Vegan

Easy and quick vegan recipes to help you get a healthy breakfast, lunch or dinner on the table fast!

Trinidad Sorrel Drink

Trinidad Sorrel Drink

  A few months ago I noticed hibiscus tea being sold at Whole Foods and thought, how strange that teas are now being made using hibiscus flowers(the one commonly grown in yards all over TnT). I made a mental note to steep some hibiscus leaves [continue reading]

Trinidad Paratha Roti (Buss up Shut)

Trinidad Paratha Roti (Buss up Shut)

What is Paratha Roti? What is Buss up shot /buss up shut roti? Paratha, also known as “buss up shut” is one of the various types of roti (leavened flatbread) ubiquitous in Trinidad, along with sada roti, dosti roti, dhalpuri roti, aloo roti, pepper roti, [continue reading]

Curried Channa and Aloo (Chickpeas with Potatoes)

Curried Channa and Aloo (Chickpeas with Potatoes)

Channa is also known as chickpeas, garbanzo beans, or ceci beans. Aloo, on the other hand, is what we Trinidadians refer to as potato. Hence the term curry channa and aloo. In this dish, channa and aloo are simmered in a fragrant curry sauce flavored [continue reading]

Coconut Palette (Popsicles)

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 of the wrapping—even more than [continue reading]

Ria’s Trinidad Lime Pepper Sauce

Ria’s Trinidad Lime Pepper Sauce

Each Caribbean island boasts of its own unique blend of “devilish” hot sauces also known as pickled peppers. They vary from simple combinations of hot pepper (pronounced peppah) and lime juice or vinegar to more complicated concoctions of fruits(papaya), vegetables (caraille) and herbs. The heat [continue reading]

Ria’s Avocado-Tomato Salad with Cilantro

Ria’s Avocado-Tomato Salad with Cilantro

The Canadians visited last weekend for my sister’s baby shower. They brought me some of the juiciest, sweetest cherry tomatoes I ever tasted. They were as sweet as a fruit, quite possibly sweeter….and then I reminded myself that tomatoes are fruits..duuuh…   Referred to as sweet million cherry [continue reading]

Baigan Choka Recipe

Baigan Choka Recipe

Since I last posted, life has been full of flavor and excitement—business travel, a beach lime with my cousins (fried bake and shark, saltfish and tomatoes, fry bodi for breakfast, and curried duck with dhal and rice for lunch), my sister’s baby shower, and even [continue reading]

Scallion-Cilantro-Habanero Fried Rice

Scallion-Cilantro-Habanero Fried Rice

I’ve been avoiding the kitchen like the plague. Recipe testing and emotional eating have taken a toll on my “physique”…it also doesn’t help that I usually prepare six 5 star meals on the weekend for my beloved family…that “insanity” has been reduced to 2–maximum….until further [continue reading]

Trinidad Macaroni Salad

Trinidad Macaroni Salad

“Trinidad macaroni salad is the perfect side dish to accompany your favorite baked or BBQ protein and seafood. It’s loaded with flavor! “ A few weekends ago, the beautiful lavender-hued chive blossoms in my garden inspired me to create a colorful and delicious macaroni salad.  [continue reading]

Ria’s Easy Raw Mango Chutney

Ria’s Easy Raw Mango Chutney

In this simple raw mango chutney, a raw half ripe mango is pureed with garlic, bandania (culantro) and hot pepper(s) to create an exotic blend of flavors. Raw mango chutney is traditionally enjoyed with fried bake and shark, aloo pie, aloo roti, flour pholourie, dhal [continue reading]