Holiday & Sample Menus

Ladoo is a delicious and popular sweet treat made in Trinidad around Diwali and during the year for poojas, prayers and Hindu religious ceremonies. How to make ladoo? Ground split peas are made into a batter and fried. The fried...

  Recently I made these for my daughter who was visiting from College. I always try to send her back with all her favorite dishes and enough to share. During her last visit I made aloo pies and to change...

A delicious traditional Trini Stewed Chicken with Potatoes for added flavor and a delightful sauce! Seasoned with traditional green seasoning and other aromatics to maximize the flavor. Stewed chicken is a Sunday lunch staple and one of the simplest chicken...

This curry seafood medley is the perfect quick meal for a weekday or weekend. The eggplant in this dish is totally optional but helps to stretch the meal if your family has a hearty appetite and you only have only...

Growing up my mom made the most delicious and elaborate Sunday lunches for us. This beet and potato salad is inspired by those meals. I have never seen this combination elsewhere. I added the sweet potatoes in my version which...

Kitchri is the Caribbean cousin, a descendant, a derivative of kichadi. Kichadi is the ayurvedic dish that detoxifies, heals, rejuvenates, improves immunity and energy. This recipe that was brought to Trinidad by the indentured laborers who came to work in...

Everyone loves a good, crispy wonton dipped in ketchup, soy sauce and a little hot sauce for a nice kick. In this recipe, I am using a savory shrimp filling perfectly seasoned with scallions, garlic, ginger and sesame oil. The...

Back in the days my dad was a fisherman.  He always brought home the best catch of the day and the most colossal shrimp I've ever seen to date. Nowadays, it is difficult to source fresh fish where I live...

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...

Curry conch was a delicacy growing up. Nowadays it’s hard to source and very expensive which is why it’s a treat when we do get to enjoy it. Recently, we were able to source some conchs from Astoria Queens. Aunty...

Curry mango can be a main dish, side dish, condiment or snack. It is sweet, spicy, savory and satisfying. One of the greatest joys of eating this is sucking on the seed. It is a great side dish for curry...

In this amazing recipe, beef is browned using the traditional ‘burning of the sugar’ method.  The only difference from stewed chicken is the addition of chunks of carrots, celery and potatoes to make it a hearty stew with lots of...

  This is one of the easiest and most surprisingly flavorful rice dishes I’ve ever made. It is surprisingly delicious because you won’t expect such robust flavors from the simple ingredients used. Prep takes two minutes and the cooking time...

Coo Coo, also spelled "Cou Cou," is a traditional dish in Trinidad and Tobago and other Caribbean countries. It is made with cornmeal, ochro, fresh seasonings and coconut milk. It is often compared to polenta but has its own unique...

These lamb kabobs are simply seasoned with fresh, all natural ingredients, skewered and grilled to perfection. Serve with cilantro coconut rice, cilantro chutney and an amazing salad for a perfect Sunday or anytime meal. Also seen in the pic above...

In this recipe, lamb chops are simply seasoned with Caribbean green seasoning, garlic and lemon juice to allow the flavor of the lamb to shine. Now that the weather is getting nicer, we already have the grill out. Since I...

These hot cross buns are perfectly pillowy soft and flavorful with the addition of aromatic spices and raisins. I've developed this recipe over many years, and it's the right balance of flavor and texture that everyone in my family loves....

When you are in the mood for a spicy(or not) curry without all the drama, here is great 20-minute substitute. I love how simple and quick it comes together without compromising on flavor. If you already have pre made green...

Coconut bakes, coconut pot bake, roast bakes or pot bakes, as they are referred to, are nothing short of heavenly. How to enjoy these bakes? Full of coconut flavor, eating it with fried eggs, or slathered with butter or cheese,...

  Stewed blackeyed peas is a favorite amongst vegans and nonvegans alike. In this recipe, black eye peas are simmered with simple and flavorful aromatics to create a tasty and nutritious side dish. The traditional stewing process which is the...

