Jamaica Curry Stew Beef

1 tablespoon of curry powder or more to taste
2 lbs. Stewing beef cubed
2 tbsp. Oil
4 tbsp. Sugar
2 large onions, sliced
1 bottle beer (12 oz) (red stripe)
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce (or pickapeppa sauce)
2 bay leaves
1 tbsp. Soy sauce
1 tsp. Basil
1 small carrot chopped up
salt & pepper (and optional hot pepper, of course) to taste

METHOD / DIRECTIONS:

In a heavy frying pan or skillet, heat oil, add sugar and allow to burn until dark brown. Add seasoned beef and stir well to coat pieces of meat; cook for 6-8 mins., stirring constantly. Add onion and cook for 5 mins more Sprinkle in the curry powder, Stir in beer, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, hot pepper and basil. Bring to the boil. Cover, reduce heat and simmer until meat is tender. If potatoes or taro root are desired, cut them into small pieces and add them just before beef is tender.

Server over rice

Pigeon Peas Soup

The pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan, syn. Cajanus indicus) is a member of the family Fabaceae. Other common names are arhar (Bengali), red gram, toovar/toor (Hindi/Gujarati/Marathi/Punjabi), toovaram paruppu ( Tamil),togari (Kannada), Kandi (Telugu), gandul, guandul, Congo pea, Gungo pea, Gunga pea, and no-eye pea.

(source: Wikipedia)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 c. cooked and sieved pigeon peas.
• 1 tbsp. cornstarch or arrowroot
• 3/4 c. stock (chicken or beef)
• 3/4 c. Milk
• salt and pepper to taste

METHOD / DIRECTIONS:

1. Add stock to peas and bring to the boil.
2. Meanwhile, mix milk and cornstarch and add to peas; add salt and pepper and continue to boil for a few minutes.

Brown Stew Fish Recipe

This is another recipe I found for Brown Stew Fish at Jamaica Travel and Culture.

Earth Day Dish-Jamaican Spinach Soup

Okay, strictly "Green" food for this Earth Day.

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons fresh ginger root, minced
• 1 tablespoon turbinado sugar
• 2 teaspoons sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 4 cups chopped zucchini
• 6 cups vegetable stock
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper
• 1 cup chopped fresh spinach
• 1/2 red bell pepper, minced

Directions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in onion, celery, garlic, ginger, and sugar. Cook 5 minutes, until onion is tender. Season with salt, turmeric, allspice, and nutmeg. Mix in potatoes and zucchini, and pour in the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 10 minutes, or until potatoes are tender.
2. Remove soup from heat, season with cayenne pepper, and stir in spinach. Using a hand blender, blend soup until smooth. Garnish with red bell pepper to serve.

Fish Baked in Banana Leaves

If you are not able to get banana leaves, then substitute with parchment paper. This is a wonderful recipe.

Banana leaves or parchment paper
Salt and Pepper to taste
6 6-8 ozs fillets of grouper, snapper or any fish that is very firm
2 tomatoes, peel seeded and chopped
1/4 cup chopped scallion (green onions)
1/2 cup of coconut cream
A sprig of thyme
Couple of pimento seeds (about 4)

Method

Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the banana leaves into rectangles, large enough to fold over the fish or cut the parchment paper the same. Sear the leaves (hold over a flame) over a glass flame, until they are limp and pliable. (do not sear parchment paper if you are using that)

Place each fillet on a piece of banana leaf, parchment paper, or foil. sprinkle the fish with the salt and pepper, chopped tomato and chopped (scallion) green onion. (i add regular onion too). Spoon on some coconut cream. Fold the warapping to enclose the fish and fillings and seal the edges by folding over twice. Fold over the ends in the same way. (if using banana leaves ties with string).

Bake each packet for about 10 to 15 minutes. Everyone you serve can have their own little fish bundle.

Red Pea Soup

I found this recipe courtesy of Jamaica Travel and Culture. This is a soup that can be eaten all year long. You can use many substitute as the meat in this dish.

Cream of Pumpkin Soup

It is a long time I did not do any soup recipes. Here is a very simple one. I found this one on Jamaicans.com

INGREDIENTS :

• 2 tbs. butter
• 3 tbs. flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups boiled pumpkin (1lb.)
• 1 tsp. sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:

1. Melt butter and fry onion in it.
2. Add flour, salt, pepper and sugar and cook well.
3. Add milk slowly, stirring so butter and flour are well blended with milk.
4. Stir until smooth and thickened. Combine pumpkin with mixture, stir well. Simmer for 5 minutes and serve hot.
5. Serves 4. The cream of pumpkin soup tends to get very thick, you can add a bit more milk if that happens.