chris de la rosa Archives - Page 40 of 50

Festive Saltfish Buljol Recipe.

May 28, 2025December 9, 20146 Comments

This being the holiday season I thought I’d take a classic recipe for making saltfish buljol and put a little festive spin on it, to serve at your holiday party or to take with you as you visit family this holiday season. We’ll follow the same basic rules of making traditional saltfish buljol (basically a fish salad) and add a few other ingredients to help balance and brighten up the overall flavors of this classic dish. You’ll notice that I did post this under the gluten free recipe section, but do keep in mind that you’ll need a gluten free bread or cracker to serve these on, to meet with your complete gluten free dietary needs.

You’ll Need…

2 cups prepared salted fish (cod / shredded)
2 scallions (green part only)
1 cup diced mango
1 cup diced cucumber
1/2 cup diced tomato (seeded)
1/3 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 lemon (juice)
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 sprig thyme (chopped)
2 birds eye pepper (bird pepper) seeded and diced

The first step is to prepare the salted cod – place in a deep pot with cold water, bring to a boil, reduce and simmer for about 20 minutes (you can watch this video : How To Prepare Salted Fish For Use. Then drain, rinse with cool water and flake/shred. This process removes the majority of the salt (or it will be too salty) and rehydrates the fish. I would recommend using deboned salted fish as it makes for less work. But do remember to still be on the lookout for tiny bones as you flake the fish after boiling. Tip – after preparing the saltish, you can add it to a food processor and give it a couple pulses to get a lovely shredded texture.

Basically all you have to do now is dice the mango, tomato (please remove the seeds), scallion and cucumber. If you want to add more pizzazz to the dish you can also add some chopped grapes or pineapple.. or basically any firm fruit you like.

It’s all about assembling now. In a large blow place all the ingredients and gently fold together so you keep the shape of the mango and any tender fruit you use. I would then allow this to marinate for about 30 minutes, then top on your favourite cracker or bread.. in my case I used slices of French Baguettes. Another great idea would be to use lettuce leaves as wrappers and scoop some of the buljol in the middle and wrap them like spring rolls.

You’ll notice that we didn’t add any salt to this dish as the remaining salt from the salted cod (or whatever salted fish you use) will be enough to season this dish. Be carefully when handling the hot pepper and be sure to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after. I would not recommend assembling these (on the bread etc) until you’re about to serve it as the bread or cracker will go a bit soggy after about 30 minutes.

Perfect Gifts For The Foodie On Your Holiday Shopping List (2014 edition).

May 28, 2025December 8, 2014Leave a Comment

If you’re struggling to find the perfect gift this holiday season for the person on your shopping list who you would consider a “foodie”, I’ve got you covered. Usually I’m lucky if I get a Christmas card on Christmas morning… (Santa always hating on ah brother). Even as a kid I was much happier with a slice of black cake and a tall glass of sorrel, counting down the hours to what mom was preparing in the kitchen for the day. For my holiday shopping list this year, I’ll go though some of the things I added to my kitchen and knowledge over the last 365 days, which I feel would make excellent gifts.

Note: These are not listed in any particular order.

Books

I’m old school so you’ll find that I still collect physical books (I work all day on the computer so the last thing I want to do is read a book on a digital device) . When I first started collecting books (food related) I stuck to recipe books, but over the years my collection has grown to cover much more of the culinary world. Here are my picks for 2014:

* Setting The Table, The Transforming Power Of Hospitality in Business Danny Meyer

* Tastes Like Home Cynthia Nelson

* From Scratch, Inside The Food Network Allen Salkin

* Ferran, The Inside Story Of El Bulli And The Man Who Reinvented Food Colman Andrews

* Sweet Hands, Island Cooking From Trinidad and Tobago Ramin Ganeshram

* Molecular Gastronomy, Exploring The Science Of Flavor Herve This

Any of these titles will make for an excellent Christmas gift for the foodie you know who likes to read and I’m sure you can also get digital versions on Amazon.com (if you want to save a tree) and wherever else you usually purchase books.

Otterbox Agility System

My new best friend in the kitchen. The Otterbox Agility System for my iPad Mini gets as much use as my favourite pot or knife. The Agility System with the wall mount (seen in the package above) allows me to take my favorite recipe website, youtube video or notes on the recipe I’m preparing to share with you, in the kitchen. The Agility Wall Mount and Dock allows me to use my iPad Mini hands free and though you don’t see it, it’s in the background when I shoot videos.

Along with the Agility Wall Mount and Dock, I recommend getting the Portfolio – The Agility Portfolio is a full-coverage tablet case that converts into a stand. It folds around your entire tablet protecting it and its sensitive touchscreen. The iPad mini with Retina display Portfolio converts into a multi-position stand for landscape and portrait typing and viewing angles.

