The Caribbean is just not limited to its beautiful beaches and wildlife but comes along with its rich and blended food. This incredible food comes from around the world. It’s a taste of different cultures, various traditions, and different styles of cooking.

Caribbean cuisine has grown in popularity in recent years as a result of the rich flavor it provides. The Caribbean food is a fusion of African, American, European, East Indian, Arab and Chinese Cuisine. This means it adds a wide range of options to the table, including something for everybody from all over the planet.

Caribbean food has a rich history to it. To enjoy your meals, you need to give importance to the ingredients which include the following; rice, plantains, beans, chickpeas, tomatoes, and coconut. In Caribbean food, a secret sauce is sometimes used. This sauce is called Mojo which is made up of garlic, onions, peppers, celery, green onions, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, and much more.

Caribbean cuisine is a mixture of many cuisines around the world with a blend of culinary influences around the world. The Arawaks are said to introduce barbecuing to the Caribbean cuisine, the Europeans are said to have introduced their various methods of cooking with ingredients such as chicken, coconut, and rice.

Later, Africans were brought in as slaves, to work in sugar cane fields. With this came the rich culture of the Caribbean cuisine including okra and plantains. New dishes were given birth to for everyone such as jerk chicken which is a universal favorite now. Africans would use new spices from the fields that they would work at, thus giving their dishes a new taste and enhancing the flavor.

However, fortunately, once slavery had vanished, the Chinese and Asian Indians brought in their skills and their methods of cooking.

Because of all of these factors, Caribbean cuisine is diverse and appealing to people all over the world.

Mostly the most favorite Caribbean dish is jerk chicken however you can see other items including goat meat and different kinds of curry. Seafood is also very popular in this cuisine. However, rice is a staple item in Caribbean cuisine with a particular rice dish for each island

Jamaican Curry Goat, one of the best dishes in Caribbean cuisine is incredibly delicious. Its iconic flavors and texture are mind-blowing. It is not only a traditional Caribbean dish but it is one of the oldest dishes as well. During religious and traditional occasions, Curry Goat is mandatory within Jamaicans. The dish is pricey since raising a goat is relatively harder and more expensive than other kinds of animals that provide meat to us. This is because goats are raised for the purposes of milk only. Thus this slightly more expensive meal is cherished at all times and appreciated.

The popularity of Curry Goat

If your goat meat is not tender enough, you did not cook it well. Thus, the taste of how well your Curry Goat is is measured by how tender it is. Curry Goat is slow-cooked and cooked in special Jamaican spices making it full of flavor and tender to the bone. Once it is ready, the meat is tender to its core and soft to the point that the meat can fall off the bone smoothly.

The special Jamaican spices are what give this dish a special aroma and an additional reason to love. This dish is easy to digest and thus, it is an all-time favorite of every generation and every age group. This is everyone’s first choice for a family gathering or traditional events.

Traditional value

Caribbean people respect and love their values and norms. They take them seriously and take great care of them. The Caribbean food came into place with great effort and indulgence from different values and cultures. This beautiful and tender dish is what is served at every event, to celebrate occasions and success. At every festival, Curry Goat is compulsory.

While visiting the Caribbeans, tourists love to try out traditionally made Curry Goat, a taste of Jamaica. The meat of matured goats is used because it is more pungent than others. According to a survey in 2013, 9.54 ℅ of goat meat is consumed by Caribbean people.

Wholesome meal

Curry Goat is not only delicious and yummy but also very healthy. It is an all-in-one dish. A complete meal and a heartwarming dish. When it is being cooked in the kitchen, its aroma fills up the whole house. It’ll keep you up all day and night. If you taste it for once, your taste buds will crave more. It is a full plate of nutrition to nourish the body.

Some special ingredients that make the Curry Goat more special are the common seasonings used in Jamaican food. These spices include the following; curry powder, salt, black pepper (freshly ground preferred), ground ginger, ground pimento (allspice), turmeric, scotch bonnet pepper (chili).

Some people also like to add coconut milk to enhance the flavor and consistency of the curry. Basal leaves can also be added. Some people also love to add boiled eggs on the top of the dish to enhance the curry’s taste.

To make it a wholesome meal, you need to marinate the meat long enough. The marination process takes 7-8 hours to an entire night however, the marination process starts after 2 hours thus, you can marinate it for as long as 3-4 hours.

Nutritional value

Goat meat is abundant in nutrients i.e. potassium, carbohydrates, fibers, sugar, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, and sodium thus carrying many benefits along. That’s why out of all the meat, goat meat is preferred. It helps lower heart risks and various other kidney disorders. It helps in the formation of hemoglobin.

