Many Caribbean dishes contain the history of the region: from French influences to English hints. What dominates are the Indian and Chinese influences on the food.
There are significant populations of Chinese and Indian people in the islands of Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Cuba as well as Guyana on the mainland.
The Indians donated their curry-inspired dishes to local cuisine while the Chinese added lots of rice, veggies and root vegetables, too. Much of the cuisine is mixed while some of it remains staunchly traditional.
Check out more about the Chinese influence in Caribbean cuisine through my previous article. The culinary twists are just plain delish.
Consider these tropical-tinged chicken dishes for your dinner. They will go nicely with Spring Drinks and other refreshing cocktails.
You can also include other side dishes such as: Spicy Indian Cauliflower, Asian Slaw and Cucumber/Pineapple Salad, Stir-Fried Pea Shoots, Green Papaya Salad, Chayote and Jicama, and perhaps Coconut Shrimp.
Salut and go get some rum punch!
CARIB CHICKEN
Ingredients
- 3 lb chicken cut into pices
- ½ lemon
- 2 tsp salt
- ground pepper
- 3-4 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp vinegar
- ½ tsp chopped thyme
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- oil
- 2 cups of cashews
- 1 to ½ cups brown mushrooms, sliced
- 3 onions, chopped
- 6 to 8 slices of fresh ginger
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flower
- chopped parsley or cilantro
METHOD
- Wash chicken in cold running water. Rub the pieces with lemon and toss in salt, pepper, 1-2 cloves of the garlic, the vinegar and thyme. Marinate for at least 3 hours.
- In a pan, melt the butter, add the sugar. When the mélange bubbles, add the chicken and brown.
- In another skillet, heat some oil, fry half the cashew, set them aside.
- In the skillet, fry the remaining garlic, the other half of cashews, oinions and ginger. Add ½ cup water and pour the mixture into the larger pan over the chicken.
- Cook the chicken for 25 minutes or until juices run clear.
- Thicken with flour mixed with water and stir into the chicken b. Cook for a few more minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cashews that were set aside.
Serve topped with parsley or cilantro and with rice.
By the way, there is a version of Soy Sauce Chicken from the Caribbean that's quick to make:
- One chicken cut into pieces
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 2-3 tbsp brown sugar
- 3-4 cloves minced garlic
- grated ginger root, a one-inch piece
- 4 tbsp white wine or sherry
Method: Wash the chicken and put in a bowl. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a pan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Cool. Then pour the sauce over the chicken and marinate for half a day (4 hours minimum). Now, you're ready to broil the chicken.
