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Here’s another one of those classic soups you’ll find being made on a Saturday throughout the Caribbean, with each household putting their own personal twist on things. While it’s loving known as Red Peas Soup, the key ingredient in most cases is usually red beans (Kidney Beans). And though in this recipe I didn’t use any ground provisions (I explain more in the demo video) it’s also customary to add stewing beef and/or smoked meats as well. I went pretty basic to keep it simple for you to duplicate, while giving you maximum flavor and heartiness.

You’ll Need…

2 cups dried red beans (kidney / soaked)
1 large carrot (1/4 inch pieces)
2 scallions (chopped)
4-6 sprigs thyme
1 medium onion (diced)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 bird’s eye pepper (leave whole)
4 cloves garlic (smashed)
6 pimento berries (allspice)
2 lbs of salted pig tails (prepared)
10-12 cups water
4 medium potatoes (1/4)
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup water (for dumplings)

Edit: 1 cup coconut milk

Note: Optionally you can add stewing beef, yam, sweet potato as well as other ground provisions. If pork is not your thing you can always use smoked meats and/or beef. You’ll then have to add salt though.

Wash and rinse the dried kidney beans.. then cover with water in a deep bowl. Remember as they soak they will expand to at least triple the size they were originally so add a lot of water to the bowl. Soak them overnight or for at least 2 hrs to make the cooking step go quicker. I tossed out the water they were soaked in after it did the job.

Have your butcher cut the salted pigtail into 2 inch pieces as it will be very difficult to cut with an ordinary kitchen knife. Wash, then place a deep pot with water and bring to a boil. Cook for 20 minutes, then drain + rinse and repeat (boil again in water). The goal is to make the pieces of pig tails tender and to remove most of the salt it was cured in.

Time to start the soup. Place everything in the pot (except the flour and potato), then cover with water and place on a high flame to bring to a boil. As it comes to a boil, skim off any scum/froth at the top and discard. Reduce the heat to a gentle boil and allow it to cook for 1 hr and 15 mins.. basically until the beans are tender and start falling apart.

It’s now time to add the potato (and Yams etc if you’re adding it) as well as the coconut milk and continue cooking for 15 minutes.

Now is a good time to start making the basic dough for the spinner dumplings. Mix the flour and water (add a pinch of salt if you want) until you have a soft/smooth dough. allow it to rest for 5 minutes, then pinch of a tablespoon at a time and roll between your hands to form a cigarette shape.

Add them to the pot, stir well and continue cooking for another 15 minutes on a rolling boil.

You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt to the pot as the remaining salt from the salted pigtails will be enough to properly season this dish. However you can taste and adjust accordingly. Lets recap the timing part of things so you’re not confused. Cook the base of the soup for 1 hr and 15 minute or until tender, then add the potatoes and cook for 15 minutes, then add the dumplings and cook for a further 15 minutes. Keep in mind that this soup will thicken quite a bit as it cools.

While this is not a traditional recipe to any one specific island, versions of this soup (sometimes called stewed peas) can be found throughout the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa. A hearty bowl of this soup will surely give you the sleepies (some may call it ethnic fatigue). You can certainly freeze the leftovers and heat it up another day.

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Easy Roast Chicken, Memories Of My Childhood.

May 27, 2025November 1, 20161 Comment

This roast chicken takes me back to my childhood days visiting my godfather in Princess Town (Trinidad). His chef would usually prepare this for us for lunch… served with steaming bowls of white rice and stir-fried cabbage, carrots and bell peppers. I still remember the fear which would come over me when his massive Great Dane named “Buster” would come begging for food from me. Buster was so BIG, it’s rumored that as a kid I could easily ride him like a pony.

You’ll Need…

1 1/2 tablespoon Ginger (grated)
2 scallions (chopped)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine
1 whole chicken

Important: If doing this recipe gluten free, you’ll need to use a gluten free soy sauce (tamari) to ensure it meets with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

Place all the ingredients (except the chicken) in a bowl and give it a good mix. I grated the ginger and chopped the scallions. Place the chicken into a zip lock bag (or bowl) and pour the marinade over it. Give it a good mix/massage and allow it to marinate in the fridge overnight or at least 2 hours. Tip: Place the bag on a plate in the fridge so if it leaks it will not spill throughout the fridge.

