The Vibrant Caribbean Pot Vol 2
Soup Season Cookbook
Curry Cookbook
Caribbean Christmas Ebook
Get My Cookbooks
Shop Now

One Kitchen, Many Cultures

/Gluten Free (Page 21)

How To Make Haitian Griot.

haitian griot recipe (9)

While this is my take on the iconic Haitian Griot, it’s heavily influenced by the way my friend’s mom would make it when I’d find excuses to stay to play Super Mario at their apartment. Pieces of pork (usually a cheap cut with marbling of fat) seasoned with herbs, braised until tender and finally fried until golden and crisp. Back in those days playing Nintendo and patiently waiting for his mom to ask if I’d stay for dinner, my mind was never far from the Pikliz (Picklese) which automatically made it’s way on the table.

You’ll Need…

3-4 lbs pork (cheap cut)
1 lime or lemon (to wash the pork)
3/4 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
5 sprigs thyme
5 cloves
1 tablespoon Epis
1 cup sour orange juice
2 cloves garlic (diced)
2 medium onions (diced)
1 scallion (chopped)
1 scotch bonnet pepper (chopped)

* If you cannot source the sour-orange juice, you can use the juice of 1 lime and an orange combined.

haitian griot recipe (1)

Cut the pieces of pork into 1 inch pieces and wash with the lime or lemon juice along with some cool water. Drain well and season with all the ingredients mentioned above. Stir well, then place in a pot with a lid and on a medium flame.

haitian griot recipe (2)

haitian griot recipe (3)

You’ll notice that I included Epis zepizs into my recipe, which for some is not traditional (varies), but since I had some in the fridge I opted for that extra layer of flavor. Place the lid on the pot and bring to a boil. As soon as it comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer (lid on) and cook for about 40 minutes or until the pieces of pork are tender. I used a boneless piece of pork, but can opt for pork with bones.

haitian griot recipe (4)

After about 40 minutes remove off the flame, drain and allow to air dry for a bit.

haitian griot recipe (5)

Heat about 2 cups of vegetable oil in a pan (I may have not mentioned that in the ingredient list) on a med/high heat, then add the pieces of pork. It’s important that the pork is dry or the hot oil could potentially jump back at you and you’ll get burned. Fry for about 3-5 minutes – basically until golden with crisp edges.

haitian griot recipe (6)

haitian griot recipe (7)

Drain on paper towels and serve warm. If you wanted you can sprinkle on some salt while it’s still hot.. personally the salt we seasoned it with from the start was enough for me. I cut the scotch bonnet pepper to get the full blast of the Caribbean Sunshine, but you can float it whole (don’t break) for a gentle kick. Remember to remove the pepper before draining/frying and to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling such lethal peppers.

haitian griot recipe (8)

My favorite way to enjoy Griot is on sandwiches, topped with Picklese!

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

The Ultimate Hummus Recipe.

spicy hummus recipe (8)

It’s funny how I kept telling people that I’m not a fan of Hummus and just didn’t understand the sort of current ‘Hummus Hype“..  until I started making my own. While Hummus may seem exotic, it’s probably one of the simplest recipes to put together. There’s no cooking involved, can be done in under 5 minutes and you can play around with flavors you like. In my case I like my Hummus to have a slight kick, with a subtle smoky undertone. Any excuse to put “Caribbean Sunshine” (scotch bonnet peppers) to use.

You’ll Need…

2 cups chickpeas (can)
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoon Tahini
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon olive oil
juice 1 1/2 lemons
1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
2 tablespoon water

For presentation:
– chopped parsley
– few whole chickpeas
– paprika
– drizzle olive oil

Important! If doing this hummus vegan or gluten free, please go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure the recipe meets with your specific vegan and/or gluten free dietary needs.