For more info on what I believe is the best gift for the techie (in the kitchen) please visit OtterBox.com. In the coming days I’ll do a video review of the complete Otterbox Agility System for the iPad Mini, so stay tuned for that.

Chai Tea?

I must confess that I’m a Chai tea (latte) addict, so I just had to put this on my list. Typically I pay about $5 a cup for a decent Chai latte at the bucks… that can add up very fast when you have a weakness for the rich, spicy, creamy.. warms your soul cup of tea. So when I found these David Rio Chai blends at “HomeSense” (you can order it online as well) I was in heaven. I think they go for about $7 a container, but they make between 10 and 16 cups (depends how rich you want it) and all you have to do is add your favorite milk and hit the buttons on the microwave. I find that after blasting the mixture in the microwave, if you whisk it a bit you’ll get a lovely creamy finish.

Blendtec Designer 725

The Blendtec Designer makes my list for 2014 the following reasons:

-Illuminated, capacitive touch interface
-Preprogrammed cycles: Smoothie, Salsa, Ice Cream, Whole Juice, Hot Soup, Clean
– 100-speed capacitive touch slider
– easy to clean – no sharp blades
– 8-year warranty
* Blend Rewards – Get rewards for using your blender! The Designer 725 tracks your blends, then displays reward codes at certain milestones. Redeem the code online for recipe books, gift cards, kitchen utensils, jar discounts, and more. Yea, imagine getting FREE stuff just for using your blender? My old (reliable.. in the image above) blender never did that and cleaning it was always dangerous with the sharp blades.

I would recommend also getting the Twister Jar – The Twister™ jar is designed to blend your thickest recipes, such as nut butters, hummus, baby food, dips, thick shakes, dressings and more!

For more info on the Blendtec Designer 725, Twister Jar and other personal and professional type blenders check out Blendtec.com

Look for some wicked recipes featuring Blendtec Designer 725 in January – think healthy smoothies with a lovely Caribbean twist! Just in time for all of you who will be doing the New Years resolution to live healthier for 2015.

I do hope this 2014 shopping list for foodies is helpful as we brave the crowds (and idiots fighting for parking) at the mall and I would encourage you to save yourself the stress and give online shopping a chance. At the end of the day spend what you can afford and don’t get stuck with that dreaded credit card bill come January. Other options would be a good chef’s knife, pots (a wok would be an excellent gift), even something as simple an apron would rock. Be sure to put some thought into what you get and whatever you end up getting will be appreciated.

Make it a wonderful holidays!

BTW I won’t hate it if you sent me a gift this holiday season (smile – had to add that).. mail cards etc to:

CaribbeanPot.com
Att: Chris De La Rosa
2-558 Upper Gage Ave
Suite 225
Hamilton, Ontario
L8V 4J6 Canada

The Ultimate Coconut Rice Recipe (gluten free and vegetarian).

November 26, 2014November 26, 20144 Comments

I was recently challenged to put together a coconut rice recipe, however the recipe must be foolproof. According to the person who emailed me, they have a difficult time cooking rice as it usually ends up a messy mush in the pot or under-cooked. They were looking for perfectly cooked coconut rice, grainy in texture and rich in Caribbean coconut flavors. Being a rice dish I thought it would be a good time to also have it appeal to vegetarians and friends on a gluten free diet at the same time.

In order to make this as fool-proof as possible I employed the use of my rice cooker .. let’s get cooking!

You’ll Need…

3 cups (rice cooker size) brown rice (long grain parboiled)
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cherries (or any dried fruit you like)
1 bird’s eye pepper (bird pepper)
1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust to your liking)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup unsweetend coconut shreds
1 cup coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1 tablespoon parsley
1 scallion
1/2 cup raw cashew nuts
*water (According to your rice cooker instructions)

*Note: dried cranberries, mango and/or pineapple will work great as well. Be sure to go through the entire ingredient list if doing this coconut rice gluten free to ensure it meets with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

In a dry (non-stick works best) pan on a low heat gently toast the coconut shred/flakes and cashews for about 3-5 minutes and set aside.

Chop the scallion, parsley and thyme, then wash the rice. There’s usually a lot of grit in rice, so it’s important that you always wash it first or when cooked it can be gritty. To wash rice you have two options. Option 1 – place the rice in a deep bowl, cover with water and use you hands to massage the rice. As you do so you will notice the water will go cloudy. Pour out that water and repeat the steps until the water is no longer cloudy. Option 2- Place the rice in a strainer (fine mesh) and run cool water over it while using your hands to massage the grains. The water will go from cloudy to clear in a quick time.