Next day, preheat your oven to 375 F. I lined my baking pan with parchment paper (you may also use tin foil), placed the chicken on it and covered loosely with tin foil. I like brushing off the extra marinade before I place it on the middle rack in the oven.

After 35 mins, remove the tin foil and crank up the oven to 400 F and back on the middle rack.

After 30-35 minutes @ 400 you’ll have a golden chicken, with a slightly crispy skin.

If you find that you don’t get the color you want, you can always turn on the ‘broil’ setting on your oven the last 4-5 minutes. If you do opt to use the ‘broil” setting, I’d recommend keeping a close eye on it as the heat will be HIGH (usually 525 F) and can easily burn the skin.

While not the precise recipe I grew up eating (I lost contact with my godfather over 25 yrs ago.. hopefully I can reconnect and get the actual recipe from him), it’s very similar (taste) and I assure you that this will not only be the easiest roast chicken you’ve ever made… you’ll be blown away at how juicy and flavorful this is.

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Gluten Free Vegetarian

Corn Cou Cou (Vegetarian + Gluten Free).

November 7, 2016October 25, 201610 Comments

As a kid I never had much love for this dish, but as I grew older (and moved away from home / the Caribbean), Corn Cou Cou became a fave of mine. Since mom could never convince us to eat corn Cou Cou it was rarely ever made in our home, except for the odd time she would make it for dad.. usually served with stew fish. While the cornmeal and okra are the ‘constant’ ingredients in Cou Cou, you’ll find that the technique and supporting cast of ingredients will differ as you visit kitchens across the Caribbean.

Note: While the technique will be a bit different than the traditional way of making Cou Cou, I assure you the end result is simply delicious.

You’ll Need…

1 cup corn meal (fine grain)
2 cloves garlic diced fine
1 tablespoon butter
2 sprigs thyme
1 small onion
1/2 teaspoon salt (adjust)
1 cup warm water
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
8-10 okra
1 pimento pepper (diced bell pepper could work -2-3 tablespoon)

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.

Heat the butter on a medium flame in a deep saucepan (if doing this vegan – use coconut oil) . Go in with the diced onion, garlic, and pimento pepper, then reduce to low and cook gently for 3-4 minutes.

Wash, pat dry (paper towels) and trim (remove the tips and stems) the okra. Then cut into 1/4 – 1/2 inch wheels. Add them to the pot and stir well..heat still on low. Add the fresh thyme as well and if you wanted to put a little black pepper you can.

After about 3 minutes add the coconut milk and raise the heat to bring to a boil. Then reduce to a simmer, add the salt and cook for about 5 minutes or until the okra is tender.

Remove the pot off the heat and while stirring, start adding the cornmeal a little at a time. The goal is to mix it well, so we don’t end up with lumps.

After all the cornmeal is in the pot and incorporated, place back on a medium/low flame, add the water and keep stirring. The goal now is to cook the cornmeal… takes about 4-6 minutes.

Make sure all the liquid is absorbed and the Cou Cou is thick (it will thicken more as it cools) and here’s where you can taste for salt and adjust accordingly.

Cou Cou is usually served with stewed meats or fish and besides being very ‘filling’ it’s a meal that’s very comforting for most people from the Caribbean. So while my technique may differ to the one my grandmother would use, I assure you.. you’ll definitely want to give my way a try.

How/what do you call Cou Cou? If you use a different name for it, kindly share it in the comment section below… I’d love to learn.

Gluten Free Seafood

Yam With Stewed Saltfish.

October 11, 2016October 11, 20161 Comment

This is one fella you can take out of the Caribbean, but you can never take the “Caribbean” out of him. I’ve had the opportunity to dine in various countries / restaurants around the world and while many of the dishes I’ve experienced we’re definitely tasty, I will always head back ‘home’ to the islands when I need something comforting. Such is the case when I eat dishes containing yam, dasheen, green banana, eddoes, cassava and other ingredients we refer to as being ‘provision’. I’ll always remember weekends when mom would prepare this dish for me, my brother and dad.. my sisters we’re somewhat picky eaters.

