Meat & Poultry Archives - Page 28 of 29

I can still recall sitting in our “gallery” (porch) shelling peas as the first crop of pigeon peas was reaped (btw, shelling is the term used to describe removing the peas from the pod). My parents always planted corn and peas every rainy season so we enjoyed fresh peas cooked in many different forms. Stewed, curried, in pelau and as a thickener for some of the amazing soups my mom would make. But my absolute favourite dish with pigeon peas (even to this day) is that wonderful meal-in-a-pot, called pelau.

It was the norm that every trip we made to the beach or any family outing, my mom would cook up a pot of pelau (BTW, “cook up” is also another word for pelau) to take for lunch. Nothing beats taking a swim in the ocean and making your “hungry” way back to the trunk of the car where your mom is getting ready to serve you a plate of still-hot, chicken pelau with a fresh green salad on the side. And how could I forget the hot sauce we would drizzle all over the mound of pelau?

Can you imagine writing a post and your mouth waters from nothing but a memory? Let’s hope I don’t drool all over this keyboard.

I still can’t believe that it took me this long to share this dynamite pelau recipe with you. A special thanks to Caron for reminding me to do so.

You’ll need…

4-5lbs chicken, cut into pieces and washed with lime/lemon juice
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 cloves of garlic – thinly sliced or crushed
1 teaspoon fresh/bottled ginger – crushed. (use 1/2 if it’s ginger powder)
2 tablespoon vegetable oil (one that can withstand high heat)
1 medium onion – chopped
1 medium tomato – chopped
2-3 tablespoon cilantro (or 2 tbs Trinidad green meat seasoning)
2 tablespoon brown sugar
3 cups water
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 hot pepper (only if you like your food spicy)
1 green onion or chive – chopped
2 sprigs of fresh thyme (1 teaspoon dried)
1 large carrot sliced into “coins”
1 can coconut milk (about a cup)
1 can pigeon peas (also known as congo peas)
3 cups of long grain brown rice (washed)
1 teaspoon golden ray salt butter (optional)

Couple things before we proceed.

* If you can get fresh “shelled” pigeon peas, jump at the chance to use that instead of the canned stuff. nothing beats ‘fresh’.

* The pigeon peas comes as 2 types in the can. You have the green pigeons peas and the congo peas. The congo is the just the same green ones that were left to dry in its pod (while still on the tree), then canned. In the pictures below, you’ll notice that I used the congo variety of peas as it what I had on hand.

Cut and wash the chicken pieces, then season with all the ingredients mentioned above except, the oil, sugar, coconut milk, carrot, rice, water, golden ray and the can of pigeon peas.

Allow the seasoned chicken to marinate for at least 1 hr before you continue. You’re probably shocked by the amount of salt we used during the seasoning process, don’t fear. When we add the other ingredients, the saltiness will balance off nicely.

In a large pot on med to high heat, pour the oil and wait for it to become hot. Then add the brown sugar (same as the stewing process we discussed before), keeping an eye on things (see pictures below) until the sugar goes to a dark frothy brown. Have the bowl of seasoned chicken ready to go.

When the sugar gets to this point, quickly start adding the pieces of chicken. Move each piece around so it gets coated in the caramel that you just made. After adding all the chicken, cover the pot and allow to cook on med heat for about 10 minutes. We’re trying to “brown” the meat and also create a nice brown colour so when we add the rice, everything will look and taste amazing. Remember, that a pelau is judged by not only it’s taste, but by it’s appearance as well. Don’t worry, this recipe is fool proof!

While everything cooks, open the can of peas and place it in a strainer to wash out the sort of sryup-like liquid it’s packaged in the can with. You’ll also get rid of all that additional sodium that’s included in everything that’s canned. Wash and peel the carrot, then slice into coins. Put both the peas and carrot pieces into the same bowl you seasoned the chicken. Hopefully it will pick up any remaining seasonings that were left back. As the water starts to dry-up (see pic above) add, the peas and carrots to the pot. NOTE: You may have to turn up the heat and remove the lid for the natural juices that were released to cook down.

Cover the lid and turn down the heat as you wash the rice. For those of you not familiar with cooking with brown rice as we do in the Caribbean, you may not realize that you must first wash the rice before cooking, to get rid of the gritty taste. Many of you are probably accustomed to using that fast cooking (can’t screw up) Uncle Ben’s version. Not today! It’s a very simple process. Pour the rice into a large bowl and pour water to cover it. Then as if you’re giving the rice a massage, work it with your hand and fingers. Pour out that water (you’ll see how cloudy the water will be) and repeat this process for another couple times.

Time to kick back into action. Pour the rice into the pot, then the coconut milk and the three cups of water. Stir everything around and quickly bring back to a boil. Then cover the pot and allow to simmer for about 35 minutes or until all the liquid is gone and the grains of rice is tender and plump. There are 2 ways people like their finished product. Wet or dry and grainy. I love a nice grainy pelau, but I do know my sister makes hers gets my mom to make her’s a bit wet. Test both ways to see how best you like it.