Important Note: I noticed that my rice cooker’s cup is a bit smaller in size than an actual measuring cup, so I used the rice cooker’s measuring cup.

It’s now time to put everything into the rice cooker and allow it to do it’s thing. First went in the washed rice, then the scallion, thyme, black pepper, parsley and salt. Give it a good mix, then go in with the dried fruit, toasted coconut and cashews. Top with the bird’s eye pepper and it’s important that you leave it whole so you get the flavors and not the raw heat. Break if you want the heat.

Now go in with the coconut milk and it’s time to top with water according to your rice cooker’s instructions. There were 3 cups of rice and I treated the dried fruit as a cup of rice as well. So looking at the mark on my rice cooker for brown rice, I added enough water as if cooking 4 cups of rice. It’s now time for the rice cooker to give us perfectly cooked coconut rice. I must mention that 10 minutes into cooking I did give it a stir to make sure all the heavy stuff didn’t gather at the bottom of the cooker.

As you go through this recipe you’re saying to yourself..wow this is indeed a fool proof way of making coconut rice Chris doh lie! Such a delicious one pot dish, that’s vegetarian and gluten free as I mentioned above. Screaming with Caribbean flavors!

Tip: After my rice cooker stopped cooking and went to the ‘keep warm’ setting I gave it five minutes then I unplugged it. I find that with the natural sugars from the rice and dried fruit (plus the coconut), it will have the tendency to start caramelizing the longer its on a heat setting. Be sure to use a fork to work the rice a bit so it goes a but fluffy in the rice cooker (when done cooking).

Amazing BBQ Ribs In The Oven (recipe).

May 27, 2025November 20, 201414 Comments

Every July I go in search of smoke, flame and flavors with our annual month of grilling. And in doing so I usually get a number of emails from people without a grill/bbq pit who are in search of that sticky goodness you get with grilled meats. Here’s my take on doing bbq pork ribs during those cold winter months, in the oven. Remember if you’re doing this recipe gluten free, you will have to use your favorite gluten free bbq sauce for the finishing touches near the end.

You’ll Need…

1 rack of ribs
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 heaping tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon hot smoked paprika
1 cup bbq sauce (your fave)

The first step is to remove the thin membrane on the underside of the rack of ribs (pull with a paper towel for traction). Now this is optional, but for the rub to really get into contact with the open flesh and do it’s magic.. yea remove the thin membrane. Then I like cutting the rack into two pieces for easier handling.

Then is just a matter of placing all the ingredients (except the bbq sauce) in a bowl and give it a good mix. Now coat the ribs with this amazing rub you just made, cover with plastic wrap and put in the fridge for at least a couple hours to marinate. Try to really rub it into the meat with your hands.

Set your oven @ 300 F and then get 2 large pieces of tin foil and wrap each piece of seasoned ribs (make sure you keep all that lovely rub on the ribs) and seal them into 2 packages. Place then on a baking tray (so if they leak you won’t have a mess in your oven) and set them on the middle rack of your oven. Have then go for about 2 hours and 15 minutes.. by sealing the packages they will retain it’s moisture as they cook.

It’s now time to have some fun… remove them out of the oven (and tin foil) and place on a rack (if you have one) on a lined tray and hit them with a coat of your favorite bbq sauce. I lined the tray as I know the cooked-on bbq sauce will be difficult to clean later on. Set the oven on “BROIL” (basically high heat – above 450 F) and place the ribs back into the oven. NOTE: You will have to keep a close eye on these as the high heat will cause the sugars in the bbq sauce to burn. Give it about 3-5 minutes, then remove from the oven, turn over and slap on some bbq sauce and back in the oven for 3 minutes. Please repeat this 2 times so you get that lovely glaze combined with that sticky goodness of the bbq sauce.

Now here’s the thing… bbq traditionalists will say this is not bbq as there’s no smoke and though we can add a smoke pouch to the oven (who needs the entire house being smoky) this can stand on it’s own as being bbq (IMO). The rub will give this a wicked rounded flavor, the slow cooking in the oven will have these ribs fall-off-the-bones-tender and by using your favorite bbq sauce (remember to use gluten free if doing this recipe according to a gluten free diet), you’ll get those rich flavors you enjoy during the summer months.

Curry Conch Recipe (conch curry).

May 28, 2025November 16, 20142 Comments

This recipe takes me back to my childhood days when my brother and I would go scavenging for conch (small and large black snails) in the rivers and ravines surrounding our small village (Guaracara). So to be clear, these are not the ocean conchs that’s turned into salads, soups and stews, especially in the Bahamas. It was like a treasure hunt for us, looking between roots, rocks and other debris in the water to find these. Good Times!