You’ll Need…

1 Yam 3-4 lbs (white yam)
1 cup salted cod (prepared)
1/2 onion (sliced)
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 cloves garlic (diced)
2 tablespoon olive oil
4 sprigs thyme
10 cherry tomatoes (or 1 large – sliced)
1 scotch bonnet pepper (optional.. no seeds)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 scallion (chopped)

Note: I’ve posted this recipe under Gluten Free (as well), so kindly go through the entire list of ingredients to make sure they meet with your specific Gluten Free dietary needs.

Demo: How To prepare Salted Cod (Saltfish)

Prepare the salted cod (soak, boil, drain, rinse and shred) and set aside.

Peel the yam (please get actual yams and NOT sweet potatoes some people refer to as being yams). Try West Indian, Asian and Latin markets.. ask for soft boiling white yam. The variety I used was from Africa, which cooks very fast. Then cut into large pieces, cover with water and bring to a boil. Add about 1/2 teaspoon salt to the water when it comes to a boil. Cook on a rolling boil until the yam is tender, but not falling apart. It can take between 20-30 minutes depending on how large the pieces are and the variety of yam you get. TIP! Some yams may cause skin irritation when peeling, so I’d suggest wearing gloves or coating your hands with some vegetable oil when peeling/handling.

As the yam boils, prepare the other ingredients.

Poke the yam pieces with a pairing knife… if there’s no resistance, they’re fully cooked. Drain and set aside.

Heat the olive oil on a medium flame in a wide pan, then ad the shredded salted cod to the pan. Lower the heat to low and cook gently for 3-5 minutes. Then add the onion and garlic and cook (on low) for another 2-3 minutes. Then turn up the heat to medium and add all the other ingredients and cook for 3-4 minutes.

Toss in the cooked yam pieces and mix well, to coat with the stewed salted fish.

You have a couple options here. You can mix well, heat though and you’re done. Or you can cook a bit longer and allow the yam pieces to develop a sort of crust (my fave). You’ll notice that I didn’t add any salt to the dish as the yam was cooked in salted water and the remaining salt from the salted fish will be enough – but you can adjust to your own liking. Add as much Caribbean Sunshine (Scotch Bonnet) as you can handle and do remember to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling such hot peppers.

This is definitely COMFORT on a plate for me. If you can’t source Yams, you can use Taro/Dasheen, cassava, green cooking bananas, eddoes, sweet potatoes or even regular potatoes would work.

Gluten Free Sauces & Condiments

Screaming Fruity Peppersauce (Hot Sauce)

May 28, 2025October 4, 20165 Comments

Every summer I try to plant many of the herbs, vegetables and peppers I use in the recipes I share, in the little garden I have at the back of our home. Nothing gives me pleasure than knowing what went into growing my food and there’s always a sense of accomplishment as well for me. Every year I try to plant a variety of HOT peppers, ranging from the insane stuff to mild and flavorful. This homemade pepper-sauce is not about the mild – unfortunately. We’re going for raw heat with the peppers I’ll be using, However with the addition of the frozen berries things will balance off naturally.

You’ll Need…

10-12 HOT peppers (your choice)
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 cups frozen berries
1 lime
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoon chopped parsley
1-2 tablespoon brown sugar

* Berries included – strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cherries AND I used an assortment of fiery peppers. IMPORTANT! Wear gloves when handling hot peppers and be SURE to wash your hands with soap and water IMMEDIATELY after.

Wash, drain/dry and trim off the stems off the peppers, then chop roughly. Smash the garlic and give the parsley a rough chop, before adding all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Be sure to open your kitchen windows or have the exhaust fan above your stove on, to vent the fumes of the peppers cooking.

You can use any frozen berries you have access to and if all you have is white vinegar, don’t worry – it will be fine.

As soon as it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to very gentle simmer and allow it to cook for about 25-30 minutes. Remember to vent the kitchen or cook outdoors.

Turn the stove off, then go in with an electric stick blender and puree to the consistency you like (I like it smooth). Taste for salt (adjust) and you’re free to add a bit more brown sugar if you want it a bit more sweet and the final thing is to go in with the juice of the lime. Bottle, cool and store in the fridge.