Drain and rinse the chickpeas (from a can) with cool water, then place in your food processor.

spicy hummus recipe (1)

Char the scotch bonnet pepper (use any spicy pepper you like or have available) over an open flame. In my case I used a long tongs to hold the pepper in place directly over a burner on my stove. Should take less than a minute to char. set aside to cool. Remember if you’re using a metal tongs to be mindful that direct contact with the heat will make it go hot to touch.

spicy hummus recipe (2)

Smash the garlic and add it along with everything else to the food processor. When the scotch bonnet is cool enough to handle, remove the seeds and give it a rough chop before placing as much as you can handle into the food processor. Keep the seeds if you want it REALLY spicy. It’s VERY important that you wash your hands with soap and water immediately handing hot peppers.

spicy hummus recipe (3)

spicy hummus recipe (4)

Pulse to start, then puree until smooth. You may need to push down the sides as you go along. Add a bit more water, oil or lemon juice if you find it’s overly thick. If you’re watching the video below, please note the ingredient list above was adjusted accordingly.

spicy hummus recipe (5)

 

spicy hummus recipe (6)

 

spicy hummus recipe (7)

 

Pour into your serving bowl and garnish with some chopped parsley, paprika and a drizzle of olive oil. You can store this hummus in the fridge for a week or so (airtight container).

Did you know? The last group of immigrants (1904) to venture to colonial Trinidad originated in the region previously known as Greater Syria, which comprises of present day Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Lebanon. Many of the Lebanese hailed from the villages of Buhandoun and Amyoun while the Syrians came from villages in the ‘Valley of the Christians.’ These Arabs emigrated to the Caribbean from as early as 1904 in an attempt to escape religious persecution and economic hardship in their native countries.

Trinidad’s thriving economy, political stability and pristine environment proved to be the ideal location where these displaced Arabs could establish new lives.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Tasty Vegetarian 3 Spinach Rice

vegetarian spinach rice (9)

Looking back I think I originally documented this recipe late summer / early fall last year.. when my garden was loaded with the ‘spinach’ I’m about to use in this recipe. I’m using the word ‘spinach’ a bit loosely, as I’m really referring to several types of greens when I do. I’m a HUGE fan of greens so I usually plant several varieties in my garden every year. I’m told that as a kid on the islands my favorites (bhagi aka greens) were Dasheen Bush (tender leaves of the dasheen plant), Pak Choi and Chorai (Jamaican Callalloo)… mom never had a problem with me eating when she would cook those dishes.

You’ll Need…

2-3 cups chopped Jamaican Callaloo
2-3 cups chopped Kale
2-3 cups chopped Swiss Chard
1 teaspoon salt (adjust)
1/2 med onion (diced)
2 cloves garlic (crushed)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 sprigs thyme
2 scallions
1/4 teaspoon allspice
2 cups water
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 scotch bonnet pepper
2 cups parboiled brown rice

Important: If doing this recipe gluten free please go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Wash, drain and trim the different greens (I cut into 1 cm ribbons) and set aside. Don’t use the tough stems of the Jamaican Callaloo (Chorai) and Kale.

vegetarian spinach rice (1)

vegetarian spinach rice (2)

In a wide pot/pan heat the olive oil on a med/low flame, then go in with the diced onion, chopped scallions, smashed garlic, black pepper, allspice and thyme. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.

vegetarian spinach rice (3)

Start adding all the chopped greens to the pot and stir and add the salt.

vegetarian spinach rice (4)

It’s now time to add the washed rice (place the rice in a bowl, cover with water and move the grains between your fingers.. the water will go cloudy. drain and repeat until the water is clear. or you can place the rice in a strainer and run cool water over it.. massage until the water runs clear) and mix with everything else in the pot.

vegetarian spinach rice (5)

vegetarian spinach rice (6)

It’s now time to crank up the heat to high and go in with the coconut milk and water.

vegetarian spinach rice (7)

As it comes to a boil, place the whole scotch bonnet on top (don’t break – we want the flavors of the oils on the skin and NOT the raw heat). Stir well, cover the pot and reduce the heat to a gentle simmer.

vegetarian spinach rice (8)

