Caribbean Food Fusion A Background
The beauty of the Caribbean is reflected in it's food. Everyone who has ever been to the Caribbean knows and loves the cuisine of the Islands. The history that is built into the world of Caribbean food, offers a combination of flavours, textures and aromas that delight the senses and tickle the palette.
If you have made a trip to the Caribbean, then perhaps you are someone who is looking for Caribbean recipes that you can cook at home. If you are then you have probably searched for Internet for authentic Caribbean dishes such as Roti, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, or a nice plate of Flying Fish. Perhaps you are a regular visitor to your local Caribbean restaurant or you've tried to cook Island food at home using recipes you have managed to glean from a cook book or from the chef at your local Caribbean Takeaway.
That does not matter, the authentic flavors and tastes of the Caribbean can be yours with the wealth of ingredients available that are today very common, in no time you will be enjoying the delights of island cooking in your own kitchen.
The islands of the Caribbean have seen many immigrants of the centuries. South American indians who first inhabited the islands, Taino, Arawak and Caribs, eat from the fruits and vegetables indigenous to the islands. However with arrival of Europeans who in turn brought enslaved Africans, the fusion of styles, ingredients and methods of cooking lay the foundations of the types of Caribbean recipes that we enjoy today.
Slave masters gave their slaves the foods they didn't want. The enslaved AFricans had to find new ways to make the inferior food taste good, so tenderizing meats with herbs and spices, slow cooking stews infused with vegetables and fruits all made the food taste better and also stretch. Later Asian indentured laborers brought from China and India added to the culinary mix.
If you are someone who enjoys Caribbean food, then why not try to cook some at home for yourself? What are the techniques you need to use? Well for starters, ensure that the meat, vegetables, herbs and spices you are using are fresh and of the best quality that you can find. Many Caribbean Islanders are within 30 miles of an agriculture producer so their produce is usually very fresh, there are very few Islands that don't have some sort of agriculture or farming community.
One thing that is of paramount importance, especially for meat dishes is to make sure that you marinade the meat for at least 2 hours. If you have a refrigerator and are planning to cook Caribbean for a dinner party, then you can leave the meat to marinade overnight which will intensify the flavors of the herbs and spices that you have used to season the meat.
Cooking meat slowly is another feature of Caribbean food. Remember the islands are a relaxing place. So should the method by which you cook island food. Slow cooking helps meat to develop flavor and tenderness if cooked over a low fire.
There is much said about Caribbean food, most of it good, and we hope that this has given you a little taste of what can be done at home. If you try cooking Caribbean food, don't forget to add your touch that way you are also adding to the fusion that is Caribbean cuisine and making the recipes your own as well.
If you have made a trip to the Caribbean, then perhaps you are someone who is looking for Caribbean recipes that you can cook at home. If you are then you have probably searched for Internet for authentic Caribbean dishes such as Roti, Jamaican Jerk Chicken, or a nice plate of Flying Fish. Perhaps you are a regular visitor to your local Caribbean restaurant or you've tried to cook Island food at home using recipes you have managed to glean from a cook book or from the chef at your local Caribbean Takeaway.
That does not matter, the authentic flavors and tastes of the Caribbean can be yours with the wealth of ingredients available that are today very common, in no time you will be enjoying the delights of island cooking in your own kitchen.
The islands of the Caribbean have seen many immigrants of the centuries. South American indians who first inhabited the islands, Taino, Arawak and Caribs, eat from the fruits and vegetables indigenous to the islands. However with arrival of Europeans who in turn brought enslaved Africans, the fusion of styles, ingredients and methods of cooking lay the foundations of the types of Caribbean recipes that we enjoy today.
Slave masters gave their slaves the foods they didn't want. The enslaved AFricans had to find new ways to make the inferior food taste good, so tenderizing meats with herbs and spices, slow cooking stews infused with vegetables and fruits all made the food taste better and also stretch. Later Asian indentured laborers brought from China and India added to the culinary mix.
If you are someone who enjoys Caribbean food, then why not try to cook some at home for yourself? What are the techniques you need to use? Well for starters, ensure that the meat, vegetables, herbs and spices you are using are fresh and of the best quality that you can find. Many Caribbean Islanders are within 30 miles of an agriculture producer so their produce is usually very fresh, there are very few Islands that don't have some sort of agriculture or farming community.
One thing that is of paramount importance, especially for meat dishes is to make sure that you marinade the meat for at least 2 hours. If you have a refrigerator and are planning to cook Caribbean for a dinner party, then you can leave the meat to marinade overnight which will intensify the flavors of the herbs and spices that you have used to season the meat.
Cooking meat slowly is another feature of Caribbean food. Remember the islands are a relaxing place. So should the method by which you cook island food. Slow cooking helps meat to develop flavor and tenderness if cooked over a low fire.
There is much said about Caribbean food, most of it good, and we hope that this has given you a little taste of what can be done at home. If you try cooking Caribbean food, don't forget to add your touch that way you are also adding to the fusion that is Caribbean cuisine and making the recipes your own as well.
About the Author:
If you want to know more about Caribbean Food check out Melissa's website for more Island recipes, hints and tips
Posts
Post a Comment