As beautiful as the islands of Seychelles are, Seychelles food is also equally delectable. Rightly known as Creole or Seychellois cuisine, its flavors have found their inspiration from French, Chinese, and Indian cuisines fused with an interesting blend of its own herbs, spices, and secrets.
Seychelles islands are one of the places where you can expect a variety of tasty seafood, that too, fresh from the ocean. The tropical islands are flourishing with indigenous tropical fruits. And then there are piquant meat curries (a few of them extremely bizarre) to experiment with your taste buds.
Seychelles Food: What To Try
Covering all the flavors on the taste spectrum i.e. sweet, tangy, and spicy, here are a few Creole cuisines of Seychelles and local specials you must try on your exotic island holiday.
1. Grilled Fish
Grilled Fish should be on the topmost priority while trying dishes from the Seychelles cuisine. Being an island country, the taste of the grilled fish here is unparalleled. The fish is so juicy and full of flavors. Pick your favorite fish from a vast variety of red snapper, jobfish, jackfish, and sailfish. There is nothing more you would want to go along with local chilled beer and the views of the ocean.
Suggested Read: 5 Water Sports In Seychelles That’ll Let You Swim, Float, Dip, And Dive, Deep In The Ocean!
Looking To Book An International Holiday?
Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.
2. Breadfruit Chips
Looking for vegetarian food in Seychelles? Breadfruits chips are made for you. Breadfruits is a type of a tropical fruit which is abundantly available on the island. The Creole people consume the versatile fruit in various forms, one of which is the Breadfruit chips. The lightly salted fried chips are the staple munching snack of the island people. Grab a packet and munch on the snacky delight while you are sightseeing around on the island. Get a few packets to get for your homies too.
3. Octopus Curry
If you are into bizarre seafood, you can try the spicy Octopus Curry during your stay on the island. It is one of the most famous dishes in the list of Seychelles traditional food. The locals are in love with the dish and so are the tourists. Get past the mainstream chicken, fish, and mutton curry, and try something new to surprise your taste buds.
Suggested Read: Top 10 Villas In Seychelles: Plan Your Dream Vacay At Your Private Slice Of Paradise!
4. Shark Chutney
Oh, yes! A chutney made with mashed shark meat. While we Indians have a variety of vegetarian chutneys, the Seychelles people have taken the chutney game up a notch. Creoles boil and mash shark meat and mix it with Bilimbi (a local fruit), lime, onion, and turmeric. You can easily find it at any Creole restaurant to savor along with your main dishes. Sometimes they substitute shark meat with dried fish.
5. Satini
Creole cuisine is not all about seafood and bizarre meats. You can also enjoy a salubrious salad like Satini along with your meal. The traditional Satini is made with the finely grated ingredients like unripe fruits like raw papaya or golden apple and mixed with spices and onion. However, a word of caution since the salad is super high on the spiciness level because of the chilies in it. The non-vegetarian version is made with shark meat or fish. The salad is usually savored with main course dishes.
Suggested Read: How To Make The Most Of Your 5D/4N Honeymoon Trip To Seychelles
Planning your holiday but confused about where to go? These travel stories help you find your best trip ever!
Real travel stories. Real stays. Handy tips to help you make the right choice.
6. Ladob
End your sumptuous Creole meal with Ladob, a delectable Seychelles dessert made with either bananas or sweet potato and coconut milk. The fruit is cooked in coconut milk and sugar and flavored with nutmeg, cinnamon, and fresh vanilla. The dessert is so creamy and soft that you will definitely ask for a second serving.
7. Caris Masala
If you are missing the flavors of Indian food in Seychelles, worry not because Creole Caris Masala has got you covered. A lot of Creole cuisine which includes curries is influenced by Indian flavors. Caris Masala is a Creole version of Indian vegetarian Seychelles curry made with an eclectic mix of veggies and a combination of spices like fenugreek, saffron, cumin, cloves, and coriander.
Suggested Read: 6 Ways To Enjoy The Best Of Nightlife In Seychelles
8. Roussettes
If you ever see Rousettes on the menu in any local deli or a restaurant, you will be surprised to be informed that it means fruit bat curry. Rousettes is another bizarre Seychelles local food delicacy on the menu which you can try if you are feeling brave enough. The meat tastes like venison, however, there a several tiny bones you need to be careful while devouring the bat curry.
9. Local Alcoholic Beverages
While you can enjoy the normal plain water with your food in Seychelles, there are a variety of local alcoholic beverages to savor along. Buka and Kalou are two of the famous local fermented alcohols. Kalou is a fermented wine made with the inflorescence of coconut trees and has a sweet and tart taste. Buka is basically a home-brewed rum made with sugarcane. The beer aficionados can sip on the locally brewed beer called SeyBrew beer.
Suggested Read: Best Things To Do On A Family Trip To Seychelles
10. Fresh Fruits
Vegans, vegetarians, and health freaks are in for a treat in Seychelles since you will find a wide variety of tropical fruits growing on the island. You have got mango, avocado, papaya, star fruit, and indigenous breadfruit. Once you have tasted breadfruit, you will return to the island just for the fruit. The best part is fruits come cheap and are abundantly available. So, you are sorted for your breakfast menu.
Suggested Read: Maldives Vs Seychelles For Honeymoon: Where Would You Like To Go?
Where To Find The Authentic Seychelles Food?
- There are quite a number of local Creole restaurants where you can find traditional Seychellois cuisine. Le Reduit restaurant, Mimi’s Cafe, and Mi mum Takeaway are some of the best local restaurants on the island where you can experience authentic Creole flavors.
- If you are staying at a local guest house, you can expect to be served with traditional homemade dishes garnished with local flavors and love. Make sure the place you are staying at provides an option of home-cooked meals. Villa Cordia on Mahe Island and Oceane Self Catering on La Digue Island are the two places that serve home-cooked Creole meals.
Further Read: 10 Mahe Island Resorts That Redefine Luxury & Classy Holiday Experience
Next time when you are on a holiday in Seychelles, it is recommended that you try and experiment with the local Seychellois cuisine. The flavors of the Seychelles food are as unique as the unmatched beauty of the archipelago.
Disclaimer: TravelTriangle claims no credit for images featured on our blog site unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to its respectful owners. We try to link back to original sources whenever possible. If you own the rights to any of the images, and do not wish them to appear on TravelTriangle, please contact us and they will be promptly removed. We believe in providing proper attribution to the original author, artist or photographer.
Frequently Asked Questions About Seychelles Cuisine
What is Seychelles food culture?
The Seychelles food culture includes staple food like fish, seafood and shellfish dishes which is often served with rice.
What is the main ingredient in most dishes in Seychelles?
The Seychelles beef, the local name for the famous turtle meat is the main ingredient in most of the dishes in Seychelles.
Looking To Book A Holiday Package?
Book memorable holidays on TravelTriangle with 650+ verified travel agents for 65+ domestic and international destinations.
People Also Read:
Seychelles In April For Couples Mauritius Food Luxurious Seychelles Vacation
If some people enjoy window-shopping, Dhaarna takes pleasure in day-dreaming about solo trips when she’s not working. A gypsy at heart, she likes to spend her money on vacations, plants, and all things boho.