It took about 22-25 minutes to cook. Turn off the heat, lid still on and allow it to continue cool/cooking with the residual heat. After about 15 minutes, you can now go in with a fork and fluff the rice. Do remember to remove the scotch bonnet pepper before you fluff the rice to ensure you don’t mistakenly break it. Once broken it will release that Caribbean Sunshine (heat).

vegetarian spinach rice (10)

An amazing one pot vegetarian rice dish (probably vegan too?) packed with flavors of the islands. Do keep an eye on the level of liquid as it cooks (add more boiling water if necessary) and remember to taste it for salt near the end and adjust accordingly. You can always add vegetable stock instead of water, but be mindful of the sodium level. or go in with chicken stock if not making this vegetarian.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Simple Oven Roasted Sea Bass.

sea bass recipe (5)

Did you get a chance to give the Caribbean Fish Stew Using Fresh Cod a test drive yet? As we continue in this #FishFrday mini-series, I’ve got a super simple way to do a whole fish in the oven. Using a Sea Bass (what’s on sale at the fish store currently) as our main ingredient, we’ll enhance things with some ginger, scallion, lemon and sliced fennel. Yea, the fennel was on sale so I was convinced by my wallet to bring it home from the grocery store. Since Fennel is not your typical “Caribbean” ingredient, you can use a large sliced onion instead.

You’ll Need…

1 Sea Bass (1-2lbs)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 med fennel (sliced)
2 scallions (julienne + sliced)
1-2 tablespoon light soy sauce
2-3 tablespoon olive oil
small piece of ginger (julienne)
1 small lemon (sliced)
1 bird’s eye pepper (optional)

Important: If doing this dish gluten free do go through the list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Especially the Soy Sauce – get a gluten free version.

Prep your ingredients.. slice, julienne etc. Wash the fish (hopefully your fish market person would have cleaned it for you) and give it two cuts on the belly (each side). With the Fennel I removed the outer layer, gave it  a good wash and sliced about 1/2 cm thick.

sea bass recipe (1)

Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in your roasting dish, place a layer of the sliced fennel and rest the fish on top of it. As we prep the fish, preheat your oven to 400 F.

Open the cavity of the fish and go in with half the salt and black pepper, then 3/4 of the ginger and white parts of the scallion. Then try to get some of the sliced cherry (I think I used grape) tomatoes, which I sliced in 1/2. Finally I tuck one bird’s eye pepper in for a little kick and two slices of the lemon for a citrus punch.

sea bass recipe (2)

Basically all you have to do next is put everything remaining on top /side of the fish, drizzle the remaining olive oil and go in with the rest of the salt and black pepper. Be sure to drizzle on the light soy sauce over the fish as well.. the flavors will be insane! Then place on the middle rack of the oven uncovered for 25-30 minutes (depends on the size/thickness of your fish).

sea bass recipe (3)

By roasting uncovered we’ll char the tomatoes so they’ll burst with sweetness. Finally after about 25 minutes, I cranked-up the heat to “broil” (about 525 F) for abut 5 minutes  to give everything a lovely color.

sea bass recipe (4)

A tasty one-dish fish recipe which is super simple to make and looks absolutely stunning in that baking dish (I’m sure you’ll agree). Pescatarians, I’m sure you’ll jump on testing this recipe and for those of you doing the Lent thing.. yea, your boi Chris do read you email requests. You can certainly double up on the recipe if making more than one fish. If you decide to use a much larger fish, do increase the amount of salt and cooking time.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Caribbean Fish Stew Using Fresh Cod.

cod fish stew (10)

I may have mentioned in previous ‘fish’ recipe posts that as a young fella on the islands (along with my siblings) we had NO luv for fish or any sort of seafood, except for shrimp and fried slices of King Fish. However as an adult I can’t get enough of everything coming out of the ocean. With many requests for fish recipes, especially with Easter and Good Friday just around the corner, I thought I’d share this one using cod with you.

