West Indian Recipes

Caribbean-Style Baked Fish in Parchment Paper

Caribbean-Style Baked Fish in Parchment Paper

  You’ve heard me mention that I love challenges, and let me warn you, be careful what you wish for! Two years ago I complained that my job had become too easy, I knew it too well, it wasn’t challenging enough. No great captain was created on [continue reading]

Trinidad Black Cake / Caribbean Rum Soaked Fruit Cake

Trinidad Black Cake / Caribbean Rum Soaked Fruit Cake

The Origins of Black Cake (Caribbean Rum Fruit Cake) Black cake — or Caribbean rum fruit cake — isn’t just a dessert. It’s memory. It’s Christmas mornings, wedding tables, and that one aunt who guards her fruit jar like treasure. Rich, dark, fragrant with rum [continue reading]

Mummy’s Easy, Cheesy, Caribbean “Scalloped” Potatoes

Mummy’s Easy, Cheesy, Caribbean “Scalloped” Potatoes

  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 always fancy and interesting. One [continue reading]

Trinidad Pumpkin Talkari

Trinidad Pumpkin Talkari

Growing up in Trinidad, pumpkin talkari with dosti roti (a layered roti) was one of my absolute favorite meals. Strangely enough, it’s also my 10-year-old daughter’s favorite meal. In my recipe below, cubes of pumpkin are sautéed with the simplest of ingredients: olive oil, garlic, [continue reading]

Aunty Jang’s Pholourie Recipe

Aunty Jang’s Pholourie Recipe

Pholourie is another very popular snack food in Trinidad. It’s soft, chewy, fluffy, and savory, similar in texture to a fritter.  Other popular snack foods include saheena, kachori, aloo pie, fish pie, shrimp pie, doubles, chow, chicken and cheese puffs. I vividly recall the parlour [continue reading]

Caribbean Green Seasoning Recipe (Authentic Trinidad Green Seasoning)

Caribbean Green Seasoning Recipe (Authentic Trinidad Green Seasoning)

What Is Caribbean Green Seasoning? Caribbean green seasoning is a fresh herb blend used throughout the Caribbean as a marinade, flavor base, and natural seasoning for countless dishes. Made from herbs, garlic, peppers, and aromatics, green seasoning is one of the most essential ingredients in [continue reading]

Trinidad Coconut Bake (Pot Bake)

Trinidad Coconut Bake (Pot Bake)

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 the United States after my [continue reading]

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 Sweet Rice | Rice Pudding

Trinidad Sweet Rice | Rice Pudding

Before moving on to the recipe of the day ‘sweet rice’, you should know that I intended to post many wonderful recipes for Diwali and Thanksgiving, but Hurricane ‘Sandy’ prevented me from doing so. Sandy the Super Storm We did not have power or heat [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]