If you don’t have a stick blender you can use a traditional standing blender or food processor. I’d recommend allowing the cooked peppers to cool down a bit to avoid burning yourself while it blends.

Not your typical “Caribbean” peppersauce, but I assure you, you’ll be come a fan of it. BTW, not sure if I mentioned this to you before or not, but when traveling to the Caribbean don’t ask for hot sauce.. do like an islander and say, pass the peppa-sauce please!

Seafood

Fry-Dry Curry Shrimp A Family Classic.

December 20, 2016September 28, 20165 Comments

This is definitely one of those dishes that takes me back to my childhood. Seafood was our mortal enemy (with the exception of fried King Fish) of ours when we were kids, however this fried dried curry shrimp was something we always requested from mom. Normally served with hot-out-the oven coconut bake. Unlike traditional curry shrimp where you’d normally have a gravy or sauce and sometimes you’d find pieces of potato in the mix, this curry shrimp is all about that rich and intense curry flavor.

You’ll Need…

1 lb small/med shrimp
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 hot peppers (any you like)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 tomato diced-fine
1 scallion diced -fine
1 tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
2-3 tablespoon veg oil
3 cloves garlic
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds (geera)
2 tablespoon curry powder
2 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Note: It seems that I forgot to take pics of the actual cooking process as I normally do. However you’ll manage with the written instructions and directly below you’ll have access to the full demo video. IMPORTANT! If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Especially the curry powder which may contain flour as a filler.

Peel, devein and wash the shrimp – drain dry. Then season with the salt, black pepper, scallion, tomato, hot pepper of your choice (this curry is usually spicy – but you can leave out the peppers if you wish) and Caribbean Green seasoning. Allow it to marinate for about 10 minutes.

Heat the oil on a medium flame in a heavy pot, then add the diced garlic and turn the heat down to as low as it can go. We don’t want to burn the garlic. After a minute add the curry powder (I used a Madras blend out of the Caribbean) as well as the cumin seeds. Heat still on low – we’re trying to bring out the flavors of the spices which makes up the curry blend.

It will go a bit grainy and darker. After about 3-4 minutes, it’s time to crank up the heat to med/high and start adding the marinated shrimp. Yes, add everything from the bowl and keep mixing as to pick up all that curry goodness from the bottom of the pot.

We’re using a heavy pot as we want to heat to be evenly distributed so we can cook the shrimp quickly before it’s overcooked and goes rubbery. Do NOT cover the pot and DON’T walk away as we don’t want it to stick and burn. Mix well and after about 4-6 minutes you’ll have a delightful fry-dry curry shrimp. As you turn off the stove toss in the chopped cilantro (typically Shado Beni would be used) and mix well Feel free to use a non-stick pot if you’re worried about the amount of vegetable oil used or if you’re worried about it possibly burning on the high heat.

Besides being and excellent side dish, I love these curry shrimp on sandwiches. As mentioned above, mom would make thick coconut bake and we would line up in the kitchen for a sandwich stuffed with these shrimp. She did use smaller shrimp though.

Desserts Gluten Free Vegetarian

Pina Colada Ice Cream.

September 22, 2016September 22, 20162 Comments

I grew up on classic Caribbean ice creams which were homemade and usually flavored with many of the fruits that grew at the back of our home in Guaracara Trinidad. Coconut, mango, sour soup and barbadine (Giant Granadilla) were the flavors of the day. Unless it was the odd time mom would bring home Flavorite (brand) from the grocery store, where we’d get a taste of chocolate, vanilla, strawberry and the odd time .. rum and raisin. After having a superb pina colada in old San Juan (Puerto Rico) a few years ago, I knew I had to give this a spin in my ice cream maker.

You’ll Need…

1 medium pineapple (ripe)
1 1/2 cups coconut milk
1 cup coconut cream (sometimes called cream of coconut)
1/2 cup pineapple juice
2 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup rum

*Important – Add more sugar if needed as I’m cutting back on the amount of sugar I use daily.

I guess you can use a can or two of diced pineapple, but with ripe pineapples being very affordable and so much better to use (no added sugar and preservatives), I’d suggest you use the real deal. Peel, core, cube and place in a blender with all of the other ingredients.

