Ingredients:1+1/2 cups finely chopped onions
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
2 teaspoons canola or other vegetable oil
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice |
5 cups water or vegetable stock
2 cups diced sweet potatoes (about 1 large potato)
2 cups chopped callaloo or kale or 3 cups chopped spinach, rinsed and with stems removed
1 cup fresh or frozen sliced okra
1 cup diced tomatoes (about 1 large tomato)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup reducedfat coconut milk (optional) |
MethodIn a
covered soup pot, saute the onions and garlic in the oil on low heat for about 5 minutes,
until softened.
Add
the ginger, turmeric, coriander, thyme, and allspice and saute for another minute,
stirring to prevent sticking.
Stir
in the water or stock, add the sweet potatoes, and bring to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes,
then stir in the callaloo or kale (if you are using spinach, do not add it yet.)
Add
the okra and simmer for another 5 minutes.
Stir
in the tomatoes, lime juice, salt and spinach, if you are using it, and cook for another 3
or 4 minutes, until all of the vegetables are tender.
Add
more salt or lime juice to taste - and stir in the optional coconut milk at this point, if
you are including it.
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TipsThis is
delicious if put blended smooth and served piping hot with small bits of sweet potato and
crab at the bottom (crab meat pieces is a de rigeur ingredient in Trinidad). Some hotel
chefs even add a tablespoon of cream at the end and swirl very slightly - it's quite an
artistic and visual contrast with the dark green of the ingredients.
Callaloo
soup tastes even better if refrigerated and served the following day, so by all means make
it ahead for an occasion and reheat as required.
Most
West Indians like their Callaloo slightly peppery, so a half a teaspoon of Barbados
(yellow) pepper sauce - or two drops of that red fiery stuff - will lend authenticity and
add exotic flavour to your plate! Another West Indian practice is to side the plate with
chunks of delicious fresh bread.
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