On the sidelines of the International Agricultural Show which was held at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles from the 26th February to the 6th March 2022, where Réunion Island cuisine was in the spotlight, let’s discover the gastronomy of the Island of Réunion!
The Réunion cuisine is an integral part of #Réunion people’s culture and is known for its rich, diverse and colourful flavour. The people of Réunion are very inventive in #culinary matters and like to dig into the vegetables and fruits grown on their island. It is mainly composed of ‘’grains’’, such as lentils, ‘’#rougails ‘’and curries.
Take for example the ”chouchou” also called ”christophine” which is a vegetable that is part of the Cucurbitaceae family and you will find this vegetable all over the island. It can be served as a gratin, stuffed or pan-fried and much more. Stewed with a white sauce and cheese that is gratinated, a delight!
Seafood is not to be outdone, prawns and crabs are present in almost all Reunion starters. Not to mention the famous ‘rougail sausages! The dishes are mostly served with rice. The dishes can be accompanied either by #brèdes (the young stems of the chouchou or other vegetables, often presented fried or raw), or by pickles. Pickles are prepared at home or can be purchased as a can of blanched vegetables then marinated in vinegar, oil and spices. There are pieces of green beans, carrots, bamboo, lemons.
How can we forget the desserts! #Lychee and vanilla tarts (flagship product of the country and which recently obtained its PGI label (Protected Geographical Indication), banana and coconut cake, passion fruit mousse or even sorbet with soursop Reunion takes you on a journey with its ginger, guava, jujube, persimmon, pitaya or coconut jams.
All of this is mouth-watering!
