Easter Sunday is more than just a day of spiritual celebration. it’s a vibrant tapestry of culture, family, and mouth-watering dishes that span the Black diaspora across the Americas. From hearty feasts in African-American households to vibrant flavors in the Caribbean and down through Afro-Latin tables, the traditions are as rich and diverse as our communities themselves.
African-American Easter Traditions
In African-American households across North America, Easter Sunday often means tables heavy with comfort food. The iconic glazed ham, beautifully browned and glistening with honey or pineapple, often takes center stage. It’s flanked by crispy fried chicken seasoned to perfection, and side dishes that warm the soul: baked macaroni and cheese bubbling golden from the oven, slow-simmered collard greens, and candied yams dripping with butter and brown sugar.
Family and tradition intertwine over dishes like potato salad, deviled eggs topped with paprika, and freshly baked cornbread. And no Easter table is complete without sweet potato pie or coconut cake,classic desserts that feel like love in every bite.
Celebrating Caribbean Easter Flavors
Moving south to the Caribbean, Easter traditions take a flavorful twist. Jamaicans eagerly anticipate their beloved escovitch fish,a crispy fried fish topped with a tangy sauce of vinegar, peppers, and onions,paired perfectly with traditional rice and peas cooked gently in coconut milk. Easter wouldn’t be the same without bun and cheese, a uniquely sweet, spiced bun enjoyed alongside sharp cheddar, creating a memorable sweet-savory duo.
Trinidad and Tobago share their warmth and spice through dishes like callaloo,a creamy stew brimming with greens, coconut milk, and seafood or salted meats,and curry goat, rich with Caribbean spices. Ackee and saltfish, Jamaica’s national pride, also makes a deliciously savory appearance during Easter brunch.
Afro-Latin Culinary Heritage
Venturing further south, Afro-Latin communities infuse Easter celebrations with their own dynamic culinary heritage. Brazil’s moqueca de peixe, a fish stew rich in coconut milk, tomatoes, and palm oil, brings families together around tables bursting with flavor and tradition. In the Dominican Republic, Easter’s sweetness shines through habichuelas con dulce,a creamy dessert made with red beans, coconut milk, and spices,and pescado con coco, fresh fish cooked lovingly in coconut sauce.
Puerto Rico’s Easter spread highlights dishes like bacalao guisado (salted cod stew) and arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), embodying festive hospitality and community. Cuban families embrace bacalao a la vizcaína, a comforting cod stew, and congrí, a rice-and-black-beans dish symbolizing unity.
In Colombia and Ecuador, Afro-descendant communities bring the sea’s bounty to their Easter tables. Colombian sancocho de pescado is a hearty fish stew filled with plantains, corn, and cassava, while Ecuador’s encocado de pescado delicately blends fish with rich coconut milk and fresh herbs.
A Celebration of Heritage and Flavor
No matter where we gather, our Easter tables tell stories of resilience, connection, and joy through every carefully seasoned dish. From North America’s comforting soul food, through the Caribbean’s vibrant dishes, to the warm and flavorful recipes of Afro-Latin cultures, Easter flavors beautifully capture the spirit and heritage of Black communities across the Americas.
This Easter, let’s savor our shared heritage and celebrate the dishes that nourish both body and soul.