Luckily I across these in the frozen section of the Asian market we shop at, so I now have the opportunity to share this curry conch recipe with you.

You’ll Need…

1 lb conch (cleaned and cut into pieces)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 tablespoon curry powder
1 heaping tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
1/2 medium onion
2 tablespoon veg oil
5 cloves garlic
1/2 scotch bonnet pepper (adjust to your liking)
3 cups water (boiling)
2 scallions
1 tomato

Important: In the Caribbean we wash all meats and sea food with lime or lemon juice before seasoning/cooking, but in this case DO NOT do so. Instead rub with a bit of plain flour and water, drain and rinse. The acid from the lime or lemon juice will cause the conch meat to go really tough and no matter how much you cook it, it will not go tender. Also, if doing this recipe according to a gluten free diet, pay attention to the curry powder you use as some manufacturers add flour to the mix and it will not meet your gluten free dietary needs.

Wash and season the conch (cut into 1 inch pieces) with the salt, black pepper, Caribbean Green Seasoning, Scotch Bonnet and a bit of grated ginger (optional – not mentioned in the ingredient list). Give it a good mix and allow it to marinate for a couple hours in the fridge.

Heat the oil on a medium flame in a deep sauce pan (one with a lid) and go in with the diced garlic and onion – turn the heat to as low as it would go and let it cook for about 3 minutes. Then add the curry powder (heat still on low). This step we’re toasting the curry powder to release the flavors of all the spices which make up the curry powder. Cook for about 4 minutes, so you won’t get a raw curry taste when the dish is done cooking. It will go grainy, them clump and go darker and your house will have that lovely aroma of curry! Add a bit more veg oil if you find it’s starting to burn.

It’s now time to raise the heat to high and go in with the seasoned conch and stir well. Place the lid on the pan and bring to a boil. As it comes to a boil, reduce to a simmer, stir well and let it go for about 10 minutes. It will spring it’s own natural juices.

Now it’s time to really infuse the conch pieces with the curry, so turn up the heat to high and cook off all that natural juice which you see in the pan (lid off). It may take about 3-5 minutes. Go until you see the oil at the bottom of the pan, then go in with the boiling water and bring back to a boil. it’s important to use boiling water or again the conch will go tough.

Once it comes to a boil (we need patience now) reduce the heat to a gentle simmer, have the lid slightly ajar and let that go for about 1.5 to 2 hours. Yes it does take a while to go tender (this is VERY gamey). Remember to stir every 10 minutes or so.

After you’ve achieve the sort of tenderness you like, taste for salt, then turn up the heat to thicken the gravy. In most cases you’d find that traditionally curry conch is cooked dry (no gravy). The last 5 minutes of cooking is when you’d go in with the chopped tomato and scallions to give the dish a bit of color. You can even add a bit of chopped shado beni or cilantro if you like.

In my case I left it with a thick gravy as I was having this with steamed rice.

Looking back I can also remember mom would never want us to go unsupervised to the river and we would always get into problems with her. UNTIL we figured out how she knew when we went o the river and ravines – our legs would be dry and dirty from the muddy water. So we started taking coconut oil with us to use as lotion after playing in the river. BTW.. we never ate the conchs we’d catch and even today curry conch is not my thing.

Jerk Chicken Fried Rice.

May 27, 2025November 5, 201410 Comments

Having leftover rice is quite normal in our home as I purposely make extra and store it in the fridge for making quick and tasty fried rice dishes. However when it comes to having ‘extra’ jerk chicken.. let’s just say that we’re true carnivores! With our girls off in college, sometimes I tend to forget and end up cooking the same amounts as if they were still living at home. Thus the extra jerk chicken in this case.

I love one pot dishes, especially ones where all the main components are already cooked.. like the rice and chicken.

You’ll Need…

4 cups cooked rice (I used long grain brown rice)
2 cups diced jerk chicken
2 scallions
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 cup cabbage (chopped)
1 carrot diced
1/2 large onion diced
1 clove garlic (diced fine)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 cup diced bell pepper
1 cup peas (frozen – thawed)

* optional – 1 teaspoon grated ginger
Note: To make this dish fully gluten free ensure that the marinade you used in making the jerk chicken was gluten free (pay attention to the soy sauce used) and double check the oyster and soy sauce called for in the ingredient list above. White rice will also work excellent with this dish.

It’s important that the rice be kept in the fridge (even if it’s fresh rice you cooked specifically for this fried rice dish) as it will help it maintain a grainy texture when this jerk chicken fried rice is done cooking. Dice the onion, garlic, carrots, bell pepper and scallion. Then strip the jerk chicken off the bones (I used both white and dark meat).. try to keep as much of the marinade that’s cooked onto the chicken pieces as it will really help make this, ‘jerk chicken’ fried rice.