Goat meat is also full of b12, and omega3 hence lowering hypertension, anxiety, and depression. It is an important source of amino acids. It has fewer calories and cholesterol in comparison to other meats. One serving of cooked beef has 245 calories, while a serving of cooked goat meat has 122 calories thus making it a healthier option.

Serving

Goat meat is often accompanied by potatoes, as well as peas and beans. However, the best combination is considered to be potatoes.

Curry Goat is usually served with white rice as well. The common reason believed behind this is the fact that rice is a staple food of the Caribbeans.

Leg meat is prioritized in curry goats because it is thicker and tender. However, loin chop, ribs, and shoulder meat are also used. Bones are indispensable because bones bring out the most flavor to the curry.

Curry can be made both by boneless and on bone meat however, bone meat is preferred.

Ingredients

Goat meat, vegetable oil, onion, garlic, water, spring onions, thyme sprigs.

Curry goat is an excellent dish to try if you are trying this cuisine for the first time. So, do not waste time any further and place your order now at JusJerk!

y far one of the most loved dishes is the sweet and savory Escovitch fish. For this dish, an entire fish is typically fried till it becomes crispy. Then this is coated in finely pickled veggies sweet peppers, onion, chayote, and carrots which are lightly toasted in a vinegar mixture flavored with, thyme, garlic cloves Jamaican pimentos, and scotch bonnet pepper. It’s a dish that’s usually served during Easter celebrations, and many people say it tastes even better the very next day.

A fusion of exotic flavors

Due to the sheer fusion of spices and balsamic vinegar, Escovitch fish has a pleasingly distinctive flavor. Moderately flavored red snapper soaked in a vinegar mixture with pan-fried onions and peppers; it’s what you want to have to enhance your taste buds.

Before cooking the fish, you need to allow the fish to refrigerate in the fridge overnight after topping it with the pickled veggies for the best results. Since people don’t like fish with bones, using boneless snapper is the best option however whole snapper, kingfish fillets, or even porgy is sometimes preferred for a great taste.

Wondering why we want you to try this exotic dish?

Besides the unusual name and the elaborated list of spices, Escovitch is a simple dish with a pleasingly special flavor. This is because of the special spices that the Africans introduced the world to while they were brought in for work. Vinegar plays an important role as well. Malt vinegar is made from malt extract, which has a smoother flavor and a more complex aroma. However, red wine and balsamic vinegar is a commonly used substitute as well.

The sweet and savory taste is a game-changer

The whole scotch bonnet pepper is being used by most of the chefs but you can ask them to reduce the heat using less quantity of pepper and omitting the seeds. The sauce is traditionally made with pimento berries however variations are proceeded with thus sometimes ground allspice is also used. Though it can sound odd, however, adding brown sugar to the escovitch sauce balances the taste.

This tropical Jamaican dish is one of our favorites because it’s easy to prepare and serve. The excellent thing is that Escovitch fish can be prepared in a variety of ways. So, if you’re sensitive to a spicy flavor you can always reduce the bonnet pepper and replace it with all-spice or Jamaican pimento.

It only requires 30-40 minutes to prepare the dish. It’s a tradition of delectable Jamaican flavorings that you can serve to unsuspecting visitors, relatives, or even coworkers.

Escovitch fish, which is cooked in an ocean of vegetables, is also suitable for diabetic patients and those who are conscious of health.

How should you serve it?

There are no rules when it comes to eating Escovitch fish. The delicious Escovitch fish is mostly served with bammy, which is a typical cassava bread, or fried dumplings in true Jamaican tradition. It goes well with boiled potatoes, rice, hard bread, and fried black beans, among other things.

The preparation behind the exotic flavor:

The first step is the scaling of the fish and squeezing lime juice all over it to make sure it’s tender when served. Once you have poured lime juice, rinse it with cool water and gently pat dry. After this process has been completed, the fish is cut across the belly on both sides because this helps in speeding up the frying process and allows the spices to be absorbed completely. On the side in a bowl combine cinnamon, black pepper, all-spice, smoked paprika, garlic salt, and onion paste and marinate fish from both sides with this sauce as well as salt and pepper.

A crisp flavor is all we need

Switch the heat to medium in a heavy-bottom pan, such as cast-iron or heavy non-stick. Fill it to around a third of the pan according to the level of your fish with oil and heat until it hits 350 degrees. When the pan is heated, gently sprinkle flour on the fish and place it skin side on it to fry for 2–3 minutes on both sides When the fish becomes translucent, it’s done. Set aside the fish in a dish.