Added Flavour!

To add an additional layer of flavor to the dish (not as if it need any more) add a teaspoon of Goldenray salted butter as you turn off the stove. Then mix around and cover the pot for about 5 minutes.

Special Note. My great aunt had this trick where she would get a branch of celery (fresh stuff from her garden – only the leafy part) and chop it really fines and top her pelau with it. STUNNING is the only word I can use to describe this added zing. Though I’ve tried over the years I’m still to recreate that unique taste … maybe it’s because I don’t have that unique celery from the Caribbean.

Do let me know your thoughts on this and the many other recipes posted on CaribbeanPot.com in the comment box below. If doing this according to a gluten free diet, do go through all the ingredients to verify they meet with your gluten free dietary needs.

Meat & Poultry

A delectable stewed beef recipe, the Caribbean way.

March 5, 2012June 13, 200983 Comments

If you’ve been reading this blog for a while you may have come to the conclusion that the majority of dishes we prepare includes the process of “stewing”. Unlike what’s considered a stew in places like Canada and the US, our stews are based on the principle of caramelizing the meats to give it that so-unique brown colour and that marvelous flavour. But that very far from the truth, as our food culture is highly influenced by the many different races that make up the vibrant melting pot the Caribbean is. Today we’ll take a look at one of my dad’s most beloved dishes, stew beef!

Similar in every aspect of the other stewed dishes I’ve posted, except this one will take a bit longer to cook (to ensure that the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender) and we’re using beef, rather than chicken or pork.

You’ll need…

1.5 lbs beef – cubed into 1 inch pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 cloves of garlic – thinly sliced or crushed
1 teaspoon fresh or bottled ginger – crushed. (use 1/2 if it’s ginger powder)
2 tablespoon vegetable oil (one that can withstand high heat)
1 medium onion – chopped
1 medium tomato – chopped
2 tablespoon cilantro (or 2 tbs Trinidad green meat seasoning)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 1/4 cups water
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 hot pepper (only if you like your food spicy)
1 green onion or chive – chopped
2 sprigs of fresh thyme (1 teaspoon dried)
1 lime or lemon or 3 tablespoons of vinegar
1 small shallot

* I’ve seen my dad put mushrooms (white button variety) near the end of cooking and I must admit that though not traditional, it’s does compliment the dish. But I must admit that I do love mushrooms, so I’ll enjoy it in just about any dish.

Start by cutting the beef into 1 inch cubes, then using the lime (lemon or vinegar) wash (with water – not the one mentioned in the recipe) the pieces of meat and drain. With the cubed pieces of beef in a bowl, start to season. Add all the ingredients mentioned above, except the oil, water and sugar. We’ll be using those later on in the dish. Allow the seasoned meat to marinate for at least 30 minuets before cooking. For best results, leave to marinate about 2 hrs in the fridge.

As we’ve practiced in other stewed dishes, it’s time to get the sugar ready. In a heavy pot on high heat pour in the oil and allow to get hot, then place the sugar and move it around so it starts to melt, change color and bubble. Remember to use a long handle spoon to prevent getting burn and have the seasoned meat within reach. This step requires good timing. When you see the sugar fully melted and turns to a rich brown colour (see pic below), start putting in the pieces of meat. Remember to stir everything around, so it’s fully coated.

Leave on high heat for about 3 minutes, then turn down the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Allow to cook for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure all the pieces of beef gets evenly browned. You’ll notice that dish will release natural juices. Now remove the lid and turn the heat back to high med-high. We want to burn-off all the liquid and give the meat the lasting rich brown colour.

In the same bowl we seasoned the beef, add the water and swoosh it around a bit so every bit of remaining seasoning is mixed in with the water. When all the liquid (see pic above) is burnt away from the pot, add the water from the bowl.

Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a gentle simmer. With the pot covered, allow to cook for about 1 hour or until the beef is really tender. If after the 1 hour of cooking there’s still a lot of water left in the pot, do turn up the heat and allow to burn off. You’re looking for a nice thick gravy.

This dish makes for a great topping for rice or ground provisions. In the pic above I have it resting on a nice bed of steamy boiled yams. But you can also pair it well with any side you usually serve meats with – salads, mashed potatoes … it’s also amazing on macaroni and cheese.

Other stewed dishes:

Chicken

Pork

Curry Stew Chicken.

Please take a moment to share your experience with this recipe or if you have another version of it. Do leave me a comment below.

Meat & Poultry

Succulent herb and lemon roasted chicken.

May 27, 2025May 26, 200938 Comments

Though roasting is usually reserved for the oven, this one can also be prepared on the BBQ. Providing you know how to control the heat on your grill. I’m still to test it on the rotisserie gizmo I have for our grill, but I’m sure it’ll be just as delicious. I’ll probably get the neighbors peeping over the fence when the aroma hits them! Remember that old cereal commercial with the toucan..”follow your nose”? Toucan Sam was his name I think.