Heat the oil on a medium flame in a deep/wide pan, then add the diced onion, garlic and black pepper (add the grated ginger at this point as well – if using), turn the heat down to low and cook for 2 minutes. Then raise the heat to medium and add the bell pepper, frozen peas and carrots – cook for 3 minutes.

Add the oyster sauce, sesame oil and soy sauce along with the pieces of chicken and cook for another 2 minutes.

Now go in with the chopped cabbage and chilled rice. Mix well and cook for about 3-5 minutes or until everything is heated through. Top with the scallions and you’e done. You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt as both the rice and chicken was already cooked with salt and the soy sauce we added will be enough to perfectly season this fried rice. However, do taste near the end of cooking and adjust accordingly.

Your kitchen will have that wicked aroma of islands as the pieces of jerk chicken combines with the other ingredients to give you one of the best one pot rice dishes you’ve ever had. If you want you can also intensify the ‘jerk’ flavors by adding a teaspoon of you favorite jerk marinade to the mix (when we added the other sauces) and don’t forget you can kick this up even more with the addition of some finely diced “Caribbean sunshine” – scotch bonnet pepper.

The Ultimate Boiled Corn (Corn On The Cob) Recipe.

November 2, 2014November 1, 20148 Comments

One of the fondest memories I have growing up on the islands was corn season. We always had a small patch of corn planted among the pigeon peas at the back of our home, so come harvest time, we’d indulge is some of the sweetest corn one could imagine. A combination of intense Caribbean sunshine and no use of fertilizers or pesticides meant we tasted corn how it was meant to taste (non GMO too!). However, the BEST corn I ever had was from the vendors who would have their stalls set up at football (soccer) games in Gasparillo (small town in south Trinidad) where we’d go to play night-football. The kernels would just explode with flavors beyond the natural sweetness of the corn, from the way the corn was prepared.

You’ll Need…

5-8 large corns (sweet corn)
2 scallions
3 sprigs thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 cups coconut milk
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
1 large clove garlic
1 tablespoon chopped shado beni (optional)
1 scotch bonnet or habanero pepper (whole)

* Try to get the corn with the husk (outer leaves) still on. Remove the husk and silk, then rinse with water and place in a deep pot. Give the garlic, parsley, thyme and scallions a rough chop then place on top of the corn along with the shado beni (use cilantro if you cannot get shado beni) and black pepper. Now go in with cool water, but leave enough room for the two cups of coconut milk.

Add the scotch bonnet pepper whole, as we want the flavors from it, but not the raw heat. If you enjoy such heat.. go ahead and burst it open while the corn boils.. but be warned! Now place some of the corn’s husk on top of the pot, place the lid and bring to a boil. Then remove the lid and reduce the heat to a rolling boil.

Please bear in mind that I do NOT like adding salt to corn so you will have to add some if that is your thing. I much prefer to enjoy the herbal notes and natural sweetness of the corn. Additionally, I used “sweet corn’ in this recipe so after about 6-10 minutes they were perfectly cooked. If you’re using the typical Caribbean corn, it will take a bit longer to cook.

NO! You do not need any butter for these when you’re ready to serve them. The coconut milk will add a surprising buttery richness to the finished corn and those herbs will have your taste-buds screaming for more. I assure you there’s no better way to enjoy corn on the cob.

Note: I’ve listed this recipe under gluten free as well as I know that many who suffer from Celiac disease can tolerate corn. After boiling you can cut the kernels off and serve them as a corn salad?

The Ultimate Garlic Shrimp Recipe.

November 2, 2014October 21, 20148 Comments

In the Caribbean we have an abundance of wonderful seafood in our waters, including some of the most tasty shrimp you’ll ever enjoy. Sadly, I don’t recall this dish ever being made by mom or as a matter of fact.. I had never seen it done on the islands when we were growing up. However this is a go-to recipe for me when I need my shrimp fix! The natural sweetness of the garlic and the creamy texture you get when you add the chilled butter, is just outstanding.

You’ll Need…

1 lb medium shrimp
pinch salt
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon chilled butter
1 tablespoon chopped parsley (flat leaf)
1 scallion
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper
2 heaping tablespoon diced garlic
pinch black pepper

Side Note: For this recipe I used organic garlic which I secured form a local farmer here in Hamilton and I must admit (been using the same garlic since) that without any doubt.. this is the BEST garlic I’ve ever used. Fleshy, sweet and a unique overall garlic flavor. You can use any garlic you have (fresh) access to, but getting organic garlic is well worth the effort (and price).