A side to go with it?

Who does not like sides with their main course? To complete this meal, make stir-fried vegetables in a signature sauce.

Add carrots, onions, green peppers, and garlic in the same pan till vegetables are steamy. Bring this to a simmer with thyme, scotch bonnet pepper, allspice, vinegar, water, and molasses/brown sugar. Turn down the heat to a gentle flame and cook the veggies till they are soft for around 4-5 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat and set aside for another 5 minutes to marinate. Serve the fish with the sauce when it’s still warm.

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A perfect balance of spices makes it addictive

Jerk chicken that is excellently cooked and genuine is extremely addictive: It’s soft and flavorful, smoky, and juicy. Its softness and flavor are because of the long marinating and cooking time, and the spicy pepper sauce presented on the plate passes through all of the enrichment of the chicken leaves you to come back for more.

We would be revealing the original and authentic Jerk Chicken recipe, with instructions for grilling. Due to hours of marination in a vivid and exquisitely aromatic marinade, it’s amazingly tasty. Who can say no to the soft charcoal and irresistible flavorful hit? It is a must to try!

How is traditional style Jerk chicken made?

Traditionally jerk chicken is cooked over raw green woods as well as over coals: Woods mostly from pimento tree, which itself is indigenous to the Caribbean and provides a further essential ingredient for jerk chicken.

The jerk procedure requires the wood from the sweet wood tree or laurel trees. The chicken is cooked on wood that has been placed beneath massive metal latches and is constantly heated to keep it burning hot. The racks are then covered with large pieces of allspice or pimento wood. The chicken is laid right on top of the greenwood, which is then covered with large metal sheets.

As the poultry prepares, it soaks up oils straight from the wood’s surface, as well as the aromatic steam and smoke created by the charcoal and greenwood beneath it. When this chicken is ready you would have a delicacy; a perfectly cooked jerk chicken. The right amount of time needed to cook this incredible dish is about two hours.

Once it has been cooked, remove it from the flame, separating the bones from the chicken and chopping the meat. It is preferred to present it with the flaming Scotch bonnet sauce served on the edge.

Marination; the process to perfection

Before it reaches the grill, jerk chicken is marinated in a quick and easy but diverse marinade that imparts the meat’s slightly sweet and a bit spicy flavor. If you look for jerk chicken recipes on the internet, you’ll probably discover dozens of different recipes for what gets into the conventional marinade. Few recipes ask for soy sauce, while others opt for brown sugar; several recipes use whole cloves, while others ask for ground pepper; people usually request for spicy Scotch bonnet peppers, whereas others call for gentler jalapeños.

Recipes and the marination process are transformed over generations, to give it a different taste to everyone. However, to make the traditional jerk chicken, you need to follow the traditional recipe.

Ingredients used in the magical dish

The jerk chicken franchises we experienced in the Caribbean were always hesitant to disclose precisely what ingredients they used into their house marinades, but there is an accepted recipe that serves as the basis of the marinade, which different chefs or vendors will play on, altering a spice here and there. The following ingredients are used in the recipe:

● Berries of allspice: It is the fruit of the pimento tree and is used to grill jerk chicken, is dry, and resembles peppercorns. This has a soft, spicy, and aromatic flavor. Their name comes from the fact that English colonists in the Caribbean assumed they taste like a combination of the spices cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg when they tried them. To extract the essential oils from the berries, they are crushed.

●Thyme: Thyme is a herb that is used in cooking. While fresh is preferred, however, you can use dried herbs as well.

●Scotch bonnet pepper: Scotch bonnet pepper is a kind of chili pepper. Scotch bonnet peppers, which have been indigenous to the Caribbean, are exceptionally spicy and are about 40 times stronger than jalapeños. For the marinade, the pepper is blended or chopped, and the seeds are sometimes included in or discarded for a little less hot effect.

●Spring Onions or Scallion: Chop down both the white and green sides since they have an aroma essential to the dish.

●Ginger pods: Freshly cut ginger is scraped and roughly chopped. In the Caribbean, the ginger plant thrives and is used in a variety of regional specialties including ginger beer and salsify, a drink made from hibiscus flowers.

Cinnamon powder or ground nutmeg, brown sugar, cooking oil, or soy sauce are all common additions to this base. The majority of chefs marinate their chicken as long as possible, likely to be at least 12 hours but often up to a day. As a consequence, the chicken has a lot of flavors before it has even come into contact with the smokiness-inducing coals and wood.

To make a delicious and healthy Caribbean meal, serve it with coconut rice and fresh pineapple.