country Essentials · 6 foods
Aruba Essentials
A considered first route through Aruba: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all Aruba foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
6 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
Aruba
Stuffed Cheese
Keshi Yena
Aruban keshi yena bakes a whole cheese shell around spiced meat, olives, capers, and raisins.
Aruba
Aruban Fried Empanada
Pastechi
Aruban pastechi is a crescent fried pastry filled with cheese, meat, tuna, or vegetables for breakfast.
Aruba
Cornmeal Polenta
Funchi
Smooth Aruban funchi is molded or sliced beside stews and fish to absorb their sauces.
Aruba
Aruban Cornmeal Pancake
Pan Bati
Pan bati is Aruba's thin cornmeal pancake, served sweet or savory alongside island soups and stews.
Aruba
Cheese Balls
Bolita di Keshi
Crisp bolita di keshi packs grated Gouda or Edam into a fried snack sold at Aruban bakeries.
Aruba
Christmas Tamale
Ayaca
Aruba's Christmas ayaca wraps seasoned cornmeal, meat, fruit, and olives in banana leaves before boiling.