You’ll be surprised how quick and simple this recipe is to put together. Chop the scallion and parsley and finely dice the scotch bonnet pepper as well as the garlic. Clean, devein and wash the shrimp and drain dry.

Heat the oil in a heavy/wide saucepan on medium heat and go in with the cleaned shrimp. Cook for about 2-3 minutes.

Remember to stir so the shrimp cooks evenly. Now add all the other ingredients except the chilled butter and cook for two minutes. We DO NOT want to burn the garlic, so stir well.

Turn the heat off (or on very low) the heat and add the chilled butter, stir as you do so you get a rich and creamy sauce.

The diced scotch bonnet pepper (remember to wash your hands with soap and water after handling such hot peppers) is optional, but I quite like the slight kick you get to balance the natural sweetness from the shrimp and garlic. Yes, that gentle 2 minute cooking will allow the garlic to take on a gorgeous sweetness.

This gluten free (use gluten free butter – read label) is best served hot/warm and goes well with pasta and on toasted bread as a sandwich. Tehya and I had had them on ‘hops‘ bread.

A Classic Tomato Salad With Heirloom Tomatoes (Vegetarian & Gluten Free).

November 9, 2014October 16, 20141 Comment

Where did the taste, flavor and scent of tomatoes go? As a kid on the islands I remember helping mom and dad in the garden, which meant getting between the tomato bushes during harvest time to pick those lovely beauties off the tree (yes, I’ve had a love affair with tomatoes since as early as I can remember). The scent of the tomatoes would remain on your hands for a full day (or two), even after you’ve washed with soap and water. Back then I didn’t care much for the scent (or the itch from being between those buses in that HOT Caribbean sun), but oh how I miss that lovely aroma from the ‘pretty’ store bought tomatoes we get in North America.

With a good crop of heirloom tomatoes this past summer, I thought I’d share a quick and delicious way to enjoy a tasty tomato salad. I grew my own tomatoes (very much like the ones I grew up enjoying), but you can now go to the ‘organic’ section of your grocery store and find them there.

You’ll Need…

heirloom tomatoes
grape tomatoes
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
fresh ground black pepper
2 small white habanero peppers (optional)
1/2 small red onion
1 tablespoon parsley (mint or basil)
2 tablespoon goat cheese (crumbled)

Plus you can also add some chopped walnuts, balsamic vinegar, cucumber and avocado if you wish.

Note: I used about 4-6 cups of tomato in total (mix of both heirloom and grape).

Wash and prep all the ingredients for the salad. Using a pairing knife, remove the stems off the tomatoes then slice in different shapes and thickness. I like cutting a cross at the bottom of the grape tomatoes (not deep) so we can get them to bleed out some of their sweetness and to get the flavors of the lemon juice, herbs and onion infused in them. By cutting the larger tomatoes in different sizes and shapes (rounds and wedges) you’ll find that the finished salad will be more ‘eye-catching’!
Slice the onion relatively thin (in rounds), if using a hot pepper (white habanero or whatever you like or have) be sure to dice if very finely and chop the parsley.

Basically all you have to do now is add everything (except the cheese) to a large bowl and gently mix. The tomatoes will have the tendency to break apart, so do be gentle. I would recommend serving immediately after mixing everything together or give it about 5 minutes to let the tomatoes release some of it’s wonderful natural juices. If you’re making this ahead of time, do not go in with the goat cheese, salt, lemon juice and olive oil until you’re close to serving. Remember to only top with the goat cheese (no need to mix in)

according to wikipedia.. heirloom tomato (also called heritage tomato in the UK) is an open-pollinated (non-hybrid) heirloom cultivar of tomato

If you’re like me and know what ‘real’ tomatoes are supposed to taste like (and miss them) I recommend trying your hands at growing heirloom tomatoes in your garden (grows well in containers as well). You can get the seeds online and most plant nurseries stock the baby plants in the spring.

Refreshing Tamarind Juice.

November 9, 2014October 14, 20143 Comments

As a child of the Caribbean, fruit juices was my thing. We always had a jug of passion fruit, sour sop, barbadine, freshly squeezed orange or other citrus fruit juices in our fridge. Since I don’t do the sugar thing any longer…but oh how I crave those juices I grew up on. I still have a weakness for a cold glass of mauby or sorrel on those hot summer days.

Tamarind juice wasn’t a favorite for me as I much preferred making Tamarind Balls with whatever tamarind we would borrow from the neighbors tree.

