The beauty of the Caribbean is reflected in it's food. Everyone who has ever been to the Caribbean knows and loves the cuisine of the Islands. The history that is built into the world of Caribbean food, offers a combination of flavours, textures and aromas that delight the senses and tickle the palette.
If you have already been introduced to Caribbean food, then you are someone who knows how delicious it is, however perhaps you have not yet realized how easy it is to cook Caribbean recipes at home in your very own kitchen.
It doesn't really matter where or how, all that matters is that you enjoy the food that you are eating and that through the enjoyment of the authentic dishes you are getting a little slice of Caribbean life to make your world that little bit better.
The islands of the Caribbean have seen many immigrants of the centuries. South American indians who first inhabited the islands, Taino, Arawak and Caribs, eat from the fruits and vegetables indigenous to the islands. However with arrival of Europeans who in turn brought enslaved Africans, the fusion of styles, ingredients and methods of cooking lay the foundations of the types of Caribbean recipes that we enjoy today.
Their ingenuity, combining the meat and vegetables with spices and herbs, slow cooking cuts that others didn't want brought new flavours, and fantastic stews were born during this time. As slavery ended and Colonizers went to China and India to obtain indentured laborers. The Asian workers brought with them their cooking styles and added it to the melting pot that is Caribbean cooking.
As a home cook, you may enjoy trying new styles of cooking or experimenting with new recipes. Caribbean food and cooking authentic Island recipes is not beyond your grasp. If you combine the freshest and best ingredients that you can, you will find success in your endeavors.
One aspect of Caribbean cooking that is prevalent, especially with mean dishes is marinading. Meats are covered in herbs and spices, commonly referred to as seasoning and left to marinade for at least 2-3 hours before cooking. Many people leave their meats to marinade overnight in a refrigerator. This helps the meat to tenderize, as well as infusing it with the flavors of the spices and herbs, giving each dish it's authentic flavor. You can always tell when you're not eating authentic Caribbean food at a restaurant as the meat will be flavoursome on the surface but those flavours diminish as you bite deeper.
Unless you are frying the meat, it is usual for Caribbean meat to be slow cooked. This allows the seasonings to further penetrate the meat and for a good gravy base to develop. Steaming, boiling, stir frying are all techniques used in Caribbean cooking when it comes to vegetables. You may try roasting veg as well. Jamaicans, Barbadians and Trinidadians all enjoy eating roasted Yams, Corn and Breadfruit.
I hope this article has given you a little taste of the Caribbean and has even, possibly got you in the mood to try out some Caribbean recipes for yourself. As said before, Caribbean food is really a fusion style of cooking. The inhabitants of the Islands took what was available to them and created dishes that are still with us today.
If you have already been introduced to Caribbean food, then you are someone who knows how delicious it is, however perhaps you have not yet realized how easy it is to cook Caribbean recipes at home in your very own kitchen.
It doesn't really matter where or how, all that matters is that you enjoy the food that you are eating and that through the enjoyment of the authentic dishes you are getting a little slice of Caribbean life to make your world that little bit better.
The islands of the Caribbean have seen many immigrants of the centuries. South American indians who first inhabited the islands, Taino, Arawak and Caribs, eat from the fruits and vegetables indigenous to the islands. However with arrival of Europeans who in turn brought enslaved Africans, the fusion of styles, ingredients and methods of cooking lay the foundations of the types of Caribbean recipes that we enjoy today.
Their ingenuity, combining the meat and vegetables with spices and herbs, slow cooking cuts that others didn't want brought new flavours, and fantastic stews were born during this time. As slavery ended and Colonizers went to China and India to obtain indentured laborers. The Asian workers brought with them their cooking styles and added it to the melting pot that is Caribbean cooking.
As a home cook, you may enjoy trying new styles of cooking or experimenting with new recipes. Caribbean food and cooking authentic Island recipes is not beyond your grasp. If you combine the freshest and best ingredients that you can, you will find success in your endeavors.
One aspect of Caribbean cooking that is prevalent, especially with mean dishes is marinading. Meats are covered in herbs and spices, commonly referred to as seasoning and left to marinade for at least 2-3 hours before cooking. Many people leave their meats to marinade overnight in a refrigerator. This helps the meat to tenderize, as well as infusing it with the flavors of the spices and herbs, giving each dish it's authentic flavor. You can always tell when you're not eating authentic Caribbean food at a restaurant as the meat will be flavoursome on the surface but those flavours diminish as you bite deeper.
Unless you are frying the meat, it is usual for Caribbean meat to be slow cooked. This allows the seasonings to further penetrate the meat and for a good gravy base to develop. Steaming, boiling, stir frying are all techniques used in Caribbean cooking when it comes to vegetables. You may try roasting veg as well. Jamaicans, Barbadians and Trinidadians all enjoy eating roasted Yams, Corn and Breadfruit.
I hope this article has given you a little taste of the Caribbean and has even, possibly got you in the mood to try out some Caribbean recipes for yourself. As said before, Caribbean food is really a fusion style of cooking. The inhabitants of the Islands took what was available to them and created dishes that are still with us today.
About the Author:
If you want to know more about Caribbean Food check out Melissa's website for more Island recipes, hints and tips You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
No comments:
Post a Comment