This meal came together relatively quickly. It is a classic one-pot dish based on veggies that are on ‘standby’ and tinned pantry staple. What gives it a little twist from other cobbler-style casseroles is the use of cornmeal as the crust. As I enter my 3rd year of preparing gluten-free meals where my mother is concerned I have come to have an even greater respect for cornmeal’s versatility. In this case, the corn provides a crisp textural contrast to the soft vegetables. I have to give a shoutout to …

One of the things that I love about operating Trinigourmet is the wealth of knowledge and experiences that readers bring to the table. Whether it’s commenting on other’s questions left in posts, participating in the #caribbeancooks hashtag on Twitter, or contributing to my Facebook presence, I am always left inspired.
Case in point. Recently I asked fans of the Trinigourmet Facebook page, what was their favourite way to enjoy plantains. Many of you picked fried ripe (and green) as the method of choice, with boiled a rather distant second. One …

Oiled down (also more commonly referred to as ‘oildown’) is one of those truly transcendent West Indian delights. As I wrote, in one of this blog’s first entries:
“Oil Down, is a colloquial Caribbean name for any dish of starchy vegetables cooked in coconut milk until all the milk is absorbed and the ingredients have turned into a creamy mush (or have ‘oiled down’). The two most popular oil downs are breadfruit oil down and cassava oil down. Oil down is really something to experience first-hand, I am not sure that …

This post was first published February 8, 2009. It has been updated once since then.
What do you get when you combine Fried Eggplant with the skill and experience of a world class chef? These out of this world ‘Eggplant Cutlets’. Like many of the Mario Batali dishes that I have tried, this recipe provides rich flavour and a satisfying contrast in textures, through what appears as relatively few ingredients. Although Batali’s recipes uses breadcrumbs, I substituted that with cornmeal so that this dish would be gluten-free. The change in …

I see plenty of recipes for accra in West Indian Cookbooks but often they bear little resemblance to Trinidad Accra. My Jamaican mother tells me that what she knows as accra is a saltfish fritter, flat, fried brown. Here in Trinidad however accra is a puffy fried dough ball, made of a highly seasoned dough into which shredded saltfish has been mixed. I’ve had it at weddings, gatherings, and of course bought it from street vendors. This recipe comes together quite quickly once the saltfish has been boiled and picked. …

Famous in Brazil
We call chuchu christophene
Click here to learn more

Adapted from a recipe in Bon Appetitmagazine, this warm and creamy soup became an instant classic in my home and graced the table at last year’s Passover Seder.

Butternut Squash Soup with Ginger
Source: Adapted fromBon Appetit
Yield: Serves 6
Ingredients
2 butternut squash (about 4 3/4 pounds total), halved lengthwise, seeded
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups thinly sliced onion
1 tablespoon golden brown sugar
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/2 cinnamon stick
5 cups (or more) canned low-salt vegetable broth
Chopped fresh parsley
Heavy cream (omit/substitute for vegan)
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
2. Oil baking sheet.
3. …

This post was originally published on February 6, 2009. It has been updated once since then for submission to Mango Moods
Earlier this month I asked Trinigourmet readers on Facebook and Twitter what their favourite way to enjoy mango was. The runaway winner? Mango Chow!
Green mango chow is a wonderful accompaniment to most meals. Light and yet spicy, it adds a tart sweetness when used as a condiment. Chows like these are best used by slightly under-ripe fruits. In this case I have used a green mango, however pineapples are …

This post was originally published on June 18, 2009. It has been updated once since then.

I’ve fallen off my raw food adventure wagon BADLY. And I do mean BADLY. With all of the stress of the past 2 months and the nonstop up and down around the island it’s been hard to keep any kind of routine, health or fitness-wise. Maybe it’s telling that this post is now being written as my stresses have begun to wind down. My body fortunately hasn’t succumbed to flus the way it would have …

Once a baking test
Now a Pesach tradition
Try the steps below

Fifteen-Minute Magic: Chocolate Amaretti Torte
Page 276-277, Baking: From My Home to Yours

Makes 8 Servings
6 large double Amaretti di Saronno or 18 mini amarettini cookies (2.75 oz) (other brands can be used as well)
3/4 cup almonds (blanched or not; whole, sliced or slivered)
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar
3 large eggs, at room temperature
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
For the Glaze:
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons water
For the Almond Whipped Cream …