Recent Posts
Dhal & Dumpling Soup
Dhal & Dumpling soup is a simple soup made with split peas, seasonings and flour dumplings. It’s vegan, hearty and filling. Perfect for a cold, rainy or even a sunny day. I started this dhal & dumpling soup in the...
A Trini Holiday Menu – Link to All Recipes
Good morning! Hope everyone had a great Christmas. It was a peaceful one for me, with some of my favorite people and my favorite foods. Christmas is not Christmas without my mom’s cooking and the red beans and callaloo combination...
TRINI SPONGE CAKE
Looking for a sponge cake recipe that’s light, airy, and flavorful without being eggy or dry? This classic Trini sponge cake recipe delivers all the deliciousness you crave in a Caribbean dessert, with troubleshooting tips to help you avoid common...
Homemade Sazon Chicken (Pollo Guisado)
'Sazon Chicken' is a family favorite and this recipe is my twist on a Caribbean Classic, pollo guisado. This recipe is inspired by my favorite Cuban restaurant on Fulton Street, Downtown Manhattan. What is Pollo Guisado--Sazon Chicken? Pollo Guisado(chicken stew),...
Crispy Fried Okra | Trini Fried Ochro
Crispy fried okra, also referred to as fried ochro / fry ochro in Trinidad & Tobago, is one of my favorite vegan dishes. The crispiness is so addicting, that I can and do enjoy it as a snack. How to...
Turmeric Rice | Yellow Rice
Halal Cart-Inspired Yellow Rice When you think of the ultimate street food experience, halal cart chicken and rice is always at the top of the list. There’s something magical about that vibrant yellow rice, served up with perfectly spiced meat,...
Most Popular Rice Recipes!
Rice is a staple in any Caribbean Kitchen. Here are the top rice recipes on this site and in our house! From the veggie loaded Trini Fried Rice to a plate of comforting pelau, a one pot dish, these rice...
TRINIDAD HOPS BREAD | SOFT DINNER ROLLS RECIPE
"Trinidad Hops bread is essentially dinner rolls. In Trinidad, it’s eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It has a unique softness, delicate, airy, light chew, and totally satisfying." As I shared on Facebook over the weekend, we ate a hearty...
Trinidad Stewed Fish Recipe
In this version of stewed fish, a firm of your choice is marinated with blended fresh herbs and garlic. After marinating, the fish is then floured and fried until golden brown. After frying, the fish is simmered in a fragrant...
Ria’s Family Chicken Soup Recipe
Chicken soup is undoubtedly comfort food for everyone, everywhere. In the Caribbean, our chicken soup is hearty and healthy. It's superb for rainy days, snowy days, sunny days, Saturdays and pandemic days! Today I am sharing my secret family recipe...
Top 10 Vegan Veggie Recipes in Trinidad
This post, Top 10 Vegan Veggie Recipes in Trinidad will provide you with meal ideas and a list of Trini favorites for when you need to add more vegan or vegetarian dishes to your normal meal rotations. Diwali will be...
Trinidad Sada Roti (Plain)
WHAT IS SADA ROTI? Sada roti is one of the main staples in Trinidad. It is a leavened flat bread eaten for breakfast or dinner with a variety of vegetarian, fish or meat dishes--including curries or stews. It is to...
Trinidad Pumpkin Talkari
Growing up in Trinidad, pumpkin talkari and dost roti (a layered roti) was one of my absolute favorite meals! Strangely enough, it is also my 10-year-old daughter's favorite meal as well. In my recipe below, cubes of pumpkin are sautéed...
St. Lucian Green Fig Salad
St. Lucian Green Fig Salad is the perfect side dish to serve along with curries, stews, baked or BBQ meats and seafood. Some of my best relationships are formed with people I encounter in the ladies' room at work,...
Coconut Palette (Popsicles)
A coconut “palette” (pronounced pah-lit in Trinidad) reminds me of childhood days in Trinidad. I grew up enjoying this home made coconut treat, which was usually wrapped in a very thin, parchment-like wrapper. Strangely, I could vividly remember the scent...
Homemade Bread Recipe
It was a tradition in our house when I was a child to eat fresh homemade bread, ham, and hot sauce on Christmas mornings. Now, even though I am older and have a house and family of my own, I...
Comforting Homemade Lasagna
Lasagna is a true classic—a layered masterpiece of pasta, sauce, cheese, and meat that brings comfort to the table like few other dishes. Beloved worldwide, this Italian favorite has evolved over generations, adapting to the flavors and preferences of countless...
Fried Okra and Potatoes (Fry Ochro and Aloo)
Are you an okra lover? This Fried Okra and Potatoes recipe is a fantastic way to combine crispy fried okra (also known as ochro) with the comforting texture of potatoes (aloo). This easy, step-by-step guide will walk you through creating...