[caption id="attachment_3889" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Stewed Lentils, Jasmine Rice, Stewed Chicken, Salad[/caption] Rooted in the island's tradition of simple yet robust cooking, this dish exemplifies the beauty of the Caribbean, more specifically Trinidadian cuisine. In this recipe, humble lentils are transformed...

For West Indians, curry duck is not only a delicacy; it is a passion. For many, it is the cornerstone of the food culture. Whether it’s curry duck and white rice with murtani on the side, or curry duck with...

I still recall the taste of my mom’s Chinese style fried chicken and seeing the fried ginger and hot pepper which was thrown to the side of the stove, which were used to infuse the frying oil. The experience was...

Custard pie is to Trinidad what flan is to the rest of the world. Added spices, including cinnamon and ginger, make this version unique and extra tasty. The addition of the base caramel layer is totally optional. The ingredients and...

When the holidays come around and your kitchen is busy with excitement and choas, there is always one side dish that's so simple, delicious and takes 5 mins to cook. This is a must on every holiday menu. It offers...

A perfect creamy, mashed potatoes recipe for Thanksgiving, the Holidays or any Sunday lunch along with stewed chicken and chow mein (my mom's favorite combo) or a pot roast. Growing up in the Caribbean, my job was to whisk the...

Here's a story about how I developed the perfect Caribbean Roast Turkey recipe. I don’t remember ever eating turkey while growing up…and probably because of this, I have encountered many challenges. Over the past 25 years, I have tried numerous...

Chaitaigne, also known as katahar (in Guyana) or breadnut (Jamaica) is cooked in a flavorful coconut curry sauce, seasoned with onion, garlic, hot pepper(habanero or scotch bonnet) and culantro(bandhania or shado beni).  Other names for chaitaigne are Maya nut, Snakewood,...

This dish, referred to as carhee or kurhi, uses split pea powder in two ways. First the split pea powder is  used to make small balls of pholourie which are then immersed into a thick soup like gravy which is...

  Tamarind chutney is made with tamarind, sweet or sour varieties, peppers and spices. This popular condiment is enjoyed with aloo pies, aloo roti, pholourie, kachori, saheena or doubles. Check out all these recipes on this site. [caption id="attachment_3711" align="aligncenter"...

Learn to make this vegan Trinidadian favorite that's simply irresistible. This recipe for Trinidadian bhagi (bhaji or bhagee) uses simple ingredients, including chopped spinach, cumin, and coconut cream. This bhagi recipe is traditionally made with dasheen bush leaves(taro) or chowrai...

SAHEENA is essentially a fried, West Indian, vegan, spinach fritter. Made with flour or ground split peas, spices and seasonings, it comes together quickly and it's so delicious. Just like our infamous fluffy balls of pholourie, it is a popular...

As I mentioned on IG and Facebook, the husband loved this combination of saltfish and veggies with flour dumplings so much he insisted that I remake and filmed this for everyone. This looks like I cooked all day but would...

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...

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,...

Today we are making aloo roti also called aloo puri or aloo paratha, another type of stuffed roti enjoyed in Trinidad, other parts of the Caribbean, and around the world. How to make aloo roti? To make this roti, a...

I am excited to share my Caribbean stewed canned black beans recipe! It is a favorite in our household and I am confident it will be a favorite in yours as well. As I may have mentioned previously, at the...

I prepared this grilled chicken kebab for lunch a few Sundays ago and served it along with my cilantro lime rice, grilled lamb kebabs, a greek inspired salad with feta and some cilantro dressing to drizzle on both the meat...

I have shared some of my favorite rice dishes with you including pelau, carrot rice, Trini Fried rice, scallion-cilantro rice, but be prepared for yet another winner! One day I literally threw a few ingredients together to make this rice...