Warning! Speaking about “following your nose” be sure that your family is not at home while you cook this up. During the roasting time, the entire house will be filled with the amazing fragrance of herb, lemon and garlic. You’ll get tired of hearing “how much longer before we eat?”.

You’ll need…

1 Chicken (about 4 to 5 lbs)
1/4 tea spoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 bunch of fresh thyme (about 6 sprigs)
1/2 medium onion (cut in chunks)
3 cloves of garlic (slightly crushed)
1 teaspoon butter
1/4 cup water or chicken stock
1 lemon

Let’s start by preheating the oven to 450 F, while we prepare the chicken for roasting. Wash and pat the chicken dry with a paper towel. Then slightly crush the garlic (leave skin on if you wish), wash the thyme ( I got mine fresh from the garden, so I had to wash off the dirt), peel and cut the onion into 1/4 pieces and cut the lemon into quarters.

With the chicken “neck side” down – so you’re able to access the cavity, start by squeezing the lemon. Allow the juice to go into the cavity, then stuff with the garlic, onion, thyme and the lemon pieces that you just used the juice. The final step is to sprinkle the entire chicken with the salt, pepper and paprika. Then with your fingers, rub the butter on the breast and legs (basically the top side). Place the chicken in a roasting pan, with the breast side up so it’s resting on it’s back and place in the now hot oven. Add the water or chicken stock to the bottom of the pan to prevent any burning until the chicken starts to release it’s own oils and juices. Please keep the temp at 450 for about 20 minutes, then reduce to 375 and cook for another 1 hour and 10 minutes.

After cooking for the remaining hour and 10 minutes, you may find that it’s not as golden brown as you’d like. Feel free to turn on the broil setting in your oven and cook for another 5 minutes or so or until you achieve the golden colour you desire.

Note: During the entire cooking process I had the lid placed on my roasting pan. However when it came time for the broil setting, I did remove the lid. When your chicken is done roasting, do remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10-15 minutes before you carve it. This will allow the meat to rest and prevent the meat from going dry.

When you “rest” the cooked chicken do have it covered so it remains warm and does not dry off as it’s exposed.

I’d love to hear from you. Please leave me a comment in the comment box below.

Meat & Poultry

Salted pig tails as comfort food?

May 27, 2025May 14, 200965 Comments

I think I mentioned in a previous post that one of the most comforting things about growing up on the islands was the amazing thick and rich soups we enjoyed just about every Saturday. Pig tails, salt beef, chicken, beef, vegetarian, salted cod or the 2nd most favorite of mine… fish broth with tons of macaroni and green bananas. There were so many versions of making these soups that we never got tired of soup-Saturday!

Today I’d like to share one of the ways of making salted pig tails with split peas soup. I call this one a “loner soup”, since I can’t convince anyone else at home to eat it with me. More for me I guess! Our girls eat just about every dish I make that’s considered “Caribbean”, except they won’t touch ground provisions and/or salted meats like pig tail, beef or cod.

Note: Don’t be turned off by the ingredients, it’s an amazing soup that’s more like a North American stew. It’s heavy, full of chunks of root vegetables and very thick.

You’ll need…

1 1/2 lbs of salted pig tails (ask your butcher to cut into 2 inch pieces)

2 medium potatoes (peeled and diced)

3 eddoes (peeled and diced)

1 1/2 lbs yam (not the sweet stuff – ask for Caribbean yam)

1 cup split peas

8 cups of water

1 can coconut milk (about 1/2 cup)

1 carrot (peeled and diced)

2 sprigs of thyme

1 tablespoon of green seasoning

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 hot pepper (optional)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 lime (juice)

EDIT (Jan 20 2010): I forgot to add 1 medium onion and 2 cloves of garlic to the ingredients list. Special thanks to Lygia for pointing this out to me. Chris…

Some optional ingredients. Feel free to add other ground provisions like cassava and green bananas as well as simple flour dumplins.

Let’s get started by washing the pieces of pig tails with the juice of the lime and water.After which place the pieces of meat into a deep sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and let simmer for about 20 minutes. We’re trying to get rid of some of the brine/salt that the pig tails were cured in. After which you drain the water out and get ready for the next step in cooking (below).

While this is cooking, let’s dice the garlic and onion. Add the oil to a very deep saucepan (keep in mind how much ingredients we have to fit in there) and heat, then add the diced onion and garlic. When the onion is soft (translucent), add the pieces of pig tails that you boiled for 20 minutes before.

After about 3 minutes we can start adding some of the other ingredients like… black pepper, thyme, coconut milk, green seasoning and the hot pepper. Wash the split peas and also add this to the pot. The split peas and pig tails will take a long time to cook and get tender. Almost forgot… add the 8 cups of water, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a gentle simmer. This will now have to cook for about 1 hr.

Note: the picture above was taken before I added all the water. This is why my pot seems like it doesn’t have 8 cups of water.

While this is simmering away (pot covered) let’s peel and dice the vegetables we’ll be adding.

