Piri Piri
2 red chile peppers
1 cup olive oil
Zest of 1 lemon
1 bay leaf
Combine chile peppers with olive oil, zest and bay leaf in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Leave it in a warm spot for two or three weeks. The longer you keep the Piri Piri, the hotter it will get. A few drops will enhance almost all Caribbean dishes, especially fish dishes.
Mojito (Cuba)
This is a favorite in Cuba. Ernest Hemingway was particularly fond of it.
Juice of 1/2 lime
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
2 or 3 fresh mint leaves and 1 sprig mint, for garnish
Crushed ice
1 1/2 ounces white rum
Club soda
Stir lime juice and sugar in a tall drink glass until the sugar dissolves. Add the mint leaves, crushed ice and rum, then stir. Top off the drink with club soda. Stir again, then garnish with the sprig of mint and serve.
Serves 1.
Mango Preserves (Puerto Rico)
6 mangoes, peeled
4 cups water
4 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Combine the mangoes and water in a pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Remove the mangoes and measure 4 cups of the liquid, discarding the rest. Combine mangoes, the liquid, the sugar and the vanilla extract in the same pot and boil over moderate heat until the syrup thickens (222 degrees F on a candy thermometer). Allow to cool and serve chilled or at room temperature.
Will keep for 1 week refrigerated.
Serves 6.
Jamaican Buns
Yields 24 buns
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lemon rind
1 cup butter
3 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 cup raisins
1 1/4 cups shredded coconut
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and lemon rind. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly in texture. Beat eggs with milk and add to flour mixture. Blend until just moistened. Do not overmix. Add raisins and coconut and mix again - just enough to incorporate. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, portion dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Brush the tops of each bun with beaten egg whites and sprinkle with sugar.
Bake for about 25 minutes. Buns should be golden brown and firm to touch.
Jamaican Banana Bread
2 tablespoons margarine, softened
2 tablespoons light cream cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons dark rum or 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup flaked, sweetened coconut
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat an 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
Beat margarine and cream cheese at medium speed with electric mixer; add sugar, beating well. Add egg; beat well.
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; stir well. Combine banana, milk, rum, line rind, lime juice and vanilla extract; stir well. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition. Stir in pecans and coconut. Pour batter into prepared pan; bake for 60 minutes.
Let cool in pan for 10 minutes; remove from pan. Let cool slightly on wire rack.
Topping
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons margarine
2 teaspoons lime juice
2 teaspoons dark rum or 1/8 teaspoon rum extract
2 tablespoons chopped pecans, toasted
2 tablespoons flaked, sweetened coconut
Combine brown sugar, margarine, lime juice and rum in saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cook 1 minute; stir constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in pecans and coconut; spoon over loaf.
Guava Cake (Puerto Rico)
10 tablespoons butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 pound guava paste*, cut into 16 slices
* Available in finer supermarkets and Hispanic specialty shops.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Sift together the flour, baking powder, spices, and salt and add the butter mixture, mixing until well combined. Add the eggs one at a time and mix well. Spoon half the batter into a buttered 8-inch square baking pan. Top with the sliced guava paste and cover with the remaining batter. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
Serves 8 to 12.
Cuban Sandwich
1 loaf Cuban Bread
Mayonnaise
Yellow mustard
1/2 pound deli ham, thinly sliced
1/2 pound roast pork, thinly sliced
8 thin slices dill pickle
1/2 pound Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
Cut bread into 6 x 3-inch pieces with a serrated knife. Slice bread horizontally to open. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the 4 top halves and a thin layer of mustard on the 4 bottom halves. Arrange one-fourth of the ham evenly on each of the bottom halves, then stack a fourth of the pork, 2 pickle slices and a fourth of the cheese on each. Cover sandwiches with the top halves of the bread.
Grill sandwiches in a buttered sandwich press until they are flat, the bread is browned, and the cheese has melted. If you do not have a sandwich press, substitute a waffle iron. Cut each sandwich in half and serve at once.
Serves 4.
Caribbean Jerk Pork Chops
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup lemon juice
1/3 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon chopped green onion
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
2 1/4 pounds lean pork loin or rib chops
(6 chops) - about 5/8 inch thick
Place all ingredients except pork in blender. Cover and blend until smooth.
Reserve 1/2 cup of the marinade; cover and refrigerate for basting. Trim excess fat from pork. Place pork in shallow nonmetal dish or heavy-duty resealable plastic bag. Pour remaining marinade over pork. Cover dish or seal bag and refrigerate at least 12 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
Heat coals or gas grill. Remove pork from marinade; discard marinade. Cover and grill pork 4 to 5 inches from medium heat 8 to 11 minutes, turning frequently and brushing with reserved marinade, for medium doneness (160 degrees F) or until pork is slightly pink when cut near bone. Discard any remaining basting marinade.
Yield: 6 servings.
Per Serving: 183 Calories; 8g Fat (40.8% calories from fat); 22g Protein; 5g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 53mg Cholesterol; 312mg Sodium
Exchanges: 0 Grain (Starch); 3 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 0 Fruit; 1/2 Fat; 0 Other Carbohydrates