You’ll Need…

2 cups tamarind pulp
6-8 cups water
1/2 cup sugar (add more to your liking)
1 teaspoon Mixed Essence (or vanilla extract)
3 drops Angostura Bitters
slices of lime

Note: if you live in North America you can source both tamarind pulp (with and without seeds) as well as different varieties of tamarind at Asian, Latino and Caribbean markets. In this recipe I used the prepacked pulp of the tamarind.

* If using fresh (ripe tamarind) you’ll need to remove the hard outer shell and the sort of fibers which hold everything together, then soak in the hot water as I’m about to explain. Boil about half the water called for in the recipe and pour it over the tamarind pulp in a large bowl. While still hot, try to break it up a bit with a large spoon – remember the water will be hot.

When the water cools, it’s time to use your hands to break the pulp apart until it’s relatively smooth. There will be fibers and seeds.

It’s now time to strain the pulp/water (it will be thick and have a sort of sour or tart scent) so you don’t have any debris in the final juice. You will need to strain this a couple times (at least) with a fine strainer.

Add the rest of the water and other ingredients, stir well and chill or serve with a couple cubes of ice. I like serving with a slice of lime or lemon. Do taste to ensure it’s sweet enough for your liking.

So the next time you see tamarind in the market or you feel the need to borrow some from the neighbors tree.. make some refreshing juice with them. BTW.. you can make this a ‘big people’ tamarind drink by adding some rum or vodka to the mix. Then the fun starts!

The Ultimate Grilled Stuffed Peppers.

November 17, 2014October 7, 2014Leave a Comment

This past summer our annual Month Of Grilling was a huge success with fans around the world. One of the featured recipes this year was the grilled stuffed peppers, where I played around with some classic “Caribbean” ingredients to achieve what I believe is a delightful way to do stuffed peppers. Though this recipe was done on the grill, you can easily prepare it in your indoor oven with great success.

You’ll Need…

5 bell peppers
3 cups cooked rice (long grain parboiled brown)
2 scallions (chopped)
1/2 medium onion (diced)
1 cup shredded saltfish (salted cod, prepared)
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (diced fine)
1 tomato (diced/seeded)
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar
1 tablespoon parsley
2 sprigs thyme
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

IMPORTANT: Use boneless salted cod and still check to make sure there are no bones as you prepare the salted fish.If you’re doing this recipe gluten free, please pay attention to the cheese (and every ingredient listed) you use as if it’s processed it may have trace amounts of gluten.

* NOTE : To learn how to prepare the salted cod, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-4xn6sFpIQ

Cut the tops off the peppers and remove the core (seeds etc) and give them a wash and turn over on paper towels to dry. Dice the onion, scallions and tomato into same size pieces. Then finely chop the parsley, thyme and scotch bonnet pepper. Remember to not include any seeds from the scotch bonnet and wash your hands immediately after with soap and water after handing it. Grate the cheese and set aside. You’ll need to precook the rice in salted water.. I used long grain parboiled brown rice.

Above I have a link to a video showing how to prepare the salted fish (cod in my case). Soak in cool water, then place in a pot topped with water and boil for about 20 minutes Drain, rinse with water and shred. The goal is to remove most of the salt the fish is cured in and to re-hydrate the fish.

Heat the olive oil in a deep pan on a medium/low heat, add the diced onion, 3/4 of the scallion, thyme, black pepper, parsley and tomato cook for about 3 minutes on low. Then add the salted cod and cook for another 2-3 minutes. The cod is fully cooked, but we want to get the rich flavors from it in the stuffing.

Allow the filling to cool a bit, then mix it with the cooked rice in a large bowl. Then add 3/4 of the grated cheese, mix well and get ready to stuff the peppers. As mentioned I did these on the grill so I opted to use my cast iron pan to grill these on. Basically all you have to do is drizzle on some oil (or use cooking spray) and place the peppers on there to be stuffed. TIP: If you find that the peppers don’t sit evenly on the pan, you can cut the bottom of them so they level off.

As you grill heats up, top each pepper with a bit of the cheese and scallion we reserved.

Grill indirectly for about 30-40 mins.. be sure to turn the peppers so they cook evenly. My grill was set at about 375 F, the lid was covered and if you’re wondering.. indirect simply means the pan was not directly over the heat source of my grill.

If you’re doing these gluten free stuffed peppers in the oven – 375 F on the middle rack and I would recommend covering with tin foil to start, then remove the foil the last 5 minutes of cooking so you get those lovely charred edges. If you want you can also hit the broil setting for 2 minutes.

I do hope you’re liking the fact that we’re now featuring Caribbean type gluten free recipes (thanks for all your emails). I encourage you to be creative with the stuffing.. even if it means using 2-3 different types of cheese!