You can prepare this step before-hand, but remember to place the vegetable in a large bowl and cover with cold water to prevent them from going discolored. The next step is to now add the vegetables to the pot, bring back to a boil, then reduce back to a simmer. Allow this to continue cooking for about 20 minutes. I like my yams and potatoes well cooked, to the point where it’s melting away. I forgot to mention. Cut the ground provisions and vegetables into fairly big pieces.

Let’s recap the cooking time so you’re clear.

– boil pig tails for 20 minutes then drain

– cook onions etc for 3 minutes

– then cook (everything except the vegetables) for about 1 hr

– add vegetable and cook for a further 20 minutes.

NOTE: You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt in the cooking process. This is because the pig tails should add enough salt to the entire dish, even though we already boiled it before. Feel free to taste at the end and add any additional salt if required. If there’s ever the chance that I need to add salt, I usually add about a teaspoon of “golden ray” margarine (salted butter).

The finished product…

Meat & Poultry

It’s “thyme” you enjoyed stewed beef with a rich gravy.

March 5, 2012May 10, 200973 Comments

What do you make that’s considered “comfort food” by your family? For me growing up it was a nice pig tail soup for Saturday lunch, thick with dumplings, ground provisions and split peas. I think our girls would say “beef with sauce (their way of saying gravy) and mashed potatoes” if I were to ask them the same question. Pretty similar to a North American style stew, but without all the vegetables, is how I could best describe this dish.

The result is a dish packed with tender pieces of beef since it’s cooked for a long time and a rich gravy that helps you appreciate boring mashed potatoes like you never thought possible.

* Disclaimer. This is NOT the traditional “stew beef” you’d find in Trinidad and Tobago or the other diverse islands that make up the Caribbean. I’ll post that recipe soon enough.

You’ll need….

1 lb beef (cubed)

1/4 teaspoon pepper flakes

3 cups beef stock

1 large carrot (diced)

1 medium onion (diced)

3 sprigs thyme (include stems)

3 cloves garlic

salt to taste (normally the beef stock I use adds enough salt to the dish)

pinch of black pepper

2 tablespoon olive oil

1 bay leaf

Let’s prepare the ingredients…

– peel and slice the carrot and onion

– peel and crush the garlic

– if you can’t find already packaged stewing beef in your grocery store, get any cheap piece of beef and cube into 1 inch pieces.

– 1/4 cup of cream (I usually use half and half)

In a deep saucepan add the oil and place over high heat. As soon a the oil heats up add the pieces of beef to brown. Keep moving around so every side gets in contact with the bottom of the pan and browns evenly.

This step can take about 10 minutes, depending on the type of pan you use and how high your heat is set. The next step is to add the sliced onions, garlic, carrots, pepper flakes and black pepper.

Turn the heat down a little and let cook for a couple minutes. Then add the thyme, bay leaf and beef stock. Try to ensure that you have enough liquid to cover everything in the pot. Now bring to a boil, then turn down the heat to a simmer. Cover the pot and let cook for about 1.5 hours or until the beef is tender.

After everything’s been simmering for about 1.5 hours you should have a thickened gravy, now add the cream and cook for another 5 minutes. Then get ready to serve.

Remove the bayleaf and thyme sprigs and serve with mashed potatoes. Enjoy! remember to taste for salt.

Be sure to leave me your comments or questions.

Meat & Poultry

The lazy man’s jerk pork recipe.

May 27, 2025May 5, 200935 Comments

This recipe can be adopted for just about any of your favorite meats. Including, fish, beef, chicken and shrimp. I’ve never tested it on lamb, since I just can’t stand the flavor of lamb on the grill, as well as the tough texture. I was never a big lover of jerk in the past, but it’s not only becoming a fav for me, Tehya and Indy just loves the mouth watering “kick” you get from a good piece of jerk just off the grill. The key to me falling in love with jerk pork, must be credited to two things. 1 – how fast and simple this is to prepare. and 2 – how moist the finished product is the way I marinate the meat. I’m sure you know how dry pork can get when you don’t grill it properly… good pork on the grill usually requires a lot of patience, basting and time to slow cook. Beside the time to marinate, this one is super fast!

A three ingredient recipe? Let’s get cooking!

You’ll need…

– 3 pork chops

– 3-4 tablespoon “Grace” jerk marinade.

– 1/2 lime or lemon for washing the pork.

jerk-seasoning

Remove the pork and wash with water and the lime or lemon juice. You can also use about 2 tablespoons of vinegar if you wish. It’s important that you take a paper towel and dry off the water from washing. Then take a fork and pierce the pork through on both sides.. about 6 times each.

With the pork pierced, we can add the jerk marinade. Be sure to mix everything well, so it’s all coated. The piercing will allow the marinade to work it’s way through the meat while it marinates. This is the key to not ending up with a dry cardboard-like finished product. Now cover and let marinate in the fridge for at least 1 hr. If you’re in a rush – let marinate for about 10 minutes or so.

