/Vegetarian (Page 33)
Vegetarian

Wholesome Chorai Bhaji Recipe.

cooked callalooWe had just moved to Canada and I was living with my aunt. Back then there were a handful of Caribbean people in Hamilton and the few of us that went to the same high school did just about everything together. My group included a fella from Dominica, Barbados and one from Jamaica. To this day we’re still very close and still pretty much a tight unit. Richard, my friend from Jamaica called me to ask if my aunt wanted some Callaloo… kinda strange that he would ask me if my aunt wanted some and not me. I answered yes, since I knew whatever comes home is open game. It had been months since I had last eaten callaloo (back then finding Caribbean food stuff in the supermarkets was very tough) so I was licking my chops at the thought of eating some callaloo (I wonder if he would bring some rice and stew chicken with it?). Another strange thing he said was .. he was up on the farm.

Mr man showed up about 2 hrs later with a huge bag of callaloo… not the rich and creamy,  soup like dish we make in Trinidad and Tobago with crabs and coconut milk (see Callaloo), but the bhaji we call chorai. I learned that day that our Jamaican brothers and sisters refer to what we call Chorai.. as being callaloo. BTW, that was the most healthy leaves of callaloo chorai I had ever seen. Seems the migrant workers who come up to work on the farms here in Canada plant this “callaloo” to sell on the side to make extra money and to give to friends as well. The leaves were so huge, at first I thought it was tobacco. At least my aunt was happy, as she had something to cook that night that reminded us of home.

As I’ve mentioned in the past I LOVE any and all bhaji (pak choi, baby spinach, swiss chard and dasheen bush) so this recipe is very special to me. If you really want to add extra flavours to this dish you can add either coconut cream and/or pieces of salted cod to it. Leave me a comment below if you’d like info on adding those two things. My dad also like his bhaji with salted pig tails or salted beef pieces served with flour dumplings.

You’ll Need…

1 bunch of Chorai bhaji (about 2 lbs)
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic
1 medium onion sliced
1/4 hot pepper (whatever you like using.. I used habanero) * remember to avoid using the seeds if you want to avoid most of the heat.
1/4 teaspoon salt

Weather you buy it at the grocery or grow it in your garden , you MUST wash the chorai a few times, as sand and dirt gets all over it during the growing process. I usually fill the sink with cool water and soak it for a few minutes. Then I gently shake the leaves and remove them from the water. This allows most of the dirt to remain in the sink. I then rinse the leaves again under running water just to be sure that I get rid of any dirt. If the stems are hardy, you’ll have to remove those , as it will be bitter and will not be tender when cooked. The stems in the batch I had were very tender, so used everything.

I cut each stem/leaves into 2 inch pieces (roll the leaves and cut – see pic below), then I rinse under cool water one more time and allow to drain in a strainer.

trinidad bhaji recipe

how to cook bhaji

caribbean vegetarian recipe

trini bhaji

After you’ve cut, washed and allow to dry off, it’s time to cook. In a deep pot heat the oil on medium heat. Now add 1/4 of the onion to the heated oil and cook until soft and starts going brown on the edges. The next step is to add the cut chorai to the pot and gently stir around. It will seem as if the pot is not large enough, but as it cooks it will wilt. After you’ve added all the chorai, add the rest of the sliced onion, salt, pepper and garlic (add whole as it will melt down while cooking).

Allow this to cook (covered) on medium/low heat (it will spring up a lot of it’s own juices) for about 20-25 minutes. If you find that there’s still liquid after this time, turn up the heat and burn it off. It will become a bit mushy and will go a darker green, but that’s normal.

trini bhaji recipe

cooking chorai bhaji

jamaican callaloo

jamaican callaloo recipe

cooking callaloo

cooked callaloo

This is excellent when paired with roti, fry bake or rice and dhal… makes a deadly sandwich as well and if all fails, get a pita bread. Don’t forget to leave me your comments below and PLEASE don’t forget to be part of the LARGEST Face Book fan page dedicated to foods of the Caribbean. BTW, my North American friends.. this dish is similar to spinach and can be used just the same (except you’ll find that the texture is a bit different)

caribbean pot on facebook

Vegetarian

Tantalizing Red Kidney Beans For Sunday Lunch.

redbean with rice and stew chickenWhat  would Sunday lunch on the islands be without either Callaloo or stewed red beans as part of this cherished meal? A time when families get together to share good food, thoughts and good times after a long and hectic week. Add in some stewed chicken and macaroni pie and you’re set to have one of those meals that takes you back to places you’ve not been to in years… for me it’s like traveling back in time to a happier place. Since I’m the only one who enjoy this dish in our household, I tend to make a fairly big batch (enough for about 8 people) and freeze the leftovers in freeze containers for future use. Packaged well, they can last up to 3 months without getting freezer burned. Then all I do is take it out of the freezer and allow to thaw and reheat on very gentle heat and I’m set for another awesome meal.