You’ll Need…

1-2 lbs Cod (cubed 1 inch pieces)
1 med onion (sliced)
2 cloves garlic (diced fine)
1/2 orange bell pepper (cubed)
1/2 yellow bell pepper (cubed)
2 scallions (chopped 1 inch)
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (sliced)
1/2 teaspoon smoky paprika (hot)
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoon achiote oil (or olive oil)
2 tablespoons parsley (chopped)
1 stalk celery (sliced thin)
4 sprigs thyme (remove leaves off stems)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 med tomato (diced)
splash of water
1/2 lemon (juice)

IMPORTANT! If doing this recipe gluten free, be sure to go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Especially the tomato paste.. in the event there’s any thickening agent with gluten in it.

How To Make Achiote Oil (roucou | occo): Video Tutorial Here!

cod fish stew (1)

cod fish stew (2)

Heat the oil in a wide pan (one with a lid) on a low heat, then go in with the onion and garlic. Make sure the heat is now on very low as we don’t want to burn the garlic. Allow this to cook gently for 3-4 minutes.

cod fish stew (3)

Up-next we can add the diced bell peppers, sliced celery and scotch bonnet pepper (be mindful that you can control the heat level by how much scotch bonnet you add). Take the heat up to medium and stir well. Cook for 2 minutes.

cod fish stew (4)

Now add the tomato paste and paprika and stir well. Go in with the black pepper, thyme, salt and tuck in the pieces of Cod fish. I used frozen Cod which was thawed and I squeezed out the extra liquid. Stir well, add the tomato and parsley, (heat at med/low) cover the pot and allow to cook for about 5 minutes. You will need a splash of water to help steam-cook the fish. Less than a 1/4 cup.

cod fish stew (6)

cod fish stew (7)

Remove the lid. The Cod should be fully cooked by now so it’s time to taste for salt and adjust accordingly as your tolerance for salt will be different than mine. Turn the heat off, toss in the scallions and squeeze in the lemon juice.

cod fish stew (8)

cod fish stew (9)

A delicious fish dish in under 10 minutes! I served this batch with some steamed rice, but you can treat it as you would any fish side dish. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling the scotch bonnet pepper. If heat is not your thing, you can leave out that spicy pepper.. do keep in mind that the spicy smoked Paprika will have a heat element. Yes, any ocean white fish will work for this dish.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

 

 

Caribbean Stewed Pork Ribs.

stewed ribs (10)

We’ve grilled them, done a sort of “oven BBQ” during the winter and this coming summer I plan on doing a classic smoked/jerk over a charcoal fire, but for now I’d like to share yet another way to do pork ribs. You’re free to use the short ribs type you get at the Asian markets (ones sold for making dry garlic ribs), baby-back or your regular rack of pork ribs for this recipe. Using the classic Caribbean technique of ‘stewing’ to start, then we’ll slowly braise these ribs until they tender and packed with rich Caribbean flavor.

You’ll Need…

3-4 lbs pork ribs
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
1 tablespoon ketchup
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3 slices ginger
1 medium onion (diced)
1 medium tomato (diced)
2 birds eye pepper (bird pepper – chopped)
1 tablespoon veg oil
1 1/2 tablespoon golden brown sugar
2.5 – 3 cups water
4 sprigs thyme

Important! if doing this recipe gluten free, kindly go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Give the ribs a quick wash with cool water and the juice of a lime or lemon (not mentioned in the ingredient list). Drain and get to seasoning. Add everything to the bowl EXCEPT the thyme, veg oil, brown sugar and water. The Bird Pepper is optional.. providing you want a kick to the dish.. you may use any spicy pepper you have on hand or like. Mix well and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least a couple hours.

stewed ribs (1)

In a heavy pot over a high flame heat the vegetable oil, then go in with the brown sugar. This step is crucial (we DON’t want to BURN the sugar). Using a dry spoon, stir the sugar until it starts to melt. It will go frothy, then amber in color (act fast). Here is where you add the season pork ribs to the pot. If the sugar goes black. STOP and start over or it will have a bitter taste. (watch the video below for more help with this).