Get the grill ready by reaching a temp of about 400 F or so. If your grill is famous for sticking, you can spray some cooking spray (pam) or brush the grill with some oil.

Cover the grill and let cook about 8-10 minutes on each side. Don’t worry, with the technique we used for marinating, the meat will NOT dry out. Be sure to flip over to cook both sides and keep an eye out for flare-ups!

That’s it, you’re done! Enjoy with a nice side of salad and rice.. or whatever you feel like eating. Works great with potato or pasta salad as well.

BONUS!

How to get perfect grill marks

Place your pork directly onto a hot grill for a few minutes. Then using tongs or a spatula give your steak a quarter turn to create the second set of marks, resulting in a crisscross pattern. When it’s time to flip the steak, repeat the process of grilling for a few minutes and then give it a quarter turn.

Some grill masters claim that lightly brushing the grill with olive oil results in nice dark marks. You may need to practice a few times before mastering the art of presentation, but the good news—even the pork with not-so-perfect grill marks will still taste great.

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Meat & Poultry

Luscious steak strips with a wonderful jolt of pepper.

March 5, 2012May 1, 200946 Comments

Please don’t let the title misguide you. The pepper isn’t intense in this recipe, it’s more for the full body flavor it will add. This dish is usually featured on our dinner table at least 2-3 times a month. Not only is it very quick to make, it’s an absolute hit with Caron and our girls. A lovely partner to fresh cut fries, a fresh salad, onion rings or just about anything you usually serve with steak.

Since I’m a medium rare steak kinda fella, I usually only cook this one but don’t participate in it’s consumption. Caron and the girls will not touch any meat that’s not cooked all the way through and I hate seeing good steak “overcooked” so I have to cook to please the masses. Well done it is!

You’ll need…

1-2 lbs NY Striploin steak (sliced thin)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt (you can adjust to taste)

1/4 teaspoon chili flakes

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 teaspoon butter

2 tablespoon olive oil (for marinating)

1 teaspoon olive oil (for cooking)

1 med-large onion sliced

Start by slicing the steaks into thin strips. Use a sharp knife and try to slice by placing the knife on an angle to the cutting board surface. TIP : Slice when the meat is still a bit frozen for easier handling.

Notice the great marble effect? Deserve to be on a hot grill!

Lets marinate this for a bit. In a bowl, place the sliced pieces of beef, sliced onions, black pepper, chili flakes, salt and the 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix around, cover and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

I then like to bring it back to room temperature before cooking, so it’s removed from the fridge about 10-15 minutes before I get started. Now add the butter and remaining olive oil to a wide base pan and place on high heat. As soon as the butter melts and the oil is hot, start adding the marinated meat – dump the entire bowl in. But move around so each piece touches the heat from the pan.

Remember to keep moving around the pieces of steak so they’re always in contact with the heat from the pan. It should take about 5-10 minutes for us to achieve a nice golden color. If you’d like a medium steak, cook on high for 2-4 minutes only.

Quick and very tasty! Your family and friends will love to see this one on the dinner table. Makes great beef sandwiches s well!

Be sure to leave me your thoughts and comments in the comment box below.

Regards

Chris..

Meat & Poultry

Tender stew pork packed with a unique punch of flavor.

May 27, 2025April 30, 200968 Comments

Growing up our dad was always at work (well at the time it seemed that way). But Sundays was our day. In the dry season he’d take me and my brother on long hikes through abandoned cacao and coffee estates to hunt and search out ground provisions. He was a master at finding yams of all description, size and shape. Not that stuff you find in the grocery store in North America. Yams with names like, “juba”, ‘finger” and “kush kush” and I can still remember the joy when we found a “patch”.

We’d leave early on a Sunday morning and be back in time for my mom to prepare lunch with the yam, dasheen and eddoes we found during our trek. So part of our Sunday lunch usually included ground provision and stew pork along with all the other dishes that a Sunday lunch is so famous for in Trinidad and Tobago. Yam connoisseurs would argue that nothing beats pairing yam with fried tomato and salt fish (salted cod), but I assure you.. stew pork is the way to go. But you don’t need yams or ground provisions to enjoy the amazing flavor of stew pork.

The principle and ingredients are very much the same as we explored with the “Stew Chicken” recipe a while back, except in this case we’re using pork.

You’ll need…

3lbs pork – cubed into 3/4 inch pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 cloves of garlic – thinly sliced or crushed
1 teaspoon fresh or bottled ginger – sliced. (use 1/2 if it’s ginger powder)
2 tablespoon vegetable oil (one that can withstand high heat)
1 medium onion – chopped
1 medium tomato – chopped
2 tablespoon cilantro (or 2 tbs Trinidad green meat seasoning)
1 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 hot pepper (only if you like your food spicy)
1 green onion or chive – chopped
2 sprigs of fresh thyme (1 teaspoon dried)
1 lime or lemon or 3 tablespoons of vinegar
1 small shallot

Prepare the seasoning mix by dicing the onion, pepper, ginger, green onion, garlic, cilantro, shallot and tomato.

