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Are you planning on having lots of people over for an upcoming celebration but not sure what to cook? Maybe everything on your list seems too common and you want a cuisine that has that ‘wow’ factor. Perhaps you should try spicing things up (literally) with some Caribbean recipes? Make your guests feel like they have travelled to warm islands with a fusion of dishes full of spicy sweetness.
Caribbean cuisine is noted for its tasty meals rooted in seafood, chicken, steak and shrimp. These meats are heavily flavoured with many different spices. The spices are then contrasted with many sweet fruits for a burst of flavour. This is always an exciting experience for someone who has never tried a Caribbean dish before.
Caribbean food is derived from the first inhabitants of the islands and from the cultural influences that have saturated the Caribbean over time. The early occupiers lived off the land with meals consisting of vegetables and fruits such as papaw, yams, guavas and cassava.
Over time, the Carib Indians that lived there began to add spices, sauces, lemon and lime flavours to their meat and fish. These flavours have remained the backbone of many traditional Caribbean dishes.
In addition to having styles unique to the region, the Caribbean has been a crossroads for the world throughout history. This is why the food has influences from African, British, Amerindian, Spanish, French, Dutch, Indian and Chinese cuisine.
The Africans are known to have introduced cakes and mangos while the Indians introduced curried meats. The Chinese are known to have introduced rice to many Caribbean recipes, which is now seen as a staple to most of the dishes. Perhaps Caribbean food is so unique because its tastes are essentially a fusion of so many cultures.
The most interesting fact about Caribbean cuisine is that the modern day locals eat the same diet as their ancestors. The ingredients have remained constant, but the recipes have expanded through brushes with different cultures.
If you are thinking of attempting any Caribbean recipe, you first must have a good understanding of the kinds of spices used in the food. Any good Caribbean cooking guide will tell you that spices play a key role in any dish. When it comes to Caribbean recipes, the spices are what make the food. Basically, you couldn’t have a Caribbean dish of chicken without spice or it wouldn’t be the same as how the natives eat it!
A popular mixture of spices, garam masala is often found in Caribbean cuisine. The ingredients can vary depending on the region; however they typically consist of peppercorns, cloves, Malabar leaves, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, star anise and coriander. This blend of spices can be used alone or with other seasonings.
Other popular spices found in Caribbean recipes include allspice, black pepper, curry powder, chilli powder, ginger, jerk seasoning, garlic, lemon and lime. Other flavourings include nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, almond, vanilla and rum.
Further cooking ingredients and condiments you can take advantage of are coconut milk, hot pepper sauce, mango chutney, ketchup, vegetable oil, tomato paste and cooking butter.
Now that you have oriented yourself with the spices and flavours, there are lots of different dishes to explore. Some of the favourites include curried goat, plantain, fried chicken and oxtail stew.
Many of the dishes consist of seafood ingredients, since it’s so easy to get fresh fish on the islands. Popular seafood in Caribbean dishes includes conch, crab, lobster, oysters, shrimps, prawns and cockles.
Seafood dishes vary depending on the region and every island has their specialty. For example, Trinidad and Tobago is known for its cascadura fish and crab and Barbados for its ‘flying fish’. Conch fritters, associated with Grand Cayman, are made from edible molluscs and are often served with chowder.
Blaff is a popular way to prepare fish in Caribbean recipes. It involves marinating the fish in limejuice, garlic and hot peppers and then poaching it in the marinade.
One of the most popular Caribbean dishes is jerk chicken. The recipe originated from Jamaica and involves barbecuing well-seasoned meat. Besides jerk chicken, pork, sausage and fish can all be prepared the same way for a savoury meal.
For a side dish, fufu is a nice yam accompaniment to meat or vegetable stews. To eat fufu you make a small ball out of it with your fingers and use it to scoop stews or other dishes. Another side dish, tostones, consists of twice-fried plantains. Tostones are popular as snacks at parties.
If you like coconut flavours then you might want to delve into a rundown recipe. Rundown is a Caribbean dish that uses coconut milk sauce that is cooked down. This goes well with chicken, vegetables, fish or potatoes.
Caribbean goat stew, another favourite, is nationally recognised among the Caribbean people. It is a tomato-based stew with goat, green pawpaw, breadfruit and dumplings.
Caribbean punches and cocktails are always a great hit if you are hosting a party for a lot of people. Try creating some planter’s punch with ingredients like rum, limejuice and an assortment of fruit juices. Caribbean cocktails are always sweet and refreshing. They are also great for getting the party started!
After you have decided on your main, there are many sweet Caribbean dessert recipes that your guests are bound to enjoy. Many recipes include the tangy taste of ginger, coconut and many different flavourful fruits such as mangoes and bananas.
Popular Caribbean dessert dishes include baked bananas, lime pie, sweet potato pudding, coconut custard and Jamaican cake with rum and fruit. With all these dessert choices, it’s almost impossible to go wrong.
If these flavours sound appealing then try spicing things up by cooking some Caribbean food for your next gathering. If you can’t travel to try out different flavours, then you can bring these dishes alive through the guidance of Caribbean cooking guides. Your sense of adventure can be rewarded within the bounds of your kitchen and guests will thank you for providing them a delicious example of foreign cuisine.