Trinidad Vegan Pelau
Pelau is one of the most iconic Trini recipes and arguably the national dish of Trinidad. (See my Quick and Simple Chicken Pelau Here.) It’s a beloved one-pot rice dish that combines vegetables, beans, and traditionally, meat. However, in this...
Trinidad Fry Bodi with Shrimp
Trinidad fry bodi with shrimp is a beloved dish in Trinidad and other Caribbean islands. This flavorful meal combines sautéed long green beans (bodi) with fresh tomatoes, onions, garlic, and optional hot pepper for a burst of taste. Despite the...
Trinidad Curry Shrimp Roti
Trinidad Shrimp Roti is a perfect, flavorful curry seafood wrap. There’s nothing more satisfying than the bold, aromatic flavors of Trinidad curry shrimp, especially when wrapped in the soft, comforting layers of roti. This dish combines the best of Trinidad’s...
Ther Perfect Sandwich Bread | Butter Flap | Coco Bread
This perfect sandwich bread recipe draws inspiration from my hops bread and the traditional Guyanese butter flap, which shares similarities with Jamaica's coco bread. The result is a delightful fusion of these beloved breads. What's the Difference? While butterflap and coco...
Trinidad Bread and Channa Sandwich
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id="BIaR4mmp" upload-date="2024-09-08T01:37:08+00:00" name="Trinidad Bread and Channa" description="" player-type="default" override-embed="default"]Trinidad Bread and Channa: A Delicious Tradition with a Personal Twist In my previous post, I shared my take on boil channa (also known as "cup ah channa"). As a natural...
Mushroom & Bell Pepper Stir Fry
Mushroom & Bell Pepper Stir Fry is a versatile and delicious side dish that pairs beautifully with various main courses. Whether serving it alongside a perfectly cooked steak or using it as a topping for juicy summer cheeseburgers, this...
Trinidad Boil Channa | Cup Ah Channa
In Trinidad and Tobago, the vibrant street food culture is an essential part of everyday life, offering a delightful array of flavors that reflect the island’s diverse heritage. Among the many beloved snacks, Cup ah Channa, also known simply as...
Trinidad Fish Broth (Fish Brof)
Fish Broth is a delicately flavored, traditional Trinidadian soup made with fish, various vegetables including root veggies, garlic, herbs and satisfying dumplings (or pasta). [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="640"] Photo of Ingredients for Trinidad Fish Broth[/caption] You have probably heard of...
Jamaican Escovitch Fish Recipe
Last weekend, my cousin Sam spent the day with me in my kitchen. I promised to make her baked lamb and fried rice if she assisted with the production of the final prep for this Jamaican Escovitch Fish and the...
Herb Roasted Rack of Lamb
Have you seen a rack of lamb in the grocery store or at your butcher's and wondered how to cook it? Today, I will share my recipe for the perfect, simple herb roasted rack of lamb. Crafting an elegant and...
Better than Takeout Chicken Fried Rice | Kitchen Essentials
This chicken-fried rice recipe is a family favorite. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or weekend lunch or dinner. I make this when I need a fast, easy, and delicious one-pot meal. I can guarantee that it is better--and healthier—than...
Trinidad Mango Chow
Trinidad Mango chow is a refreshing, savory and spicy fruit salad. On the islands, chow is a healthy snack, enjoyed year-round as a respite from the heat. Not only is it delicious, it is nutritious and energizing. Chow is made...
Crab & Lobster Boil with Corn
This crab & lobster boil recipe was inspired by the boiled corn recipe I recently made. To not waste all that good sauce or broth the corn was boiled in, I decided to maximize its potential by adding some lobster...
Trinidad Boiled Corn
Trinidad boiled corn or Trini boiled corn is a must-have on every BBQ, or lime (get-together) menu. In Trinidad boiled or roasted corn is also sold by street vendors, mostly along the highway, serving as a quick and healthy snack...
Shrimp Wontons Sticks with a Sweet & Spicy Dipping Sauce
I call these shrimp wontons sticks because they taste like wontons but are rolled to look like sticks. There is no chopping or technical wrapping of the shrimp here as in this traditional wonton recipe. Just place the whole, seasoned...
Refreshing Pineapple Chow
What is Pineapple Chow? Chow is a popular dish in Trinidad and Tobago, consisting of fruits marinated in a seasoning blend of hot pepper, garlic, culantro(bandhania) and salt. This spicy snack is enjoyed at Trini Lime (social gatherings) or just...
How to Make the Perfect Rice for Fried Rice -Stovetop, Rice Cooker & Instant Pot
Have you ever wondered how to make the perfect rice for fried rice -on the stovetop, in a rice cooker & and in an instant pot? Wonder no more, I have experimented with each with some amazing results. One type...
Aloo Choka – A Trini Vegan Breakfast Dish
Aloo Choka is one of the several vegan chokas we enjoy in a Trinidadian diet. In this easy recipe, potatoes, commonly known as aloo, are peeled, boiled until tender, and mashed with simple seasonings, including onion, garlic, hot pepper and...