Now lets prepare the pork. Feel free to ask your butcher to do this step for you. Cut the pork into 3/4 inch pieces, removing the majority of fat and skin. One of the reasons why Caribbean dishes are known as being heavy, is our love for fat and skin. In days gone by I’d keep some of that fatty pieces of meat and skin. With age comes wisdom, so we know that this is to be avoided.

Wash… squeeze the lime or vinegar onto the cubed pork and rinse with water.

After you’ve washed the cubed meat, squeeze any remaining water from the bowl and begin to season. Add everything except the oil, sugar and 3 cups of water. Mix well and let marinate for about 2 hrs in the fridge – covered.

Time to get cooking. In a heavy bottom pot add the oil over high heat. As the oil starts to smoke or move along freely in the pot add the sugar. With a long handle spoon (to avoid splatters onto your hand) move the sugar around. You’re looking for the sugar to melt, change color and get to the point when it’s ready to caramelize.

Quickly start adding the seasoned pork as the sugar starts looking like the picture above. Stir around to evenly coat all the pieces of meat. Then lower the heat and simmer covered for about 10-15 minutes.

Now uncover the pot and raise the heat to high. We’re trying to get rid of all the natural juices that formed while it was simmering. In the meantime, add the 3 cups of water to the bowl that had the seasoned pork. We’re trying to pick up any bits of seasonings that were left behind.

As soon as all the liquid is gone and all the pieces of pork is evenly browned, add the 3 cups of water and bring to a boil. Then lower the heat, cover and let simmer for about 40-45 minutes. We’d like to get a nice thick gravy and have the pieces of pork as tender as possible. If after the 45 minutes you have too much liquid, be sure to turn up the heat and let some burn off.

Questions? Leave me a comment below or use the contact link at the top of this page. I’d love to hear from you.

This day I didn’t have any yams, but I did enjoy a nice plate of brown rice with this exciting way of preparing pork.

Meat & Poultry

Sultry chicken wings as you’ve never had before.

May 27, 2025April 18, 200961 Comments

For the life of me I couldn’t understand the love-affair people had with chicken wings when I first moved to Canada. Growing up on the islands, it was almost an insult to give a guest a chicken wing if you had them over for dinner. You could hear the gossip going around town..”NAME, gave me a measly chicken wing the other day.. imagine that” said in the lovely accent we have.

But oh how did I ever fall in love with that “chicken wing” only after one date. I believe it was a bar called Grapes and Things here in Hamilton where the Tuesday special was 10 cent wings. Five bucks and I’d be stuffed to the neck with those juicy morsels. Yes, I love me some wings – BAD!

I was getting to the point where I was getting bored with my new love… deep fried, battered, Buffalo, BBQ and all the other million and one sauces she was dressed in didn’t arouse me any longer. We needed a spark in our relationship, if it were to continue. That spark turned out to be that sexy little number called, curry! A dry rub? Nope.. cooked in sultry curry sauce.

You’ll need…

1 lb of chicken wings

3/4 tablespoon curry powder (your choice)

1/4 piece of habanero pepper (you control the heat by the amount of pepper you use)

1/2 teaspoon salt

pinch of black pepper

1 teaspoon green seasoning mix.

1 small onion (chopped)

2 cloves of garlic (chopped)

1/2 of a medium tomato (chopped)

2 tablespoon lime or lemon juice (or vinegar)

2 tablespoons of oil (vegetable)

1 cup water

* if you don’t have the green seasoning mix, chop – 1 green onion, about 2 table spoons of cilantro and about 2 sprigs of thyme.

Cut the chicken wings into pieces, removing the tips. Then pour the lime juice over the cut pieces and rinse with water. Get rid of all water and get ready to add seasoning mix.

Let’s now season the chicken. add all the ingredients mentioned above, except the oil and water. Stir and let marinate for about 30 minutes in the fridge. This time we’re seasoning the chicken with the curry and not cooking the curry first as we did with other curry dishes.

Place a heavy-bottom pan on high heat and add the oil. As soon as the oil starts to smoke (hot) add the chicken, moving around so everything gets in contact with the hot oil. Turn the heat down to medium, cover and let simmer for about 5 minutes.

Remove the lid and turn the heat back up. We’d like to now allow all the liquid to cook out to the point where you’d think it’s burning. This will add another level of flavor to the curry and at the same time, add a rich dark color to the chicken wings.

When all the liquid is gone, add the cup of water and bring back to a boil. Adjust the heat now so it’s a gentle simmer, cover the pot and let cook for about 15 minutes. You have 2 options now…. turn up the heat after this point and allow all the liquid to dry or leave as a nice thick sauce. The battery on my camera died so I didn’t have the ability to show you the finished product. I do apologize.