I must mention a couple things before we get to the actual recipe. 1. Try to get the sort of pinkish colour beans, as it cooks much faster than the dark red version. 2. You’ll notice that it does take a while to cook, but you can save on time by cooking in a pressure cooker if you wish. Just keep checking to see when the beans are tender as I don’t know how long it would take in the pressure cooker.

You’ll Need…

3 cups of red kidney beans (dry)
3 cloves garlic
2 sprigs thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
dash black pepper
hot pepper (as much as you like) I used a small habanero
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 onion sliced
2 carrots (diced) optional
1 bell pepper (sweet pepper) diced – optional
water (see in directions)
1 teaspoon Caribbean style “browning”
2 table spoon chopped shado beni or cilantro
1 scallion (diced thin)
1/2 tablespoon Golden Ray butter (optional, but adds that true island flavour so I could not leave this out)

* The “optional” ingredients mentioned above were not used in my recipe today, but it does add a bit more flavour and body to the dish so I do recommend using them.

For best results I recommend soaking the dry beans overnight in water, but before you do so quickly go through the beans to check to see that there are no foreign objects within the beans. In the past I’ve found little pebbles and twigs that had to be removed. Then wash the beans with running water and place in a fairly deep bowl. Now cover with water so all the beans are under water and allow to soak on the kitchen counter overnight.

trinidad redbean recipe

The next step is to pour the beans and water it’s been soaking in, into a deep pot and add some more water  so it’s covered by at least 2 inches of water. Then add the salt, black pepper, hot pepper, garlic (whole.. it will melt away as it cooks) and sprigs of thyme to the pot. Bring to a boil and reduce to a gentle simmer, with the pot covered.Allow this to cook for about 1.5 to 2 hours or until the beans are plump and tender. BTW… If you’re adding the carrots and bell peppers to the dish, this is when you add it as well.

trinidad and tobago stew beans recipe

*TIP! After the beans are tender you can remove the sprigs of thyme from the pot and discard.

Since I used the sort of pinkish coloured beans I mentioned above, my beans were tender in about 70 minutes or so. The final step is to now heat the oil in another deep pot and add the sliced onion and cook for a couple minutes (until the edges start going golden). Using some care… take a large spoon and start adding the now tender beans to the pot with the cooked onions. The idea is to pour everything into the pot with the onions. Remember you’re adding liquid to a pot with heated oil, so please be careful. Stir this around a bit and now add the “browning” as this gives it a sort of nutty caramel flavour and it also adds a lovely rich colour to the overall dish. Then I add the scallion, shado beni or cilantro and the Goldenray butter to the pot.

The last thing you do is to get a “swizzle stick” or whisk (don’t use one of those electric ones) and whisk everything a bit so some of the beans break up and form a sort of creamy consistency (but remember to not over crush the beans… you still want to see whole beans). If you find that it’s overly thick, feel free to add some water and if it’s too thin, turn up the heat and thicken it up a bit. It should be almost the consistency of a thick soup or chili.

From the time you add the cooked beans to the pot, it will take about 10 minutes on medium heat to finish cooking.

stewing redbeans in trinidad

how to cook red beans

how to cook kidney beans

seasoning for red kidney beans

browning for stew red beans trini style

trini recipe for cooking stew beans

caribbean kidney beans recipe

trinidad stew red beans recipe

trini stew redbeans

In the pick above I have a wonderful plate of the red beans, with long grain brown rice, stew chicken and a couple slices of zaboca (avocado) on the side. Just need some plantains and I’d be in heaven.

I’m sure there are different ways of making this dish, but this is a simplified version that’s just as tasty as any you’d find on a table for Sunday lunch on the islands. Before I go I’d like to remind you to leave me your comments (there’s no need to register..simply add you comments) in the area provided below and don’t forget to join our Facebook fan page. Remember, it’s my goal to have the largest FB fan page dedicated to the culinary culture of the islands and I can’t do it without YOU!