stewed ribs (2)

stewed ribs (3)

Yes, it’s ok if the marinade goes into the pot as you add the pieces of ribs. But try to keep some back in the bowl. In the same bowl you marinated the ribs add the water and swish around so you can pick up all that goodness to add to the pot later. Stir well to coat the ribs with the ‘stew’ base we started off with. Turn the heat down to medium/low, cover the pot and let that go for about 10 minutes (stir a couple times). It will sprout it’s own natural juices.

After which it’s time to infuse the ribs with the color and flavor of the brown-stew. Remove the lid and crank up the heat to high – we want to burn off all that liquid. Be sure to stir. It will take about 4-6 minutes.

stewed ribs (4)

stewed ribs (5)

stewed ribs (6)

After all the water is gone and you start seeing the oil we started off with at the bottom of the pot, it’s time to add the water we had in the bowl we marinated the ribs in. Stir and bring to a boil. As it comes to a boil, top with the sprigs of thyme, reduce the heat to a simmer and place the lid on the pot.

stewed ribs (7)

Stir every 10-15 minutes. After about 1 hour and 25 minutes, you can now personalize this dish a bit. Taste for salt and adjust to your liking and you can now crank up the heat and burn off the liquid until you have a gravy the consistency you like. If our mom was doing this she would burn off ALL the liquid, but in my case I allowed it to go on high for about 5 minutes.. until I had a somewhat thick gravy or sauce. (I had this with rice)

stewed ribs (8)

stewed ribs (9)

These Caribbean stewed ribs are a great side-dish for your next family dinner or it can certainly make an impression the next time you hit a potluck at work.. go ahead and take all the praise. You can always start the “stewing” process on the stove-top and finish off in a slow cooker if you wanted.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Simple Crispy Fried Chicken Wings.

fried chicken wings (5)

After posting an image of these crispy wings on Instagram a couple weeks back, the DM’s we’re rocking with requests for the recipe. And while this probably won’t be considered a “Caribbean” recipe, I thought that it will still fit within the theme of this website. Infused with herbal flavors as we do on the islands, these wings are super simple to make and with the crispy finish.. you’ll impress your family and guests. Guaranteed!

You’ll Need…

5-6 lbs wings
3 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon salt
4 sprigs thyme
1 scallion
1 teaspoon granulated garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
2 bird’s eye pepper (optional)
3 cups veg oil for frying

*I’ve posted this recipe within the ‘gluten free’ section of the website (as well), please go through the full list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Feel free to trim off the tips of the chicken wings, cut them in 2 pieces if you wish and give them a look-over for any nasty feathers. As I mentioned in the video, no-body eh trying to get ah feather! Then give the scallion a rough chop as well as the bird’s eye pepper (use any hot pepper you like – optional) and whisk together with everything (except the wings and oil) to make a brine. I like starting with one cup of warm water so the sugar and salt can dissolve easily. Then I go in with 2 cups of super cold water to bring the temperature down to safe levels.

fried chicken wings (6)

Place the chicken wings in a deep container (or freezer bag) and pour the brine over them. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in the fridge for about an hour. Try to not allow them to brine for more than an hour or you’ll risk them going salty.

fried chicken wings (7)

After one hour, drain and rinse well with cool water. Allow to drain off and air dry.

fried chicken wings (8)

Place the oil to heat in a deep pot (I used a wok) or use your deep fryer if you have one, on a med/high flame. Pat the wings dry with paper towels (make sure they are DRY) , then into the hot oil.

fried chicken wings (1)

Depending on the size of your wings, they will take between 17 and 22 minutes to completely cook and go crisp and golden. Remember to flip them and DON’T crowd the pot with too many or it will drop the temp of the oil and make them soggy.

fried chicken wings (2)