Tip – This one is courtesy of Cynthia @ Tasteslikehome.org in regards to cooking with hot peppers like habanero and scotch bonnet . The finer an ingredient is chopped, diced etc the more of its flavour is imparted into a dish. Because it is now reduced to tiny bits, it is easier and faster to be absorbed and integrated into a dish.

Meat & Poultry

Crispy fried pork with an explosive dipping sauce.

May 27, 2025April 14, 200980 Comments

One of my favorite memories growing up on the islands was visiting my uncle, who owned a very popular bar in the southern part of Trinidad. If you’ve ever been to the islands you know that not only are the bars “open” (not enclosed as in North America), it’s usually a hub of activity on a Friday evening. At his bar, most of the oil workers would congregate after a long weeks work and enjoy beverages with their friends. Loud music, people trying their best to be heard over the music and the occasional arguments was the norm.

As you would find “tappas” if you went into a bar in Spain, in Trinidad and Tobago our version is called “cutters” but pronounced “cuttas”. Usually deep fried meats, black pudding and slices of cheese in some cases. Served either on it’s own with lively hot sauces or made into a sandwich using a over-sized dinner roll.

I can still remember the smell of the frying pork we would get (they lived directly above the bar) as it made it’s way up the back stairs. Fatty, crispy.. but so full of flavor. Though this is not his recipe, I’ve asked around and came up with this version.

Let’s cook “cuttas” …

You’ll need….

2 lbs pork belly

3 tablespoon salt

1 cup vinegar

Water

3 cups of oil (one that can take high heat)

In a fairly deep pot, place about 4-5 cups of water (try to average so the water will cover the piece of pork in the pot) and bring to a boil. Add the pork, 2 tablespoon salt and about 1/3 cup of vinegar. Allow to simmer on low to medium heat for about 45 minutes or so. Try to have the pork completely covered with water at all times.

Remove from the pot of water after about 45 minutes or so, then using a knife, make cuts on the skin of the pork (see picture below) in a diamond shape. I went in about 1/4 inch or so. Then brush with the remaining salt and vinegar throughout the piece of pork.

IMPORTANT. I screwed up this part, so please learn from my mistake. Place the oil into a DEEP pan. Something like a wok would be great, since it’s nice and wide. When I first made this recipe I ran into hot oil splashing all over the stove and kitchen, since I used a basic non stick (shallow) frying pan. What a mess! If you can… try making this outdoor if your BBQ has a side burner. Not only do you have to deal with the oil splashing about the kitchen.. the “fry” smell does take a while to leave the house.

Here’s a pic of the pan that caused all the problems for me…

Be very careful when placing the pork into the hot oil. BTW, heat the oil on high to medium heat, just before you see smoke. Timing will vary at this point, since I didn’t measure the temperature of the oil, so yours may vary. The idea is the get the skin golden and crispy. Yes, you will have to flip the pork as it fries.

When it’s reached the desired color you like (ensure it’s nice and crispy), remove and cut into bit size pieces. I almost forgot the dipping sauce. this is so simple…

2 tablespoon ketchup

1 table spoon soy sauce

1/4 tablespoon of your favorite hot sauce (you can control the heat here..add more if you wish)

Here’s how Tehya (our middle daughter) makes this simple sauce. Combine everything in a small bowl and get ready to enjoy. I did say it was simple! Add a little crushed ginger if you’d like to take things up a notch or two.

There are several different recipes and preparation methods for crispy fried pork on the islands, many of which are influenced by the huge Chinese community.

Thoughts? Leave me a comment below.

Meat & Poultry Vegetarian

Potato with leftover chicken in a delightful curry sauce.

May 27, 2025April 12, 20098 Comments

So what do you do with the left over stew chicken from the day before? Our main meal of the week in Trinidad and Tobago is usually “Sunday lunch”. I recall my mom going all out just about every Sunday, which usually included her famous stew chicken. As we were kids and didn’t eat much, there was usually left over chicken… that slowly changed as we grew older and our appetite increased. Back then, Monday dinners usually meant curry potato with the added chicken for extra flavor, paired with either rice or roti.

That tradition now continues in our household, but it’s not a Monday thing…

You’ll need…

2 large potatos

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/8 teaspoon of black pepper

1 tablespoon of vegetable oil (any that can withstand high heat)

1 medium onion sliced

2 cloves of garlic sliced

1/4 of a hot pepper – habanero (only add if you like extra spicy)

leftover stew chicken (leave out chicken if you want it vegetarian)

2 cups water

4 tablespoons water

1 1/2 tablespoon of your favorite curry powder.

Peel and dice the potato into 1-2 inch pieces, then wash and keep handy. Prepare the garlic and onion by peeling and slicing into thin pieces. You may also crush the garlic if you wish, but I leave in slices so our girls can see them when the dish is complete. This way they can remove if they wish when eating.

I now add the curry powder to a bowl with the sliced onions and garlic.

In a heavy pan I place the oil over medium to high heat. Just before it starts to smoke, I add the curry, onion and garlic mixture and let cook for about 2 minutes. In the same small bowl that the curry mixture was in, I add the 4 tablespoons of water and rinse (get any curry that was left back). Now pour that water into the pot with the cooked curry, onions and garlic. Let that cook until the water evaporates and you now have a bit of a paste.