Curry stew is just what the name infers, a combination of curry and stew. The best of both worlds. I figure one day a Trini realized they didn’t want to make curry nor stew, because they made it recently, and...

Here is a cassava pie, mashed cassava aka side dish inspired by a bag of frozen yucca I had in my freezer. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, we stocked up on frozen meats, seafood, mixed veggies, pigeon peas,...

  I have been making corn pie for get togethers for as long as I can remember. It all started with the boxed corn bread mix and quickly decided I wanted to learn to make it from scratch. I wanted...

Many, many years ago during one of my visits to Trinidad, we (husband and I - no kids then) were invited to my niece's in laws for a 'lime'(Trini get together). There was card playing, laughter, rum, curry agouti (wild...

This is the first fried rice I learned to make. What I think of when anyone refers to Trini fried rice. The fried rice Mummy cooked on Sundays for lunch with baked chicken, pepper shrimps, potato salad and a garden...

Mango Talkarie is a sweet side dish or condiment that accompanies vegetarian or meat dishes. It's made with tart, green mangoes and amchar massala.   In this recipe, green mangoes are cut into pieces lengthwise, cleaned and then boiled with...

"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...

Boiled mango chutney is a popular sweet and spicy condiment in Trinidad. It's one of the main condiments enjoyed in doubles, aloo pies or drizzled on fluffy balls of pholourie. In my recipe, green mango is cut into 1 inch...

A few weekends ago, we made curry beef and curry aloo (Trinidad style) for our Saturday lunch and enjoyed these dishes with delicious soft, paratha roti(buss up shot). It was a really good combination and I have been craving it...

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...

This quick, simple, budget-friendly and healthy steamed cabbage recipe, referred to as "fry cabbage"  in Trinidad and is traditionally eaten as a main vegan/vegetarian dish with sada roti, fried bake, dosti roti, paratha roti, hops bread or even coconut bake...

Trinidad curry aloo, also known as curry potato, is a simple and delicious curry dish that's very affordable and economical. In this recipe, pieces of potato are sautéed in a mild curry and seasoned with herbs. Hot water is then...

Jerk chicken is a popular favorite, not only in Jamaica but the rest of the world. It's fiery(though heat is adjustable), highly seasoned and wickedly good. There are as many jerk seasonings and recipes as there are cooks and my...

As a young girl growing up in Trinidad, my grandma taught me to make  'choat', it was a crepe like dessert made with a mixture of flour, sugar and milk. It satisfied my desire for something sweet after running around...

Today I am sharing a family favorite recipe, rice and beans, but before I do, let's have a quick chat about what's happening in the world. A world-- not just a town, or a city or a country--the freakin world...

  In the realm of morning delights, my younger daughter Lani is an unwavering advocate for the grandeur of breakfast. But not just any breakfast—she seeks the harmonious symphony of pancakes, french toast, waffles, crepes, eggs, bacon, ham, and a...

This is the recipe that made my husband overcome his dislike for curry fish. He even went as far as to say that this is the best fish he has ever eaten. I don’t know if this was to mamaguy...

[caption id="attachment_2736" align="aligncenter" width="1744"] Fried Aloo, Grandma's Fried Egg, Kuchela, Sada Roti[/caption]   Hope the New Year is going well for you. I am finally getting back to normal-whatever that means and enjoying today off from work! This fried aloo...

Happy New Year is in order --even though it's the 16th --as this is my very first post of the New Year! I wanted to start on a sweet note, so today I am sharing my secret sweet bread recipe—developed...

Making this one-pot lo mein at home is cheap, easy, convenient, and way healthier than takeout because we get to choose and control the ingredients used. Preparing a whole package of noodles means that we can pack the leftovers for...

What is Diwali? DIWALI, also known as Deepavali or Divali, is the Hindu festival of lights. Diwali is celebrated in India, Trinidad, Guyana, and many other countries and islands around the world. It celebrates the "victory of light over darkness,...