Puree until everything is smooth. Then place in the fridge to chill for a couple hours to make it easier for your ice cream maker.

Then it’s just a matter of placing the chilled mixture into your ice cream maker and running it according to the machine’s instructions. For me it took about 25 minutes. As I mentioned in the Sour Sop Ice Cream Recipe it may have the consistency of soft-serve ice cream at this point, so I usually remove the finished ice cream from the maker and place it in a freezer proof container.. then into the freezer for a couple hours to get a bit more firm.

With the summer we just had in Southern Ontario (temperatures in to 40’s with the humidex – that’s Celsius) , this Pina Colada ice cream was certainly enjoyed on many occasions. I would assume you can make it without the rum, but why? Ah lil sip won’t hurt the kids (smile)

Gluten Free Vegetarian

Dry Pigeon Peas Rice (vegetarian)

October 4, 2016September 9, 201611 Comments

This is one of those recipes I associate with my grandmother who would always have dried pigeon peas stored in re-purposed glass ketchup bottles, in a dark corner of her smoky kitchen (she cooked with an open wood fire – called a coal pot). While she would save hers for making stew peas and pelau, the odd time she would make this rice dish, it was a bit different than what I’m about to share. If you have a pressure cooker you can cook the peas in a much faster time, but I quite like this slow method.

You’ll Need…

1 cup dried pigeon peas
3 cups parboil brown rice (washed)
1 tablespoon olive oil (coconut oil works great)
1/2 medium onion diced
4 sprigs thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 scallions (chopped)
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (see note below)
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 1/2 cup coconut milk
2 cups water (divided)
3/4 teaspoon salt (adjust)

Optional ingredients
2 cloves garlic
slice of ginger

Note: If doing this recipe gluten free, be sure to go through all the ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. You may float a whole scotch bonnet pepper instead of a cut piece as I did. Be sure to NOT break it while it cooks or you will be in for some SERIOUS heat! Always remember to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after handling hot peppers.

Quickly go through the dried pigeon peas to ensure there’s no debris, wash it with cool water then place in a bowl (it will expand, so keep that in mind) and cover with water. Allow it to soak for a couple hours or overnight.

Chop, dice and slice all the ingredients. Then in a heavy pot over a medium heat, go in with the oil, after which you add all the ingredients except the pigeon peas, salt, rice, water and coconut milk. Turn the heat down to low and gently cook for about 4-5 minutes.

It’s now time to add the soaked pigeon peas along with the coconut milk, salt and 1 cup of water. Turn the heat up to high and bring to a boil.

Reduce to a gentle simmer (very low), cover the pot and allow this to cook until the peas are tender. It will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes. After that time, check to see if they are tender (cook longer if necessary), then add the washed rice and the rest of the water. Turn the heat up and bring to a boil. To wash the rice you have a couple options. place in a deep bowl, fill with water and massage with your fingers/hand. Dump out the first batch of water when cloudy and repeat until the water is relatively clear. Or you can place in a strainer and run water over it while you massage. Do so until the water runs clear.

When it comes to a boil, stir and place the lid back on the pot. Reduce the heat to low and allow to cook until the water is absorbed and the rice is fully cooked – about 25 minutes. Shut off the stove and leave it covered for 15 minutes.

Now it’s time to remove the lid and fluff with a fork so you have nice grainy rice.

Remember to remove the stems off thyme and discard before serving. This pigeon peas and rice is quite comforting and goes well with a side of Jerk Chicken as we enjoyed this night.

Drinks

Apple Carrot Orange Smoothie.

May 29, 2025August 24, 2016Leave a Comment

In this the final smoothie in our “Week of Smoothies”, I thought I’d round off things with one that’s not only very simple to make, but it mimics a popular drink we enjoy in the Caribbean, Carrot Punch! With orange juice and diced apples, it’s packed with health benefits, great for your weight loss diet and very refreshing. While smoothies are not something we traditionally make in the Caribbean (as I’ve mentioned before), you’ll find that it’s becoming very popular the past few years. And while we normally reach for tropical fruits, apples are widely available – to be honest I’ve had better apples in the Caribbean (imported) than in Canada.

