to sweet candies and Dutch-inspired treats, the answer to “what food is Aruba known for” is as diverse and inviting as the island itself. The cuisine of Aruba is a testament to its multicultural heritage, offering a unique and unforgettable culinary journey.
