Side Dishes

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

JAMAICAN CALLALOO & POUI BHAJI RECIPE One evening after work I stopped off at Mummy’s house to drop off a falafel and hummus wrap. I was excited for her to try the sandwich, which by the way, I enjoyed so...

In today's post, you will learn to make the best potato salad ever! Happy Spring! I have somehow immersed myself in Spring cleaning(eliminating)--You could say I have been Kondo-ed(Marie Kondo). If you haven't seen that series yet, look for it...

When I think of patchoi talkarie or pak choi (or pak choy) I remember primary school days. Sitting at my desk, opening my tin lunch kit, first removing the package of Ovaltine biscuits (remember that?) and laying it on the...

Another year is upon us and so it goes--whether we are ready or not. For the first time, on old year's night, I did not clean all of my closets and drawers, had a pile of dirty laundry from our...

What are Pastelles? Pastelles are a popular favorite amongst Trinbagonians around Christmas time. I don't know why we wait all year to make these (most likely the work involved). According to Wikipedia, it is believed that the pastelles were introduced...

'This boil and fry black-eyed peas dish, referred to as "Googanee" by my Mom, is made traditionally with only onion, garlic, culantro (shado beni) and pepper, but I added veggies for additional flavor and nutrients." The year 2014 came and...

"Trinidad stewed red beans is a mainstay in our cuisine. For a typical simple Sunday lunch, it is usually accompanied by baked or stewed chicken, steamed rice, and a salad." A little update. Change seems to be the only constant...

  I thought to myself, if I only had time to share one recipe over the next two months, what would it be? This dish came to mind. Mummy made this occasionally to go with our Sunday lunch, which was...

This beloved bread has evoked many passionate discussions that extend from the north to the south. The Northerners prefer their cornbread sweet and the Southerners never add sugar. This Trini will avoid that controversy. Allow me to exercise my First...

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="903"] Slice of macaroni pie on a plate[/caption] Macaroni pie is not to be confused with the American mac and cheese, which my kids would eat everyday if I allow them to. They would let you know...

This post made me question my sanity. Cooking, pic taking and catering to everyone in my household simultaneously is quite challenging. Sometimes I wonder why my hobby wasn't as easy as looking at television. I can't explain this passion. Who spends...

Before we venture into a delivious recipe for Trinidad Coconut Bake, here is an update! In my absence, I have celebrated turning 39, which I realized, after much contemplation, isn't so bad after all. Nineteen years ago, I came to...

  I started eating quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wa) last year in an attempt to add some variety and  nutrients to my diet. Two years ago I ate rice three times a day. That very restrictive diet worked for me at that...

When I create a dish I really like, I eat it everyday for a week...or two.…so when it finally comes up on my list of things to blog about, I'm usually at the point where I never want to eat...

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...

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...

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,...

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...  ...

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...

"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...

This recipe for “Fry Bodi” is long green beans stir-fried with tomatoes, onions, and garlic. Cooking bodi past the steaming point brings out the intense flavor of the green bean. It’s juicy, tender, yet crunchy. The onion, which somehow gets...

I apologize for my absence, I haven't been in a creative frame of mind. I have been busy reading. Reading about the hidden science behind the 2012 predictions, trying to understand quantum physics and learning about the secrets of the Pyramids. Also reading...

  These braised pearl onions were required as part of the recipe for Julia Child's beef bourguignon which I posted earlier. Delicious, tender, sweet and full of flavor, I thought they deserved their own post. This side dish will also perfectly compliment a delicious grilled steak...or...

If you would like a variation to the regular sweet potato fries or oven sweet potato fries....or maybe you are looking for a healthy "comfort food" to snack on......or a new side dish to serve alongside your Thanksgiving, Christmas, weeknight or...

Happy almost THURSDAY! I love Thursdays...Guess why? 'Cause it's soo close to Friday....which is sooooo close to Saturday...which is....my favorite day of the week....which is also the day of the week I was born...which could be the reason I like vegetating so...

  Dhal is to Trinidad what split pea soup is to the rest of the world. Dried split peas are cooked with sufficient water, turmeric, garlic and a whole hot pepper until the dhal is tender. It is then swizzled...

Callaloo is considered Trinidad's national dish by many. A statement quite debatable since we, our Twin Island Republic, boasts of a wide range of scrumptious dishes! In my version of callaloo, spinach, ochroes, carrot, pumpkin and fresh herbs are simmered...

Today I woke up around 11 am [late, fun-filled night last night with a few of my neighbors]. I didn't feel like cooking so I went out and bought a toasted bagel with lox cream cheese-one of my favorites. This doesn't...

This coleslaw salad is made primarily of finely shredded raw cabbage, carrots, sweet peppers, and apples and tossed with a mayo dressing. It's creamy, crunchy, sweet, yet slightly tangy. The vinegar used in a traditional recipe is replaced with lemon...

One hour after returning from my mother's day lunch at a restaurant, someone requested ribs and potato salad for dinner. I am not saying who. It should be criminal to ask a "mom" to cook on mother's day, but apparently withdrawal...

When I am exhausted after a long day of work (i.e., five days a week, 52 weeks per year), I crave quick and simple meals like this carrot rice recipe! Meals with too many ingredients overwhelm and frustrate me, and...

Hello friends. Here is the recipe for the roasted asparagus I served with the meatloaf in my earlier post. This is a family favorite and disappears in seconds! It was quick, simple, healthy and delicious and makes for a great side...