Fry in batches. As I removed the first batch I placed them on a wire rack (on a sheet-pan to collect the oil drippings). Normally I’d say to place them on paper towels, but I find that when they sit on the paper towels they can go a bit soggy and loose it’s crispy finish. For a more crispy finish you can fry them for a bit longer.

fried chicken wings (3)

fried chicken wings (4)

 

Since the wings were in that herb-salty brine,  there will be no need to salt these further (but I’m on a low salt diet). Taste and sprinkle on some Sea or Himalayan salt as they come out the hot oil if you want. We enjoyed these with the mango habanero sauce I shared a while back.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Quick Ham And Turkey Fried Rice.

ham fried rice (11)

A few days after Christmas 2016 I was joined by my good friend Marc, who you would have been introduced to some time ago. Marc (Chef Marc) is a fellow Trinbagonian who’s been knocking out the recipes and food-travel videos on his YouTube Channel “Chef Marc“. This time Marc will be putting the leftover ham and turkey from the Christmas holidays for (one of) his signature fried rice. Using ingredients we already had in the fridge, Marc blazed through this recipe in a few minutes.

You’ll Need…

4 cups cooked rice (Jasmine)
2 scallions (chopped)
1 bell pepper (diced)
2 cups cabbage (chopped)
3/4 cup frozen peas
2 cups ham (cubed)
2 cups turkey (chopped)
3-4 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon dark soy sauce *
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon sesame oil
2 bird pepper (bird’s eye)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cloves garlic (fine dice)

IMPORTANT! If doing this recipe gluten free be sure to go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Especially the soy sauce – regular soy sauce will have a gluten element to it.

Start by prepping all the ingredients as this recipe calls for high heat and fast cooking.

ham fried rice (1)

ham fried rice (2)

Heat a wok or wide pan on a med/high heat, then go in with two tablespoons of the olive oil and the bird’s eye pepper. Marc gave then each pepper a couple cuts to help release some of their ‘heat’. Immediately after he went in with the cubed ham as he wanted to render out some of the fat (for flavor) and the toast the edges.

ham fried rice (3)

After about 1 minute it’s time to go in with the chopped turkey and mix well. You may need to add another tablespoon of oil if the pan is getting too dry.

ham fried rice (4)

Also add the diced bell pepper and sliced cabbage, toss and mix well. Then go in with the black pepper and garlic (he mentioned that he likes to add his garlic late in the cooking process, as to not risk burning it). At this point you can add the salt and sesame oil, stir! It’s now time to add the rice and break up any clumps. TIP! Be sure to use day-old rice or rice that been cooked in salted water and chilled. This will give you a lovely grainy texture to the fried rice.

ham fried rice (5)

ham fried rice (6)

ham fried rice (7)

After the rice is heated through (about 1-2 minutes), add the frozen peas and drizzle on the soy sauce. Stir well.

ham fried rice (8)

ham fried rice (9)

You’re dun! Turn off the stove and enjoy. The key is to cook on a relatively high heat, have your ingredients prepped and to not be intimated. The recipe, cooking and being in the kitchen should be fun and we do hope you’ll put this recipe to the test and enjoy the time in the kitchen with your family.

ham fried rice (10)

 

I’d like to take a minute to hit Chef Marc a Massive THANKS and to invite him to pass though the CaribbeanPot.com kitchen whenever he feels like feeding us. With both delicious food and knowledge.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Cider Maple Habanero Peppersauce (hot sauce) Recipe.

maple pepper sauce (7)

This past Fall I decided to do a peppersauce tribute to my home for the last 20 something years.. Canada. With a bumper crop of  Habanero peppers (works great with scotch bonnets as well) in my small kitchen garden at the back of my house, the creative juices were flowing. Habaneros are some of my favorite spicy peppers, with the natural fruity undertones along with the fiery heat they possess. With a dose of fresh made apple cider (not vinegar) and some organic maple syrup, this pepper sauce was truly heavenly.