TIP! Before I leave… remember that this will thicken up with it cools down, so if it looks a bit runny when it’s still hot, don’t thicken.. it will have a great consistency when it cools down a bit.

caribbean pot on facebook

Seafood Vegetarian

Cassava boiled and refried with salted cod.

trinidad cassava recipe 14I wasn’t a huge fan of cassava growing up and even today it’s a last resort type of ground provision for me (when I can’t source dasheen, yam and/or eddoes). I find it a bit overly bland, so when I do cook it I try to infuse some added flavour with salted cod bits and other ingredients. This recipe I’ll be using frozen cassava that one can get in the frozen food section at most grocery stores. However it works just as well with fresh cassava (providing you know how to peel and cook it). If you’re a vegetarian ( I got a lot of talk the last time I suggested that vegetarians eat fish) you can leave out the pieces of salted cod.

You’ll Need…

1 package of frozen cassava (about 1 lb)
1 shallot sliced (or onion)
1 scallion
1/2 hot pepper
2 cloves garlic
1/4 green pepper (sweet) – diced
1/4 red, yellow or orange sweet pepper – diced (optional)
about 1/4 cup shredded pieces of salted cod
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
fresh cracked black pepper

* salt for cooking the cassava (see package)

Start by dicing and slicing the peppers, shallot, scallion and garlic. Then using the cooking instructions on the package of the frozen cassava… cook. In my case it called for me to bring 4 cups of water to a boil, then add the cassava, salt and allow to cook until tender (about 20 minutes).

trinidad cassava recipe 1

trinidad cassava recipe 2

trinidad cassava recipe 3

The next step is to soften and remove some of the salt from the salted cod. Do so by placing it (I used boneless salted cod) in a fairly deep bowl and pour some boiling water over it (cover with water) and allow to soak until the water is cool. There are 3 options for buying salted cod, 1. bone in 2. boneless and 3 salted cod bits. The choice is all yours. After the water is cooled, drain and rinse with water and drain again. Then using your fingers or a fork, shred the fish into bits. Squeeze all the water out of it as best as you can.

trinidad cassava recipe 4

trinidad cassava recipe 5

trinidad cassava recipe 6

By now the cassava should be fully cooked, so it’s time to drain the liquid out and set aside. In a saucepan add the oil and butter and heat. Then add the salted cod and cook on medium heat for about 4-5 minutes. After which you’ll add the shallots and garlic. Allow this to cook for a further 3 minutes or so (stir often). Now add the diced peppers and scallions and cook for about 3-5 minutes on medium heat.

trinidad cassava recipe 7

trinidad cassava recipe 8

trinidad cassava recipe 9

trinidad cassava recipe 10

trinidad cassava recipe 11

It’s now time to add the cooked cassava and stir around so everything gets coated with the wonderful flavours of the salted cod, shallots, garlic and peppers. Cook for about 3-5 minutes and you’re done.

trinidad cassava recipe 12

trinidad cassava recipe 13

Let’s quickly go through the recipe one more time.

1. prepare peppers etc.

2. cook (boil as you would potatoes) the cassava

3. prepare the salted cod (if you get the salted cods bits, it would mean less work for you)

4. cook the salted cod and peppers

5. drain and add the cassava to the pot..cook for a few minutes and you’re done.

Don’t forget to leave me your comments and questions in the space provided below, as I would love to hear from you. Additionally, I invite you to join our fast-growing group on Facebook (click on facebook image below).

caribbean pot on facebook

happy cooking

chris…

Vegetarian

Flavorsome Curry String Beans.

how to cook curry string beans 11Over the years I’ve grown very fond of vegetarian type dishes and if you recall, back in July of last year (wow it’s been almost a year) I shared a recipe for cooking French beans in coconut milk. Today we’re using the same beans (is there a difference between French and string beans?), except they’re called string beans in the Caribbean and we’ll be giving it that added “kick” of flavour with some madras curry powder. In case you’re wondering, YES there is a difference in the curry you get in the Caribbean as compared to the ones from India.

There are 2 things you can add to this dish to make a bit different. 1 You can add some coconut milk to it instead of the water mentioned in the ingredients list. 2. By adding some shredded pieces of salted cod (dry) it gives the dish another level of flavour. But trust-me, the recipe below will amaze you and anyone you share it with.

You’ll Need…

1 lb string beans (French beans)
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/4 hot pepper (habanero, scotch bonnet or any of your faves)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 onion sliced
4 gloves garlic grated or crushed
3 tablespoon water to mix the curry
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 cup water

* My choice for curry powder has always been the “Raja Jahan Special Madras Curry” which you can easily get at any Caribbean food store if you live outside Trinidad and Tobago or online at Amazon.com.

