frying dumplings

Fried Dumplings Recipe

ChefSianNo Comments

If  Ackee & Saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish then fried dumplings ought to be our national side dish. Fried dumplings and festivals (a sweet fried cornmeal dumpling) are commonly served alongside so many entrees it might be easier to list the ones that it doesn’t accompany. These little fried biscuits are quick, super easy to make and very addictive so, eat cautiously. A complete fried dumpling recipe is below. Fried dumplings in various flavors and forms are popular throughout the Caribbean.  There’s fried bake, pholourie and several others. Dumplings are served in private homes, at street side stalls, and in casual dining restaurants all over the islands.  Still Jamaican fried dumplings are… Read More

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Green Banana Porridge Recipe

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Cornmeal, oatmeal, peanut, banana porridge, it doesn’t matter which one. I love porridge. At home or on the road porridge features heavily on Jamaican breakfast menus. For some a bowl or mug of this sweet, warm, nutritious goodness with a couple slices of buttered hardough bread or a few crackers is all it takes to get through the morning. For others porridge is the starter (a likkle something to clear your stomach) before a hearty mid morning meal. Green bananas are used by Caribbean cooks to make dumplings, porridge, chips or boiled with other foods. Grating them to make porridge is just 1. Making this Jamaican favorite is just as easy… Read More

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Jamaican chocolate tea

Jamaican Hot Chocolate Tea) Recipe

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Ok My favorite part of drinking a cup of authentic Jamaican Chocolate Tea is  the crunchy little bits of cocoa nut that settles in the bottom of the cup. I am not a chocolate lover by any stretch of the imagination. Still, there is something irresistibly decadent about sipping on a cup of steaming- hot rich, creamy, chocolate tea fresh from the stove. Sweeten this chocolate delight  with condensed milk and a dash of cinnamon, ginger or Sian’s Cooking sweet spice  for a burst of added flavor.   Made from ground ripe cocoa beans. Jamaican chocolate is 100% natural. The beans are ground and then shaped into sticks or balls. Outside… Read More

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Peanut Porridge Recipe

ChefSianNo Comments

The first time I tried peanut porridge I was strolling down Barrett Street. Near Spanish Town Hospital in Jamaica, in the early hours of the morning. I had heard  about the wonderful deliciousness of peanut porridge but, being that I’m not much of a peanut lover I never bothered to seek it out. As it were I was hungry and the first person I spotted was a ‘Porridge Man’  pushing his cart in my direction. Since my adventurous ways had already netted me an overnight stay in town I figured  ‘what’s 1 more adventure? One taste was all it took.  Before long I was seeking out fresh roasted peanuts and blending oats… Read More

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Saltfish Fritters Recipe (Stamp n’ Go)

ChefSian1 Comment

Saltfish fritters appear in several Caribbean cultures. There are subtle differences across each culture but the main ingredients are the same. All you really need for a tasty batch of  authentic Caribbean fritters are saltfish, onion or scallion, thyme and a little bit of hot pepper.  I like fresh colorful ingredients in my dishes so I’ve added multi-colored peppers and herbs. They are completely optional. Following is an easy to follow recipe for my version of Saltfish Fritters or Stamp n’ Go as we Jamaicans call it.  Saltfish (baccala) is a staple of the Caribbean and Latino diet. Popular Caribbean dishes that feature saltfish include Saltfish Buljol from Trinidad, Cook-up Saltfish from Jamaica… Read More

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