You’ll Need…

1 large Apple (your fav)
1 large carrot
1 cup orange juice
1/2 teaspoon grated ginger (optional)
1 teaspoon honey (optional)

Core and dice the apple, then put everything into your blender.

I usually grate the carrot so it’s easier work for my blender – even though this beast of a blender I have is VERY powerful. Then it’s just a matter of hitting the ‘smoothie’ settings (if your blender has that option) or blend till smooth.

* Add ice or more liquid if you want.

I usually use chilled fruits/juice so I don’t need to add any ice, but it’s totally up to you. ENJOY!

As we say bye to a wonderful Week Of Smoothies, I’m hoping to continue with more in the coming months.. but we’ll experiment with more “Caribbean” fruits. The goal is to go island hopping in the next few months so I’ll have access to such fruits.

Desserts Drinks

Jackfruit Smoothie.

August 18, 2016August 17, 20163 Comments

As we continue with this week of smoothies, it’s time to use a very common but ignored Caribbean (tropical) fruit, Jackfruit. A sweet (like refined sugar) tasting fruit, with a sort of custard-like texture, but the scent can be a bit overpowering when it’s fully ripe. We had just driven through Fern Gully, Jamaica and had stopped for ‘refreshments’ at a road-side bar, when I gazed on a Jackfruit tree on the side of the building laden with some of the largest fruits I’ve ever seen. It’s funny how whenever I think about Jackfuit, it takes me back to that Jamaican trip and the roadside bar where I enjoyed some of the most refreshing Guinness I’ve ever had.

You’ll Need…

2 cups frozen jack fruit
8 ice cubes
2-3 cups yogurt
1 tablespoon honey

Though I can get fresh/ripe Jackfruit here in Ontario at the many Asian grocery stores, it’s somewhat expensive. Besides it being cheaper, I find that the frozen Jackfruit they also stock is already prepared and it works great in smoothies and drinks.

Basically all you have to do is place all the ingredients listed above in a blender and make into your smoothie.

Yes, you can use a fruit flavored yogurt if you like, but keep in mind that it will change the overall flavor of the completed smoothie. Additionally, due to the sort of creamy nature of this smoothie, a couple drops of vanilla or almond extract will work great as well.

I may have mentioned this before, but the drive through Fern-gully is a MUST when you visit Jamaica. There’s a sort of mystical aura to the area.. as if you’re in a fairy tail.

Gluten Free Seafood

Curry Shrimp With Pumpkin.

March 11, 2017August 11, 20163 Comments

Pumpkin and shrimp are two things mom struggled to get us to eat as kids, but as an adult I can’t get enough. Looking back I wish I had started eating pumpkin from a younger age as the pumpkins mom would use came directly from the small garden we had at the back of our home in rural Trinidad. Grown organically and under the brilliant Caribbean sun… I still recall mom commenting “gosh this pumpkin cook real gud” every time she made a pumpkin dish.

You’ll Need…

3 lbs pumpkin (butternut squash will work also)
1/2 lb shrimp (med, cleaned and deveined)
1 tablespoon Caribbean Green Seasoning
2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon brown sugar
3 cloves garlic
2 tablespoon water
1/4 scotch bonnet pepper (no seeds)

Edit! : Forgot to add the curry powder in the list. 1 Heaping Tablespoon Curry Powder (more to your liking)

Important: If doing this recipe gluten free please go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs. Especially the curry powder you use, which can have flour as a filler at times.

Peel, devein and wash the shrimp. Then season with the Caribbean Green Seasoning, salt and black pepper. Allow the seasoned shrimp to marinate for 10 minutes as you peel and cube the pumpkin.

In a deep saucepan, heat the oil on a low flame and add the diced (or crushed) garlic, then go in with the curry powder (I used a Madras blend out of the Caribbean) and stir well. Cook on VERY low for 3-5 minutes. It will go darker and grainy.. this step will cook off the ‘raw’ curry taste and bloom the spices which makes up a good curry blend. Add the scotch bonnet pepper and stir well at this point as well.