Start by washing the beans and allow to drain. The next step is to remove both ends (stems) and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces. For faster cooking time I usually then slice these 1 1/2 inch pieces down the middle (see pic below) using a pairing knife. But you don’t have to do this step if you don’t feel like it.

how to cook curry string beans 1

how to cook curry string beans 3

how to cook curry string beans 2

In a saucepan put the oil to heat on medium heat and add 1/2 of the onion and allow to cook for a couple minutes. Then take the curry powder and put it in a bowl with the 3 tablespoon of water (mix around). Then pour that into the pan and stir. Allow that to cook for a minute, then add the rest of the sliced onion, grate the garlic into the pan (or crush) and add the slice of hot pepper. Cook that for a few minutes until most of the liquid dries off, then add the sliced beans and stir around.

how to cook curry string beans 4

how to cook curry string beans 5

how to cook curry string beans 6

how to cook curry string beans 8

how to cook curry string beans 7

how to cook curry string beans 9

how to cook curry string beans 10

Stir thoroughly, add the salt and cook for a few minutes before adding the 3/4 cup of water. Once you add the water, turn down the heat to low, cover and cook for about 20 minutes. Stir about3-4 times during the cooking process.

how to cook curry string beans 11

how to cook curry string beans 12

The finished dish will not be as brilliant green as when you first started and please try to burn off all the liquid that we added. This is great with roti (sada and buss up shut) as well as rice and even breads. And there’s no reason why it can’t be a side dish at your next family dinner. Healthy and tasty, you just can’t beat this one.

———————————————————————————————-

WIN NEW CONTEST WIN

Special thanks to everyone who participated in last month’s contest. The winner was announce earlier today, so we’d like to hear from you if you were the winner so we know where to ship the prize.

For the month of May, the best month in the year (I’m a Taurus) I want to give one lucky contestant a KitchenAid Santoku Knife. All you have to do is leave me a comment below about the recipe, about the blog in general or just say hello. Then your name is automatically entered to win. It’s that simple. Here’s a pic of the knife I’ll personally ship out to you (I’ll cover all shipping charges as well).

KitchenAid 7-Inch Santoku Knife

Bring this new trend into your kitchen with this KitchenAid 7-inch Santoku knife with a cushioned non-slip silicone handle. Originally used by Japanese chefs, this knife offers the benefits of a cleaver with the control of a lighter knife. The handle is made from Dupont Delrin and has a comfortable grip with a fully contoured handle, which is easy on the hand with a rounded soft blade back. The strong, durable blade is made from a high-carbon stainless steel. The bolster has proper balance and control with full tang construction.

The fine print.

– this contest is open to everyone globally

– all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and you’ll be automatically entered to win

– feel free to get the other members in your house to enter

– if you’ve already won something from Caribbeanpot.com we’d appreciate it if you gave others a chance to win and refrain from entering.

– there’s no need to buy anything to enter

– the knife is valued at $25.95 and we’ll cover the shipping cost to you.

– this contest end May 31, 2010 and the winner will be announced within 5 days of the close date.

Friends, I encourage you to leave me a comment below and wait for the email at the end of the month saying if you’re a winner or not. It’s that simple.

Good Luck

——————————————————

If anyone would like to sponsor the monthly contest, feel free to contact me. This is a great opportunity to get some exposure for your business or service.

Caribbean Pot on Facebook
Vegetarian

Buss Up Shut Roti Made Easy!

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 30There’s been emails, Facebook wall messages and tons of comments from avid readers who are all interested in learning how to make one of the most popular roti on the islands. As I’ve mentioned in the past, our cuisine is heavily influenced by the many cultures that make up the cosmopolitan islands of the Caribbean, especially Trinidad and Tobago. When most people outside the Caribbean think about roti, they immediately associate it with being Indian, but if you’ve ever had the pleasure of eating any “Indian” influenced food from the Caribbean… you’ll know that we took their idea and perfected it 🙂 Not just Indian food, but the same can be said for Chinese as well. Over the years we’ve taken these wonderful ways of preparing foods and added a unique tropical twist to it and it’s become part of our culinary heritage. Don’t take my word for it… go into any Caribbean restaurant if you live outside the Caribbean and order any of their curry dishes and you’ll ‘taste” what I mean.