Our next step is to add the diced potato and move around, so everything gets coated. This can take a couple minutes.

Add the salt, pepper, habanero and remaining water. The goal is to try and have enough water to cover the potato so it will cook evenly.

Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to a simmer and cover. Allow this to cook for about 15-20 minutes or until the potato is tender and starts to melt away to form a nice thick sauce. Here is where the dish goes from being vegetarian… Add the pieces of leftover chicken and let simmer for about 5 minutes. If you’re going with the vegetarian version, allow to thicken and serve at this point.

The goal is to allow the runny sauce to thicken up, so you may have to crush the potato a bit if necessary by pressing down on them with the back of your cooking spoon. Please taste for salt and add if necessary. I’m not a heavy salt eater, so you may find that some of my dishes do require more salt – basically to your taste!

Tip. If you live in a country where your home is closed up for the winter months and you’re worried about the curry smell lingering around, burn a candle (scented is great) during and after you’re done cooking. If the smell is really strong (depends on the curry powder you use), you add either a vanilla bean or piece of cinnamon to a couple cups of water and boil for a bit. The fragrance will envelop your home, but you may feel like having apple pie.

Share your thoughts on this and all the recipes on CaribbeanPot.con by using the comment box at the bottom of each recipe posted.

Meat & Poultry Vegetarian

Shredded salad with or without leftover chicken.

May 27, 2025April 6, 200942 Comments

This one can work both ways, with or without the chicken so you can enjoy just the same if you’re a vegetarian. Some of you are probably saying that this is just a plain salad, but when you kick-in the bbq or jerk sauce to the chicken pieces, your taste buds will be asking questions… what took you so long to introduce me to this sexy number.

A great side or full course on a Monday night when you’ve got extra chicken from Sunday dinner and you’re looking for something light.

You’ll need….

1 medium Iceberg lettuce
1 medium Boston lettuce (can also use a red lead lettuce)
1 Carrot
1 English cucumber (about 6 inch piece)
1/4 of a small red onion
Your fav salad dressing

Optional

– leftover chicken (roast or bbq)
– your fav BBQ sauce (jerk would be excellent)
– salt and pepper to taste

Take the core out of the iceberg lettuce (stem and hard inner) by cutting the lettuce into 2 pieces (makes it easier to get rid of the core parts). Place on cutting board and with the use of a big sharp knife, cut into thin pieces – shred or julienne.

Place the shredded lettuce in a large salad bowl. Now wash, peel (use a potato peeler) and julienne the carrots into 2 inch lengths.

Place the julienne carrots into the salad bowl. Now it’s time to work with the Boston lettuce. Break off the leaves and rip into bite size pieces. Place the pieces into a salad spinner and run cold water over it. Boston lettuce is famous for packing sand on it’s journey to the supermarket. So we must wash really well.

After you’ve rinsed the Boston lettuce a couple times and spun it dry.. add to the salad bowl. Wash and peel the cucumber, using a potato peeler. Now slice very thin so when your fork hits the salad it can grab a bit of everything and not just a massive piece of cucumber. Do the same for the red onion. Along with making my cuts very thin, I go on an angle, so i never get a full ring. Our girls hate onions, so the less they can see it, the better the chance of them eating the salad. Plus, no one wants to bite down on a huge piece of onion.

With the lettuce (both types), red onion, carrot and cucumber in the salad bowl. Cut the tomato into wedges, get rid of the seeds, rib and stem parts. Now wash in cold water and pat dry with a paper towel, then add to the salad bowl. Toss salad now!

In a large non stick pan on medium heat, add about 2 table spoons of your favorite BBQ sauce or to make this really Caribbean-like, add jerk sauce ( I love the “Grace” brand when I’m not making it from scratch). Cut the leftover chicken into strips and add to the heated jerk sauce. Then top with about 2 more table spoons of sauce. We really want to coat all the chicken pieces. Let cook until heated through, since the chicken was already cooked from the day before.

Now it’s time plate and serve.. you’re done!

Tip 1. Add the tomato just before serving. It tends to spring juices and get the salad a bit soggy.

Tip 2. I would get guests to add their salt and pepper. If you add the salt to the entire bowl of salad, the cucumber will tend to spring juices and get the salad a bit soggy.

Tip 3. Add the chicken just before serving. you have the option of cold or hot. If you’re going with cold, you can cook and place in the fridge with the salad in a different container. Hot or warm will enhance the jerk sauce.

Tip 4. Ask guests to not add salad dressing, but get them to toss the pieces of chicken that’s coated in the jerk or bbq sauce. The entire salad will pick up on the flavors.

Tip 5. Not really a tip, but this can be served without the chicken and enjoyed by your vegetarian guests.

I never though that posting a “salad” recipe would take so much work. I really hope you give this one a shot!

Chris…