Top 10 culinary specialities in Saint-Denis

Landlocked in the Indian Ocean, Réunion Island is as much about its landscapes as it is about its cuisine. You’ll have the chance to discover the exotic, spicy flavours of traditional cuisine. Réunionese cuisine is influenced by Creole, Chinese, African and Indian traditions. As a result, there are a multitude of diverse specialities to suit everyone. Get your taste buds ready, because they’ll explode when they come into contact with the spicy dishes. You’ll taste excellent dishes and foods that are only found on this island, making the experience unique.

1- Chilli sweets

An aperitif without bonbons piments is not a traditional Reunionese aperitif. These are small spicy fritters made from a pigeon pea paste mixed with spices such as chilli, onion, turmeric and cumin. The Reunionese have adopted this Indian speciality, which is now an institution in Reunionese cuisine. These chilli sweets are accompanied by a sauce that is also spicy. You can never have too much chilli!

2- Sausage rougail

Rougail saucisse is one of Réunion’s must-try dishes. Like bonbons piments, this dish is spicy! But rest assured, there are also non-spicy versions. This dish is made from smoked, spicy Creole sausages, cooked in an equally spicy tomato sauce with onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, thyme and chilli. This dish is served with rice, lentils or red beans.

3- Chicken curry

There is no such thing as a bland dish on Réunion Island. Every dish is as colourful as it is spicy. And chicken curry is no exception. The chicken is marinated in a combination of foods and spices such as garlic, turmeric, ginger, cumin and coriander. It is then cooked with onions, tomatoes and chilli. As with sausage rougail, chicken curry is a perfect accompaniment to white rice.

4- Banana sweets

I promise this time there’s no chilli! The bananas are cut into thin slices and then fried until golden brown. The banana sweets are then dipped in a cane sugar syrup before being flavoured with vanilla or cinnamon.

5- Smoked ti jacques

The ti jacques boucané is a concentrate of foods and spices much appreciated by the locals. The main ingredient is the ti jacques (or jackfruit). This tropical fruit, originally from India, is very special. As well as growing directly on the trunk or branches, its smell can be repulsive. Once ripe, the ti jacques is smoked. It is then sliced and simmered with spices, garlic, onions, thyme and ginger. Smoked ti jacques is served with rice.

6- Duck with vanilla

Réunion is renowned for its high-quality vanilla. It is one of the best vanillas in the world, along with Madagascar and the Comoros. Vanilla is not just used as a sweetener, as it usually is in mainland France. This delicious dish consists of pieces of duck simmered in a vanilla-scented sauce. The duck is accompanied by a number of spices, including ginger, turmeric, chilli and garlic, creating a delicious contrast between the sweetness of the vanilla and the spiciness of the spices. As with all our meals, the vanilla duck is served with rice.

7- The corks

Reunionese bouchons are small meat bites that delight the taste buds when served as an aperitif. This dish was inspired by Chinese cuisine, but the Réunionese have made it their own, making it one of the island’s favourite appetisers. The stuffing is made from minced pork, garlic, onions and aromatic herbs. This stuffing is coated in a thin pastry before being either steamed or fried. To accompany the bouchons, there’s nothing better than a good chilli sauce.

8- Cabri massalé

On Réunion Island, a cabri is a goat. This dish is made with a multitude of spices, making it very tasty. Specifically, it consists of goat meat mixed with garlic, turmeric, ginger, chilli and massalé. Massalé is a Reunion spice powder made from cumin, mustard seeds, coriander and fenugreek (an aromatic plant). The meat is simmered with onions and tomatoes before being served with rice and the famous rougail sauce for added flavour.

9- Arranged rum

A true symbol of Réunionese gastronomy, arranged rum is renowned the world over. It’s just as popular as an aperitif as a digestif. This delicious alcoholic drink is made by macerating fresh fruit such as pineapple or mango, spices and aromatic herbs in white rum for several months. There are a multitude of varieties, making each rum unique. Given its popularity, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting hold of some.

10- Cilaos wine

Cilaos wine is the first European wine to be produced in the southern hemisphere. The vines are right in the heart of the cirque de Cilaos. The volcanic, mineral-rich soil is ideal for viticulture and produces an exceptional wine. Cilaos wines differ from so-called “traditional” wines in that they are very fruity. There are passion fruit, pineapple and litchi wines, to name but a few.