Personally this is my all-time favourite roti so when I make it, it’s usually done in batches so I can freeze some for days I don’t feel like cooking.. The recipe below will make 6 fairly large buss up shut roti. You have the option of placing (portion size) in freezer lock bags and freezing any leftovers. They can last up to 2 months and all you have to do is pop them (in the bag) into your microwave and heat on high for 50 seconds, then flip and nuke for another 40 seconds and they’ll be pretty close to the day they were originally made.

You’ll Need…

5 cups of flour (all purpose)
3 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups of water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil (to work into dough)
mixture of 1 tablespoon margarine and 5 table spoon vegetable oil

You’ll also need (for cooking)
– tawa or non stick skillet (frying pan)
– 2 wooden spatula
– pastry brush (grab a cheap 1 inch paint brush from the dollar store)
– rolling pin

* I’ll try to explain each step as best as I can with pictures, so you may find that this page will take a bit longer than usual to load. It’s due to the number of pics I have to include. Additionally, I’ll update the FaceBook fan page as well as the Youtube Channel  with a video showing how to work the dough properly, so you can log on there to check it out as an added resource.

Start by getting the base dough ready. In a large bowl add the flour, salt and baking powder. Then add the water (add 2 cups first and add as needed) and knead. If you have a good food processor you can use that as well. After you’ve got a solid dough ball (large) add the 1 table spoon of oil and knead again. This entire kneading process should not take more than 5 minutes. Now cover the bowl with the dough with plastic wrap and allow to rest for about 15 minutes.

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 1

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 2

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 3

Now that the dough is rested, we’ve got to separate the dough into the size we’ll need for each roti. Break the big dough ball into 6 even-sized balls (keep some flour handy to dust your work surface and hands to prevent sticking). All you’re doing is breaking into 6 pieces, then go back and work into a well rounded ball as in the pictures below.

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 4

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 5

In a small bowl, place the margarine and 5 table spoons of oil and mix together (the margarine must be soft). Now take one of the small balls we just created and get ready to work a bit more. Dust your surface with flour and roll out into a full circle (the size of your tawa … about 10-12 inches in diameter), flip and roll as needed to form a complete circle. The next step is to use a knife and cut from the middle out … a straight cut (see pic below). Then using your fingers or brush, dip into the oil/ margarine mixture and rub onto the rolled out dough (lightly). Then we’ll take up one of the cut ends and start rolling in a clock-wise direction to form a roll (sort of log). As you come to the end of the roll, pinch the edge so it sticks together. Then using your fingers (refer to pic below and video mentioned above) press to tuck in both ends and place back onto the counter surface. Gently tap down onto the ball of dough to flatten a bit and set aside. Do the same for the remaining 5 dough balls.

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 9

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 6

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 7

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 8

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 10

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 11

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 12

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 13

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 14

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 15

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 16

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 17

Again cover with plastic wrap so it’s somewhat air tight and allow to rest for at least 1 hour. Typically, for best results I’d allow it to rest for about 4 hours. The step above will give you layers that buss up shut is so famous for and by adding the oil/margarine layer before we rolled it, it will have that sort of silky pastry-like texture. I’ve tested using butter, but I find that using margarine gives better results. Traditionally, I believe some people use ghee (clarified butter), but I’m quite happy with the results I get from the oil/margarine combo I use.

Let’s get to finally cooking now. (after the dough is full rested)

– place the tawa on medium/high heat and brush a layer of the same oil/margarine mixture we made earlier onto it

– dust your work surface with flour and roll out one of the dough balls we had resting

– make a complete circle to fit the size of the tawa or pan that you’re using., then place onto the now hot tawa

– brush the top (uncooked surface) with some of the oil mixture

– cook for about 25 seconds, then flip and brush this side with the oil now .. cook for another 25 seconds or so.

– flip one more time and cook until you get a sort of light golden colour happening on both sides (about 1 minute or so)

– take the 2 wooden spatulas and crush the now cooked roti (see the action in the pics below)

– repeat the process for the remaining 5. Brush tawa with oil, place rolled out dough, brush with oil, flip, brush with oil..flip a couple times more .. then beat with spatula.

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 18

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 19

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 20

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 21

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 22

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 23

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 24

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 25

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 26

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 27

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 28

Trinidad Buss Up Shut roti step 29

That’s it! You’re done. Place onto a paper towel and wrap in a kitchen towel to keep warm. If you leave it open for too long, it may go a bit stiff and loose it wonderful “silky” texture.

Some of you may be asking what’s with the name “Buss Up Shut”. It’s due to the  finished texture of the roti. Basically we’re comparing it to a torn or ripped shirt. So buss up shut is our island dialect or accent at work.

