ExploFood · Africa
What to eat in Cape Verde
Four dishes to try in Cape Verde, the most typical first. One is vegetarian.
Four dishes to try in Cape Verde
Cachupa
Slow-cooked stew of hominy corn, beans, vegetables and meat or fish.
How to have it: The national dish; try leftover 'cachupa guisada' fried with an egg and sausage for breakfast.
Pastel
Fried pastry with a spicy tuna filling.
How to have it: Look for 'pastel com diabo dentro' (devil inside) at snack bars and markets.
Canja
Thick chicken and rice soup.
How to have it: Served at family gatherings and festivals, and as a comfort dish when someone is unwell.
Grogue
Strong sugarcane spirit distilled on the islands.
How to have it: Santo Antão produces the best-known grogue; also try ponche, a sweet version with molasses.
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Questions
What food is Cape Verde famous for?
Cachupa (slow-cooked stew of hominy corn, beans, vegetables and meat or fish) comes first on our list, followed by Pastel, Canja and Grogue.
What is the national dish of Cape Verde?
Ask ten people and you get several answers. The dish we put first for Cape Verde is Cachupa: slow-cooked stew of hominy corn, beans, vegetables and meat or fish. The national dish; try leftover 'cachupa guisada' fried with an egg and sausage for breakfast.
Which dishes in Cape Verde are vegetarian?
One of the four on this page is vegetarian as usually made: Grogue. Recipes vary, so ask about stock, lard or fish sauce.
What street food should I try in Cape Verde?
Pastel (fried pastry with a spicy tuna filling).
What do people drink in Cape Verde?
Grogue: strong sugarcane spirit distilled on the islands.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, where you can also tick off the ones you have tried. Recipes vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Tick off every dish you try in Cape Verde
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app, with links to Wikipedia. Recipes and names vary by region.