You’ll Need…

8-10 Habanero Peppers
1 1/2 cups apple cider
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 lime (juice)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon mustard powder

* You may need to add a bit more apple cider if it gets too thick.

*Important : If doing this recipe gluten free, kindly go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

maple pepper sauce (1)

Wash the peppers and give them a rough chop. Remember to wear gloves and to wash your hands immediately after with soap and water. Include the seeds of the peppers for a more pronounced kick of heat!

maple pepper sauce (2)

Add everything (except the lime juice) to a sauce pan, then place the pan over a medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Stir and reduce the liquid by about half and the peppers are a bit tender. (about 10-15 mins)

maple pepper sauce (3)

maple pepper sauce (4)

maple pepper sauce (5)

Turn off the heat and allow it to cool a bit before placing in your blender or food processor. When it cools, add the lime juice and blitz until smooth.

maple pepper sauce (6)

 

This is a great condiment to use wherever you’d normal use hot sauces. I roasted off some chicken wings in the oven and gave them a slight coating of this marvelous peppersauce while they were still warm. Please store in the fridge – last in excess of 2 months easily.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

Roasted Breadfruit In Stewed Saltfish (salted cod).

 

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (7)

This recipe combines two of my favorite dishes into one glorious pot of comfort. After sharing the technique for roasting a breadfruit in an everyday oven, you knew I’d follow up with a recipe for putting that roasted breadfruit to use. Stewed saltfish (salted cod) is as classic as it gets when it comes to Caribbean culinary culture and in the event you cannot source breadfruit, you can use cassava, yam, sweet potato, green cooking bananas or even something as everyday as regular potatoes.

You’ll Need…

– 1 roasted breadfruit
– 3 tablespoon coconut oil
– 1 1/2 cups prepared salted cod
– 2 cloves garlic (diced)
– 2 small onions (sliced)
– 1 teaspoon thyme
– 1 tablespoon parsley (chopped)
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (chopped)
– 1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (optional)
– 1 small bell pepper (sliced thin)
– 2 scallions (chopped)
– 1 large tomato (diced)

Note: If doing this recipe gluten free, be sure to go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

How to roast a breadfruit in the oven << Click To Watch!

How to prepare salted cod << Click To Watch!

Prep the salted fish by soaking in water and/or by boiling in water for 15-20 mins. Discard that water, rinse and squeeze dry before flaking/shred. Roast the breadfruit, allow to cool then remove the skin, cut into wedges and remove the core. Be mindful of the heat of the scotch bonnet pepper, so kindly use as much as you can handle. Don’t use any of the seeds as that’s where you’ll get the raw heat and remember to wash your hands with soap and water after handling such hot peppers.

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (2)

Prep the ingredients and set aside. Then heat the coconut oil on a medium flame and go in with the pieces of prepared salted cod. Reduce the heat to low and let this cook for about 3 minutes.

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (1)

Afterward add the thyme, garlic, onion and parsley. Heat still on low – cook another 3 minutes.

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (3)

Now go in with the bell pepper, scallions, scotch bonnet and black pepper. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.. keep stirring to allow all the flavor ingredients to come together.

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (4)

You can now add the diced tomato (take the heat up to medium), stir well – then go in with the pieces of roasted breadfruit. Try your best to coat the breadfruit with the stewed salted cod base and heat though.

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (5)

roasted breadfruit in stewed saltfish (6)

After about 3-4 minutes everything would have come together nicely.. turn off the heat and get ready to enjoy a very tasty and comforting dish.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!

How To Roast A Breadfruit In Your Oven.

roasted breadfruit

Living in Canada means that it’s almost a ‘treat’ when breadfruit hits our dinner table. Unlike when I lived in the Caribbean as a boy where we had a massive breadfruit tree in our back yard, laden with prime breadfruits. Not only are they expensive in the grocery (when we can actually get them) here, but I find that they are harvested too soon for export, so you never get that true essence of the breadfruit when you prepare a dish. Here’s my take on roasting a breadfruit in your typical kitchen oven, unlike the outdoor fire/coals method we all grew up using in the Caribbean.