Toss in the seasoned shrimp, turn up the heat to med/high and cook for about 1-2 minutes. Coat with the curry base. then remove the shrimp and set aside. We’ll finishing cooking them later. In the same bowl you seasoned the shrimp add a couple table spoons of water and stir, then add to the pot. This will deglave the pan and allow the pumpkin to coat with the curry easier.

It’s now time to add the cubed pumpkin to the pot and stir well to coat with the curry that’s still in the pot.

Place the lid on the pan and bring to a boil. The pumpkin will naturally sprout it’s own natural juices. Once it starts boiling, add the brown sugar, reduce to a simmer and cook for about 25 minutes – stir every 5 minutes or so. (lid on)

If you wanted you could add any of your fav herbs and some diced onion to the pot for additional flavor. Remove the lid and using the back of your spoon.. crush the pumpkin so it becomes more smooth. Yes, it should be soft at this point. It’s now time to burn off the extra liquid, so crank up the heat and cook for a few minutes.

As most of the liquid burns off, you can now add back the shrimp and stir well. Taste for salt and adjust accordingly as your salt appreciation will be different than mine. Cook for another 2-3 minutes and you’re done.

One of my favorite ways to enjoy pumpkin, especially with a pile of piping hot buss up shut roti and a side of kuchela! If you wanted to do this recipe fully vegan, you can always leave out the shrimp and add the pumpkin when I added the shrimp.. add a bit of coconut milk for extra flavor.

Gluten Free Meat & Poultry

Grilled Geera Pork Recipe.

May 27, 2025July 27, 2016Leave a Comment

As we close off another successful year of July’s Month Of Grilling, I’d like to take a traditional recipe for making Geera Pork and tailor it for the grill. Geera (cumin) Pork is one of those food/snacks you normally associate with enjoying big-people beverages and can be classed as a ‘cutters’. As you’d find Tapas in Spain, we have ‘cutters’ in the Southern Caribbean. To help the pork tenderize without having to cook for an hour plus and to add a bit of a fruity balance to the fiery scotch bonnet kick in the kebabs, we’ll employ the use of a ripe pineapple.

You’ll Need…

2-3 lbs pork (cubed)
1 tablespoon ground cumin (geera)
1 scotch bonnet pepper (diced fine)
1 medium pineapple
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon Caribbean green seasoning
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic (smashed)
* abt 6 Skewers (bamboo or metal)

* If using chicken instead of the cubed pork, only marinate for a couple hours in the fridge before grilling. If doing this recipe gluten free, do go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

I used a cheap cut of pork with a bit of marbling/fat, but I did trim off any areas where there were too much fat. Cube the same size pieces (about 1 inch), wash with water and the juice of a lime or lemon (not mentioned in the ingredient list) and drain/pat dry.

Place the pieces of pork in a large bowl, then add all the ingredients, except the cubed pineapple.

Now add the cubed pineapple and mix well. I used my hands as I like to crush the edges of the pineapple to help release some of it’s juice. We need the enzyme from the pineapple/juice to work as a natural meat tenderizer. Seal with plastic wrap or place in a sturdy zipper bag and marinate in the fridge overnight.

When it’s time to grill, soak your bamboo skewers in cool water for a couple hours, then thread on the pieces of pork and pineapple as you would normally make a kebab. Since there are raw pieces of scotch bonnet pepper in the marinated pork, I’d recommend using gloves for the process and remember to wash your hands with soap and water immediately after.

I grilled this off on a very hot charcoal flame. Though they were placed directly over the heat, I had them elevated so we didn’t burn the Geera or natural sugars from the pineapple.

I grilled them elevated for about 15-20 minutes, then I went directly over the heat source the final 10 minutes. HOWEVER, do keep an eye on them as they may tend to char very easily. Remember to flip them around for even cooking. Slightly charred bits are ok!

You can personalize this dish by adjusting the amounts of salt, scotch bonnet and cumin you use and you can always cook longer if you wish. I must admit that though I’m not a huge fan of the traditional Geera Pork, this grilled version with the pieces of pineapple is absolutely delicious. NOTE! Traditionalists.. I’d recommend using roasted ground geera for the dark color and STRONG cumin flavor you’d be looking for.

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Curry Shrimp With Pumpkin.

Grilled Geera Pork Recipe.

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