It’s important to note that I didn’t use any salt in this recipe as the remaining salt from the salted fish will be enough to season this perfectly. But you can always taste the stuffing and adjust accordingly. If you want you can dice the bell peppers we trimmed off (top) and add it to the stuffing or you can use them as a lid for presenting these tasty stuffed peppers at your dinner party.

Island style Curry Pork Recipe.

May 27, 2025October 2, 20149 Comments

Curry wasn’t cooked often in our home when we were growing up (dad was not a fan of curry), especially pork. Mom’s go-to recipe when it came to pork was either stewed (stewed pork recipe) or roasted in the oven. When I moved to Canada and started living with my aunt (mentioned her in my cookbook), I learned to both appreciate and master the art of cooking Caribbean style curry dishes. Pork being one of them.

This curry pork is absolutely delicious.. tender pieces of pork, simmered in a delightful curry sauce which is not heavy and wickedly spicy if you break the scotch bonnet when cooking. The key here is to try and get pieces of pork with bones.. lean pork will work, but the bones gives it that extra layer of flavor (IMO).

You’ll Need…

3 lbs pork (I used ribs ends)
1 heaping tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
1 tablespoon chopped shado beni (culantro)
2 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon roasted Geera (cumin)
1 scotch bonnet pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tomato
2 shallots
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 scallion
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
water – about 3-4 cups

Notes: If you cannot source the shado beni (aka culantro), use 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro. I like using a madras blend curry powder, but one made in the Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago). If doing this gluten free, do pay attention to the curry powder you use to make sure there’s no flour added. Some curry powder adds flour to their blend.

Cut the pieces of pork (if your butcher didn’t already) and wash, drain and get ready to marinate (this is key). I used a cheap piece (already cut at the grocery store) of pork, with pieces from around the rib area of the piggy. In a big bowl, mix in the green seasoning, salt, black pepper, ground cumin, tomato (diced), salt, ketchup, chopped scallion and grated ginger with the pieces of pork. You have two options here when it comes to the scotch bonnet pepper. If you want raw heat, cut and use as much as you want in the marination process. If you want flavor, when we get the pot going, add the whole pepper and try NOT to break it.. or you’ll release the beast!

* Remember to wear gloves and wash your hands with soap and water immediately after using cut scotch bonnet peppers.

Give everything a good mix, cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours (overnight is best). Let’s jump to actually cooking now! Heat the oil in a heavy bottom pan (one with a lid) on a medium heat, then add the diced onion and garlic.. lower the heat as low as it can go and allow the flavors to develop for about 3-5 minutes. With the heat still on low add the curry powder and mix well. The goal here is to cook off the raw taste of the curry so we don’t get a rawness to the finished dish.

It will go darker, you will have that lovely bouquet of curry in your kitchen and it will have a tendency to clump.. that’s natural. If you find that it’s too dry, feel free to add a bit more oil to the pot. After 4-5 minutes, turn the heat to high and start adding the seasoned pieces of pork to the pot. The goal is to coat the pork with the curry and to deglaze the pot.

Bring it up to a boil (it will release natural liquid), then turn it down to medium low, cover the pot and let it go for about 8-10 minutes. Then remove the lid and turn the heat back up to high. We want to burn off all that natural liquid and really intensify that curry flavor in the pieces of pork.

In the same bowl you marinated the pork (don’t discard the marinade), swish around 3 cups of water and set aside for use. Once the liquid is burnt off, it’s time to add that water to the pan (be sure you can see some of the oil we started off at the bottom of the pan before adding the water). Bring that to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer, cover the pot and let that slowly braise for about 1.5 hrs.

After its done it’s thing, we have to personalize this a bit (pork should be tender by now).. turn up the heat and burn off the liquid until you have a gravy consistency you like (I like it somewhat thick) and taste for salt. Adjust accordingly as my appreciation for salt will be different than yours. After turning off the stove I like to go in with the chopped shado beni (or cilantro) and let the residual heat help release the flavors from that. Do remember to remove the whole scotch bonnet pepper before serving.

TIP – Pork can be fatty… (remember I didn’t use a lean pork), so you’ll notice that some of the fat will rise to the surface of the pan. Spoon out and discard (not down your sink though – that can clog pipes).

If you want to make quicker work of this you can add it (after the initial 10 minutes of cooking the pork in the curry – before we added the water) to a pressure cooker for about 10-15 minutes (with 2 cups water) After it’s safe to open the pressure cooker, remove the lid and turn up the heat to thicken the gravy.

* This can be frozen with great results. Simply thaw, heat and serve when you’re ready for another dose of curry pork..which also happens to be gluten free. Curry traditionalists may query the use of tomato and ketchup, but I assure you the acid will help balance the flavors nicely.