Steps!

– preheat your oven to 450 F

– give the breadfruit a shallow cut (like a cross) on the bottom to allow for steam to escape as it roast

– place it directly on the middle rack of your oven. No pan needed as we want the hot air to circulate and cook the breadfruit evenly

– it will take about one hour and 30 minutes to full cook (longer depending on the size)

– it will be HOT, so use oven gloves to remove

– allow to cool completely

– using a pairing knife remove the outer skin (discard)

– slice into wedges, then remove the core and discard

It’s that simple! Now you have a fully roasted breadfruit you can use in any dish you like. Check my YouTube Channel (CaribbeanPot) for a delicious recipe using such oven roasted breadfruit.

 

Festive Christmas Fried Rice.

christmas-fried-rice-11

NO! Mommy didn’t make this for us as kids on the islands and to be quite honest, this was the first time my taste-buds were treated to such a colorful delight. Yes, the colors will play tricks on your mind, since the finished rice will look more like a holiday candy than fried rice. However I can assure you that this was very delicious and quite attractive served-up on a platter. For this recipe we’re joined by my friend Marc, who’s been rocking this recipe for a while now.

You’ll Need…

1 cup rice (leave plain white)
1 1/2 cup “red” rice
1 1/2 cup ‘green’ rice
5 teaspoon green food coloring
5 teaspoon red food coloring
1/2 teaspoon salt each (x 3) for cooking the rice
4 cups water (divided – for cooking the rice)
2 scallions (chopped)
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion (diced)
1/2 red bell pepper (diced)
1/2 green bell pepper (diced)
2 cloves garlic (diced fine)
2 tablespoon light soy sauce

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Note: The rice amounts mentioned above are uncooked. When cooked it will yield more.

IMPORTANT! Please go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your gluten free and vegan dietary needs. Especially the soy sauce and food coloring.

For cooking the rice – place the rice in a pot with water (after you’ve washed it). Leave one plain white and the others add the food coloring. We did a 1-1 ratio of rice to water when cooking the rice. Basically place the rice, coloring and salt in a pot (with a lid), bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes (until tender and the water is absorbed). Then spread the rice onto a sheet pan to cool and air-dry.. to remove the moisture from the rice so you’ll have a grainy fried rice. Please watch the video below if you’re confused at any point.

christmas-fried-rice-1

christmas-fried-rice-3

christmas-fried-rice-4

It will take about 30 minutes or so for the rice to be ready (air dry), so during this time we can prep our vegetables.

christmas-fried-rice-2

Heat about 2 tablespoon of the olive oil on a med/high heat in a wok or wide non-stick pan. Then go in with the diced onions and sweet peppers. Toss and cook for about 1-2 minutes.

christmas-fried-rice-5

Toss in the salt and keep stirring. Add the black pepper  and here’s where you’ll also add the garlic. Add the rest of the olive oil so you wont have the rice stick to the bottom of the pot when you add it shortly. By this time your onions and peppers will start to take on caramelized edges. Add the rice and stir well. Try to break up any clumps you may have.

christmas-fried-rice-6

christmas-fried-rice-7

christmas-fried-rice-8

Mix the rice well, (heat still on med/high), mix in the soy sauce and continue cooking until everything is mixed properly and heated through. Top with the diced scallions, turn off the stove and enjoy!

christmas-fried-rice-9

christmas-fried-rice-10

christmas-fried-rice-12

If you wanted to add some frozen peas, beans , corn or any of you fav vegetables, you can most certainly do so. Be sure to have all your ingredients prepped before you start, chilled or ‘old’ rice will work best and the higher the heat you can work with.. will all give you great results while ensuring the fried rice is fast!

Special thanks to Marc for sharing this somewhat unique rendition of a festive Christmas Fried Rice… which will certainly keep your guests guess what it is when they see it on the dinner table.

Are you following us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram yet? Join in on the fun today!