So what is a tawa? It’s basically a flat steel  round pan that’s used to cook roti on the stove top. You can also search online for chapati tawa if you’re looking to purchase one. A stove top skillet or large non-stick frying pan works just as well.

TIP! If you find that “beating” the roti on the stove is difficult, simply place a kitchen towel into a large bowl and drop the cooked roti into it and with tongs (it will be hot) repeat. By dropping it, it will get to the right finished texture as if you “beat” it on the stove with the 2 spatulas. You don;t have to be gentle.. beat that roti!

I really hope you give this a try as not only is it very simple to make, it’s one of the best roti you’ll ever eat. Growing up I was intimidated by the prospect of making this, but Ive learn that it’s very simple to make, as long as you follow the stops I outlined above.

Please leave me you comments below.happy cooking

chris…

Vegetarian

A Creamy Caribbean Curry Pumpkin Soup.

making curry pumpkin soupThough I’m a SOLID food kinda guy, I’m starting to really appreciate soups. As we’ve discussed in previous posts, the traditional soups in the Caribbean are very heavy, thick and full of carbs. Our soups are what would be seen as being “stews” in North America and is meant to be a true meal in one pot. But lately I’ve been experimenting with lighter (belly wash as my dad call them) soups, where the ingredient list is not overly complex.Simple and made from a few ingredients so you can really appreciate the main ingredient.

I first had this soup a few years ago while in Trinidad, but I can’t remember the name of the restaurant where we had lunch (some where in Port Of Spain)… I probably had some “beverages” that same day so the memory isn’t all that clear. After a few tries I came up with a recipe that’s as close to the real thing as far as I can remember.

You’ll Need…

1 medium onion diced
1 celery stalk diced
1 carrot diced
2 cloves of garlic diced
1/4 cup of butter (about 1/2 a stick)
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 tablespoon curry powder
3 cups pumpkin – peeled and diced
1/4 cup cream
water (about 3-4 cups)
Salt (about 1/2 teaspoon)
black pepper

IMPORTANT NOTE: I tried my best to get the sort of pumpkin we get in the Caribbean, but the Asian stall at the farmers market didn’t have any. I then tried a couple Caribbean food stores without any luck so I ended up using a sort of squash-like version. Though they probably belong to the same family, it’s really not the same as the real thing. Yes, squash will work, but the flavour and consistency does differ a bit. BTW, here’s a pic of sliced pumpkins at the San Fernando Market (Trinidad) that I took back in October 2009. You can view a lot more pics I took that day on the picture feed for the site (go a couple pages deep)

trinidad fresh cut pumpkin

Start by putting the butter to melt on medium heat in a deep pot (on high heat the butter will burn very quickly). Then add the onions, carrots, garlic and celery to the pot. Allow this to cook until the onion is tender (about 3-5 minutes). Then add a dash of black pepper, the curry powder and turmeric… allow to cook for about 3 minutes. Quite honestly the aroma that comes out of this is probably the BEST I’ve smelled in quite some time.

how to make pumpkin soup

trini pumpkin soup

trinidad soup recipe

Now we’ll add the cubed pieces of pumpkin and stir around. Then add enough water to cover the pumpkin, bring to a boil, then back down to a simmer (I used about 3 1/2 cups of water). Add the salt, cover and let cook on low heat for about 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. If you find that it’s going thick, add a bit more water and/or turn down the heat a bit.

pumpkin soup

curried pumpkin soup

pumpkin soup recipe

The final step is to add the cream and blend or puree the entire thing into a smooth soup. I used one of those immersion blenders to get the smooth consistency I was looking for. A couple tips if you’re using one… 1. Try to pulse to avoid the soup going frothy. 2. Rinse the blender off with water first before putting it into the soup. The turmeric can stain the blender, if yours is as white as mine. Yea, we got the cheaper plastic version and not the stainless steel one. You can also use a whisk or pour the entire thing into a regular blender or food processor if you wish. Bear in mind that you’re working with a hot liquid.

recipe for trinidad pumpkin soup

trinidad curry pumpkin soup

jamaican pumpkin soup

Next time I’ll be sure to get some of the authentic Caribbean type pumpkin to really test the difference in the final taste as compared to using the squash. I’ll also be testing using a combination of cream and coconut cream as I’m sure it will work well with the curry in this dish.

BTW, if you can’t get cream, I’m sure evaporated milk will work just as well.

Do you have a different version or a tip about this recipe you’d like to share? Please leave a comment in the area provided below.

happy cooking

chris…

Caribbean Pot on Facebook