Timorese food · Main dish
Caril (Timorese curry)
A mild, creamy chicken curry made with coconut and roasted capsicum.
Last verified: Checked against a Timorese cookbook and published food sources
By David
Quick answer · as of October 2026
Caril is Timor-Leste's curry: usually chicken, cooked in a sauce of coconut and roasted capsicum. It is milder and creamier than Indian or Thai curries. The name comes from the Portuguese word for curry, and the dish reflects the Portuguese colonial trade links with Goa.
- Type
- Main dish
- Origin
- Timorese, with Portuguese and Goan roots
- Vegetarian
- Contains meat or fish
- Also called
- Timorese chicken curry
On this page
What is Caril?
Wikipedia describes caril as "a mild chicken curry" made with a roasted capsicum and coconut paste, and Koryo Tours calls it a local comfort food with Portuguese and Goan trade roots that is milder and creamier than Indian or Thai curries.
Curry-style dishes are common on Timorese restaurant menus, often made with fish, pumpkin or eggplant as well as chicken.
How it is made
- Capsicum (bell pepper or mild chilli) is roasted and pounded with coconut into a paste.
- Chicken simmers in the sauce until tender.
- It is served with rice.
Where to try it
Look for caril or curry dishes at restaurants serving Timorese home cooking in Dili. Dilicious is known for curry-style Timorese dishes, including pumpkin and eggplant curries.
See all restaurants and cafés in Timor-Leste.
Tips
- If you prefer less heat, caril is one of the safest Timorese dishes to order.
More Timorese dishes
Main dish
Feijoada
Also: feijoada Timor, feijoada timorense
A Portuguese-style bean stew, made in Timor-Leste with pork and chorizo or as a vegetable version.
Vegetarian versions exist
Main dish
Batar da'an
Also: batar daan
Corn, mung beans and pumpkin stewed together: Timor-Leste's everyday comfort food.
Vegetarian
Relish
Ai-manas (chilli pickle)
Also: aimanas, aimanas budu, ai manas
Crushed chilli with salt, garlic and lime or bilimbi: the table sauce served with almost everything.
Vegetarian
Frequently asked questions
Is Timorese curry spicy?
Caril is usually mild. Heat comes from the chilli relish served on the side.
Sources
Official sites, operators and references we checked for this page.
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